By Klaas Mabetlela: Floyd Mayweather fierce critics and most general boxing fans say that he avoids the best in the world, the best in the divisions he fights in, is boring to watch, cherry picks his opponent and lately fights smaller men.
I looked closely into Shane Mosley career and it seems that he is doing exactly what Mayweather critics says Money should be doing. I am surprised that critics are not talking about Mosley more and he is not all over the media the way Floyd is. Firstly, he cleaned up the lightweight division and skipped super-welterweight division to meet the bigger, undefeated and pound-for pounder in Oscar De La Hoya in 2000 for welterweight championship. The smaller Mosley came stronger in the second half and won a decision in a career- defining bout.
He tried to unify the division by meeting another undefeated champion in Vernon Forrest and lost 2 fights against the man. Shane went on to face De La Hoya again in Super welterweight fight and again won the decision albeit controversial this time around. As usual, he went after the best and tried to unify the super-welterweight division against Winky Wright and lost the decision as well the rematch.
Mosley went on to fight 2 men that Floyd’s critics always say he ducked; Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. He lost against the then undefeated Cotto and was an underdog when he caused all sorts of upset when he stopped Margarito in 9 rounds. He produced the best performance of his career with his trademark ‘powerboxing’ and won in a scintillating fashion. True to the fashion, Mosley is scheduled to unify the welterweight division this February against WBC and WBA champion Andre Berto.
Shane goes for the biggest fights available, losses some wins some and is exciting to watch. He also beat De La Hoya in his prime and repeated the feat, becoming the only man to ever accomplish that. Floyd is criticized for preserving his undefeated record but Mosley is not adequately rewarded for taking more risks. If fierce critics and some general boxing fans are to be believed, Mosley should be the bigger star and we should be holding onto his talons more.
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