By Jason Kim: In looking at both Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather Jr. standing side by side, I’m struck at how youthful Mosley looks compared to Mayweather, the younger fighter. Mosley is 38, five years older than Mayweather, is supposedly a fighter that some people feel might be too old in this fight against Mayweather to win. However, people age at different rates and even if one person is five years younger than another person like Mayweather, the older person can still be physically younger. When I look at Mosley and Mayweather, I think Mosley looks to be the younger person.
I don’t know if it’s just me that is noticing this but this is something that can be important because if Mayweather doesn’t have an advantage in youth in his May 1st fight with Mosley, then he really doesn’t have much of any other advantages in this fight. Mosley was the best fighter in the 90s, and has continued to be one of the best fighters in boxing as he’s aged. With the exception of his controversial 12 round unanimous decision loss to Miguel Cotto in 2007, Mosley has never been beaten by a fighter his size or smaller.
Mosley has always dominated fighters smaller than him. On May 1st, the 5’9” will be facing the 5’8” Mayweather, and that one inch may be more than enough for Mosley to get the win against Mayweather. Mosley already has the better offensive skills, the better work rate and the ability to mix it up. Mayweather hates getting hit and retreats when his opponents try to draw him into a war. Because of this, Mayweather often winds up with really low punch outputs.
At 33, I don’t think Mayweather can increase his punch volume any more than what it has been. I think he’s starting to age, and lose his ability to adapt to different fighting situations. Mosley, in contrast, can do it all – boxing, move and slug. Mosley can shift effortlessly between each mode depending on the circumstances of the fight. Mayweather is kind of a one trick pony who only knows how to box, move and pot shot. He’s not someone that is going to go after his opponent and throw flurries.
And he won’t react well when Mosley starts cutting off the ring on him forcing him to fight in a way that he hasn’t in years. I don’t think Mayweather has the physical tools anymore to fight like this even if he wanted to. He just looks older, like someone older than his 33-years. Mosley has to pressure him, make Mayweather move his wheels and get him tired.
I don’t think Mayweather run for long anymore. He’ll come to a stop in one of the corners like he often does and stand sideways trying to get small and dodge punches with his shoulder roll. I don’t expect that approach to work at all well against Mosley. He’s going to know how to land his shots and get the better of Mayweather in close.
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