Still Sugar after all these years…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I don’t like admitting when I’m wrong. But I’m man enough to do it. I was late in coming to the dance in admiring his work, but will we ever see another fighter in the same mold of Sugar Shane Mosley again?
I can’t believe that guy at all. At 37, the way he stopped Ricardo Mayorga with one frickin’ second left in the 12th round had me jumping up and down in my living room.
What was it about that that was so cool? That Mayorga always deserves such treatment because of what he says? Because it was possible that somehow some judges thought Mayorga was ahead of Shane going into the 12th? For the record, 7-4 for Mosley on my card.
No, when I thought about it, it goes back to 1999. And it was a deja vu feeling with Mosley. Up ahead on the scorecards involved in a tighter fight than people thought. Final round but not content with the decision. All-out assault on a game but tired opponent, dramatic KO.
I’m talking about Mosley’s 10th round KO of Wilfredo Rivera in September 1999. A week after Oscar de La Hoya lost the controversial decision to Tito Trinidad, it was possible another American fighter was going to bite the dust.
But at the end of the ninth round, Mosley found his energy again. It was so cool then, but it was even more amazing Saturday.
I feel bad for ever rooting against this guy. But I have on multiple occasions. I wanted de La Hoya to beat him twice. I wanted Vernon Forrest to beat him twice. I would have wanted Tito Trinidad to beat him if they would have fought. I would still root for Floyd Mayweather if they ever went head-to-head.
Before I knew of great boxing sites, I purchased a KO magazine from fall 1999. In it, it asked “who is the future of boxing? Shane Mosley or Floyd Mayweather?” The final line irked my brother so much, “one of them is the future of boxing and the other one is Shane Mosley.”
It’s debatable whether or not Mosley has the goods to go out against an elite fighter ever again. And I would seriously hate to see him get battered and bruised for a measly buck. But I don’t think he should retire.
So I’m torn. Part of it is selfishness. I want the chance to cheer for Mosley as many times as possible because of all the times I stupidly didn’t. I don’t know if I’ll ever watch the Mayorga fight again in its entirety. In less than 48 hours, I’ve watched the 12th round four times already. It’s just that cool. That wouldn’t be a finer moment for Shane to walk away, but I’m not begrudging him if he wants one more shot.
For my money, Mosley beats Andre Berto. Two years ago, I was gushing at Berto, but safe matchmaking has stunted his growth, and I think he’s regressed as a fighter. And he has a weak chin. Maybe it’s a little man-love feeling for Mosley right now but I think Shane knocks out Berto at this point.
Looking at Shane’s career, I have now seen 21 of his fights. But in Larry Merchant’s mind, I may have missed the best Sugar back when he was lightweight and knocking out people like clock work.
Mosley’s a rare breed. Someone who isn’t a businessman. He fights, he wants the KO, and he’ll do whatever he can to get it. I don’t know what’s my favorite moment now. I love the second knockout he had of Vargas a couple of years ago. And Rivera was awesome. But maybe, just maybe, the finality of that Mayorga KO will be our lasting Mosley image. And I have it on DVD, so that’s pretty cool.
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