By Mike Burnell: “He who endures, conquers’ – Muhammad Ali (Originally from Julius Caesar)
Is patience a virtue? I’ve never been able to stay in one place long enough to find out however long time boxing Superstar “Sugar” Shane Mosley 46-5-0 (39) may soon receive his just due according to the boxing roosters scratching around the proverbial rumor mill.
Shane Mosley revitalized his career twenty four days into 2009 with a magnificent 9th round stoppage of Cotto conqueror Antonio Margarito. He effectively destroyed the master of his tempest, virtually nullifying the significance Shane’s very close decision loss to Cotto in the minds of the impartial. A notorious distinction of the evening was the discovery by alert Mosley handlers of a foreign substance on Margoritos wraps that presumably would have hardened into a cast-like hammer. Cotto fans have every reason to speculate that it was undiscovered versus their hero thus leading to Cotto’s devastating defeat in an initially competitive bout. Loaded gloves, however, do not help a fighters chin or mental state. Cotto landed some absolutely monstrous missiles on Margo’s beard and the man just…kept…coming. If Margo’s gloves were indeed loaded it would obviously have had an enormous impact on Cotto’s head and body. Regardless, the results of their respective bouts are in the history book and their journeys continue from there.
It has been widely reported that the next fight for the theoretical pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao 49-3-2 (37) is to be at an unpopular catch-weight bout against Puerto Rican hero Miguel Cotto. It now appears that this match is at a stand still. Through tense negotiations the line has been drawn in the sand. Overachiever Manny Pacquiao demands a fight at a catch weight of 143 and the naturally larger Cotto will concede to a weight no lower that 145. Pac’s attorney Franklin Gecal commented “…we will not agree to 145 (lbs) and if Cotto insists we will go for Mosley”. It is a matter of history that if you choose to fight within a certain weight class that when you assume the responsibility and risks of your challenge. If you can’t compete in that weight class than don’t enter that realm (see heroes Billy Conn, Henry Armstrong etc…)
At 37 years old Mosley is justifiably calling for the biggest fights available, but his calls are falling on deaf ears. Despite the cries from the diminishing pool of die-hard fans
Unfortunately boxing politics, infighting and a general desire to minimize Mosley has forced him away from the green grass of prosperity of Pac and Mayweather and into the dry hay of Kermit Cintron and Andre Berto. It is not how boxing should be however Mosley is in danger of becoming a gate-keeper because he is simply too good. By all accounts Mosley is very financially secure after his divorce to former wife and manager Jin Mosley. Sugar Shane fights on not for money but for legacy; boxing history. This is a refreshing change to the current tide of tyranny and hand picked, so called manditories amid a cesspool of titles littering the boxing landscape like drive-by garbage on the side of the highway. Shane is a rare view of a true champion who just wants to fight the best with no strings attached. We don’t have to be nostalgic when we have the genuine article in front of us here and now.
All things considered all time great lightweight Mosley is better much suited to meet Pac at the lighter weight than Manny demands of Cotto. Pac wants Cotto at a low weight because Miguel has an almost cult like following which would obviously result in huge numbers and has rumored trouble of making the 147 limit. Arguing over 2 lbs may not seem like much but it certainly can affect the outcome (see Pac-DLH, Gatti v Gamache and countless other gaffes).
The fight to be made for boxing is “Sugar” Shane Mosley v Manny Pacquiao. Enough of the politics please….Lets box…
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