33-yr old “Money” Mayweather is undefeated in 40 professional fights and has dominated all his previous ring rivals except probably Jose Luis Castillo.
“Sugar” Shane Mosley (46-5, with 39 knockouts) at 39 years old has defied time and has only lost once in five years – a close unanimous decision defeat in the hands of Puerto Rican slugger Miguel Cotto in November of 2007.
Some of the most knowledgeable boxing writers in the industry gave their early predictions for the mega-fight. Check them out.
Adam Pollack, Cyber Boxing Zone
This is THE fight I have wanted to see Mayweather in for years because Mosley has the speed, strength, chin, and versatility to give Floyd a REAL fight instead of just being able to put on an exhibition for 12 rounds. My only reservation is Shane's age - with age you slow down a bit and you don't punch as often, which can hurt in a points bout. Still, because Floyd isn't the busiest guy himself, I think this will be a closely contested bout. Floyd has the edge in youth and speed and overall defensive skill, but Shane has the gamer qualities, the edge in strength and punching power, and has enough speed, skill, and defense himself that it is no walk in the park for Floyd and he could possibly lose. I just want to see Floyd in with a guy who can make him prove he can fight and has a fighter's heart rather than just show that he's a cautious performer. Shane will probably make him show that.
Geoff Poundes, Ringside Report
Mayweather, on points. Mosley looked great against Margarito, but we’re another year or so on and I think Mayweather will beat him relatively easily.
Mark Whicker, Orange County Register
Mosley, unanimous decision.
Graham Houston, FightWriter
Mayweather, decision.
Amy Green, BoxingInLasVegas
I say Floyd wins over Mosley by split decision.
Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times
Total pick-'em. If Shane is not rusty after all this time off, he is capable of beating Floyd, and there aren't many boxers that are.
Frank Lotierzo, The Sweet Science
Mayweather by decision.
Tony Nobbs, Eastside Boxing
Mayweather wins a wide decision but is troubled by Mosley's speed early.
Matthew Goldstein, Boxing Talk
Mayweather by UD. Mosley seems to only dominate Mexican fighters who tend to brawl. I've never seen him beat a slick, black boxer. Then again, we haven’t seen Mayweather do that either.
Chris Ackerman, Doghouse Boxing
I will believe it when I see them both geared up, in the ring and the bell sounds. Mosley is a legitimate threat to Floyd and so I can't see Mayweather actually fighting him. He's not coming up in weight, he's not a lower tier guy, he's not too old and he's not coated with ring rust...therefore, why would anyone think Mayweather would risk it? My guess is, it will fall through and Floyd will fight Brian Viloria or maybe Angel Manfredy or something ridiculous like that.
Michael Rosenthal, Ring Magazine
Mayweather by comfortable decision in competitive fight…
TP Walker, Eastside Boxing
This is by far the toughest fight out there. Everyone wants to see May/Pac but May/Mosley is the real deal. Gonna hold on predicting this one just yet till we see what happens in training camps and over the months leading up to the fight.
Ramon Aranda, 411mania
This is a pick 'em fight. Mayweather looked good against Marquez though a huge weight advantage was in his favor. Mosley looked fantastic against Margarito but has now been out of the ring for over a year. Will the rust affect Mosley? Will Mayweather be able to handle a quick, hard punching natural welterweight? I still don't know either way but I'd slightly favor Mayweather if I had to.
Brandon Estrict, Doghouse Boxing
Head says Mayweather, gut says Mosley. Great matchup really pumped for this one.
Tony Penecale Jr, Fight News Unlimited
A very close fight. I would give Mayweather the edge as he is younger and a shade faster. But I would not be surprised if Mosley won via stoppage. Oscar De la Hoya had Mayweather backing up and looking confused and then he stopped and let Mayweather regain the momentum. Mosley and his trainer Naazim Richardson would be smart to try and duplicate that blueprint. If Mosley can land a power jab to Mayweather torso and shoulder, he can back him up and disrupt his offense, opening opportunities for Mosley to attack the body.
Jim Amato, DM Boxing
I think Mayweather - Mosley will be competitive. Still I pick Mayweather to beat Shane. I'm just glad to see Shane get a good payday off the Margarito win. As far as I'm concerned, the table has been set for Manny -vs- Mayweather later in 2010.
Springs Toledo, The Sweet Science
Mosley is easily the most dangerous opponent that Mayweather has faced yet. He has more than one of the qualities that any fighter must have to deal with the technically-sound savant that is Floyd. Mosley is physically strong, he still has those fast-twitch fibers, he also has the do-or-die mentality and the willingness to fight Floyd with disdain. He is almost a foil for Floyd. But he isn't quite, and here's why: Shane makes technical mistakes, especially when he is aggressive (and he's always looking to be aggressive). If you look closely, Shane will show you patterns of mistakes. Floyd reads such things like a computer. Shane is not a fighter who is unorthodox enough to avoid being read and thus timed by Floyd. Floyd is going to give up rounds to find the answers to Shane, but Shane will be giving him plenty to think about in the meantime. Floyd will eventually take over, but the question is, will he do it soon enough to win more rounds than Shane...? I suspect he won't.
Ronan Keenan, The Sweet Science
Mayweather by competitive points margin. His superior speed will be the difference against an ageing Mosley in a nip-and-tuck affair.
Don Stewart, Reading Eagle
I've been saying for a couple years now that I believe Mosley is the only guy in the 147-pound vicinity capable of beating Floyd. He has the chin, the hand speed, the power and the skills to give Floyd problems. I wonder how that long layoff will affect him, though, especially at the twilight of his career. A few years back, I would have predicted Mosley by decision. But in 2010, Floyd outboxes him and wins a clear-cut decision.
Michel Joseph, Boxing Talk
Mayweather wins a unanimous decision. This fight has "12 rounds" written all over it. Mayweather does not have the power to take out Mosley, who's got a granite chin - hell, Mayweather didn't have the power to take out the smaller, phsyically less durable Juan Manuel Marquez, so folks should forget about Mayweather fighting less than twelve rounds here. Mosley is bigger, stronger, and more powerful - the problem here is that Mayweather has fought and beaten people who were bigger, stronger, and more powerful before. Mosley is still faster than most fighters, but the truth of the matter is that both Mayweather and Mosley are boxers who have enjoyed speed advantages over nearly every fighter they've ever fought, and both base a large part of their fight game on their speed. Mayweather is still in his physical prime, and Mosley is not, he's 38, and that's all there is to it. Mosley is in great shape sure, he takes excellent care of himself as most fans and writers know, but the simple physical truth is that you are not as fast at 38 as you were when you were 28 - and I don't care who you are. So, Mayweather will enter the ring with a speed advantage, and he'll use all the movement he can to successfully outbox the pursuing Shane Mosley, who though slower, won't allow Mayweather, who can't hurt him, to simply cruise. This fight should be competitive, but ultimately, Mayweather is the better boxer, with the key advantage - hand-speed, and for once, Mosley is going to find out what it's like to be the slower fighter.
Paul H. Burbridge, Eastside Boxing
I think people are going to be surprised at how this fight plays out. I think Shane Mosley “was” a great fighter in his prime but now is a shell of him self. I know that’s controversial but I really believe that too much has been made of the Margarito fight. Shane looked average against Ricardo Mayorga and before that seemed unable to pull the trigger against Miguel Cotto. The Margarito fight is the only reason people think he has a chance against Floyd but the circumstances are so different that I think you’ll see Mosley looking every bit his age come May 1st. One thing we all know is that Floyd is doesn’t take too many chances and the fact that he agreed to fight Shane tells you they know something so expect a boxing clinic from Mayweather. This is Shane's retirement score nothing more. The fight at times will look like the De La Hoya fight for Floyd and he will win convincingly.
Mayweather by UD!
David Greisman, BoxingScene
Mayweather over Mosley.
Igor Frank, Burbank Times
A bout long time in the making, Mayweather - Mosley is going to be a very competitive match up. Mosley is a well preserved veteran who has the strength and speed to match up with Mayweather. Mosley does not tire out in the later rounds, so if Mayweather gives away early rounds he might have a hard time catching up. Mosley does have the power to hurt Floyd, but the problem remains the same, landing clean shots on him is next to impossible. If Mosley takes a page out of Mayweather’s fight with Castillo and constantly pressures his foe to the ropes and remembers what he did to Margarito and goes to the body early and often, he has a good chance of beating the odds and besting Floyd in their upcoming showdown. Floyd however is younger and a bit faster and if he could employ the jab that he used in his last fight with Marquez and keep this bout in the center of the ring, it might turn out to be a very long night for Sugar Shane. Mayweather is undefeated and he is very smart in the ring. I believe he will find a way to win a close decision over Mosley.
Charles White, Eastside Boxing
Mayweather by UD. He has too great a defense for Mosley to catch him solidly enough times to cause a stoppage. Also, Mosley has a solid jab which could cause Mayweather problems, but the trouble is that Mosley has not used this jab enough in past fights. This will however be a very rough and tough fight for Mayweather. It will definitely put him to the test. Mayweather might even get roughed up a bit, but I think he still takes the fight by comfortable decision.
- Marshall N. B., marx7204@lycos.com
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