Floyd Mayweather Jr. dominates Shane Mosley

After a scare in the 2nd round it was smooth sailing for Mayweather

Two things happened Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas that rarely occur, one was Floyd Mayweather Jr. being rocked by a clean right hand that caused his knees to buckle and the second rarity was to see Shane Mosley sapped of his fighting spirit.

As most fighters who have fought 'Money' before him, Shane Mosley grew progressively confused as the fight wore on but not before putting a scare into his opponent and his supporters in the second round. After an uneventful first round that HBO ringside judge Harold Ledermen gave to Mosley, the undefeated Mayweather was rocked by a Mosley right hand that made him weak at the knees and forced him to hold on to Mosley. Shane followed it up seconds later with another right hand that almost toppled his opponent bringing the MGM Grand Arena audience to their feet. Mosley pressed for the knockout but Mayweather used his defensive skills to weather the storm and was looking strong by the end of the fight having nailed Mosley with some good looking counter right hands. That was the last the world would see of the old Sugar Shane Mosley for the rest of the night.

Mayweather was back in the fight in a big way during the third round playing the part of the aggressor as Mosley began to fight in retreat. Mosley looked tentative and off his game throughout the bout. He appeared to be too concerned with out feigning his foe and fell into playing Mayweather's game which allowed Floyd to assume the role of the stalker as Mosley tried in vain to avoid his rival's punches. Mayweather was able to sweep the rest of the rounds based on both his offensive and counter punching connects.

This was the night that the 38 year old Shane Mosley grew old overnight as he appeared gassed by the fifth round and was in danger of being stopped in the later rounds. His trainer Nazim Richardson tried vehemently to revive his man in between rounds but Mosley was not responsive. Mayweather's speed was too much for Mosley as he was picked apart losing a unanimous decision. The judges rendered scores of 119-109, 119-109, and 118-110.

After the fight Mayweather was asked by HBO commentator Larry Merchant what it would take for him to fight Manny Pacquiao, the one man perceived to be the only challenge left out there, Mayweather responded, "If Manny takes the tests we can make the fight happen. If he doesn't we don't have a fight"

OBSERVATIONS

• Never thought I would see an offensive force like Mosley forced to go against his nature and fight in retreat for twelve rounds. Wasn't the fight supposed to be about Mosley chasing and Mayweather defending? I got to hand it to Mayweather for going on the attack but at the same time I have to say Mosley looked off all night. If Pacquiao saw this fight, I wonder if he will think that Mosley may have been affected by the constant drawing of blood to satisfy the Olympic anti doping requirements that were put in on the insistence of team Mayweather. Pacquiao blames his last defeat on feeling weak after having blood drawn the night before the fight and if he makes this connection and its somehow proven you almost can't blame him for being reluctant to submit to this type of testing.



• Many people have said it and last night's fight confirms it. Shane Mosley is too nice. Throughout the fight he was too willing to touch gloves, hug Mayweather, and talk to his foe during the fight. He was just altogether way too compliant. it was maddening to see Mosley accord Mayweather all sorts of pleasantries during the fight. Its not as if 'Money' is the most adorable guy in boxing, he had been trashing Mosley all thru the build up of this fight, Mosley had to know that if he lost Mayweather would eventually proceed to declare that he destroyed Shane Mosley. Where was the fire in Mosley? If he was going to grow old over night he was better served to grow into a grouchy old man.



• Every time Mayweather declares that Pacquiao must submit to drug testing and states that he wants an even playing field he throws dirt on Pacquiao's reputation. This without a shred of evidence, any prior incident, or so much as an accusation from a former Pacquiao opponent. This is simply heinous.

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE MOMENT

I learned recently that I might be interviewing former welterweight champion Ricardo Mayorga. The Nicaraguan strong man will be participating in a MMA match for the first time in North Carolina on May 15th. He is more famous for his wild style, cigarette smoking training regimen and playing the part of the villain against some of the heroes of boxing like Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, and Shane Mosley. The highest of his highs occurred when he knocked out the late Vernon Forrest to claim the welterweight title when Forrest had just defeated boxing's top dog at the time Shane Mosley. Mayorga has always been a favorite of mine and if I could get into my hot tub time machine I would go back to October 2, 2004 and tell Mayorga to for the love of God not ask Felix Trinidad to hit him in the face with this best shot. Before that Mayorga was doing well in the fight but after letting Trinidad hit him with his left hook point blank in the face, he was fighting at maybe 60%. But even at 60% Mayorga was keeping it close until Trinidad connected with some low blows that effectively sapped what remained of Mayorga's reserves and set him up for the finishing body blows.

Even though it was a crazy, stupid mistake, its part of what I and many others loved about Mayorga..the insolence! The nerve, the gall! Even so I would arrive in my hot tub time machine and tell him not to do it. And here is the reason why.....