Mosley has tough task against Saul Alvarez tomorrow night

By Boxing News - 05/04/2012 - Comments

Image: Mosley has tough task against Saul Alvarez tomorrow nightBy Sean McDaniel: Shane Mosley made weight on his second try on Friday, weighing in at 154 pounds exactly for his title challenge against WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Alvarez also weighed in at 154, but he didn’t come in a half pound over like Mosley did.

Mosley said after the weigh-in that he had missed the weight because he was weighing in with a different scale in training and that one showed him as being at the right weight. But whatever the case, Mosley didn’t struggle to lose the extra half pound that he came over the weight.

Mosley, 40, is going to have to figure out a way to beat Alvarez because he doesn’t punch as consistently as hard as the younger fighter. Mosley can punch with power, but he’s not someone that has the natural size and strength that Alvarez possesses. Part of the reason for this is because Mosley has a smaller frame than Alvarez, and started off his boxing career as a 135 pound lightweight. He’s facing Alvarez at 154, but he’s not a natural 154 pounder like Alvarez.

Mosley has found success with his speed, work rate and overall tenacity during his career. He still has some speed, but his work rate has dropped off badly in the last two years and that’s hurt him in fights against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao and Sergio Mora. Mosley can’t get out-worked by Alvarez if he wants to win the fight.

This could be Alvarez’s toughest fight if Mosley can bring the same game that he did in beating Antonio Margarito three years ago in January 2009. But that’s going to be tough, because Mosley isn’t fighting at the same level in recent fights than he was back then. He more than anyone knows why he’s not fighting hard, but he’s going to have to find a way to get beyond his physical problems if he wants to capture Alvarez’s World Boxing Council title and put some new life in his career.



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