FREE PRESS STAFF
Kronk Gym icon Emanuel Steward will be at ringside Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as part of the HBO boxing team calling the Floyd (Pretty Boy) Mayweather Jr. (40-0, 25 KOs) versus Sugar Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) welterweight clash. The fight can be seen on HBO pay-per-view beginning at 9 p.m.
Steward knows Mayweather, the six-time world champion from Grand Rapids, and his family well, having hosted him at his training camp in California. Though Mayweather, 33, is expected to have too much speed and stamina for the WBA super welterweight king Mosley, 38, Steward believes the fight will go down to the wire. He spoke to Free Press boxing writer Mike Brudenell on Monday from Florida on the year's most talked about fight to date.
Q: Where does this fight rank in recent times?
A: This shapes up as a great bout -- better than Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya or Mayweather and De La Hoya, or Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez. Mosley will test Mayweather, get him out of his comfort zone. At 38, Mosley is still an exceptional human being. There's something special about him. He'll bring out the best in Mayweather.
Q: What are the keys to Mosley winning the fight?
A: Shane now has a trainer in Naazim Richardson who can instill the energy and spiritual force in him to raise his performance. Mosley also has an unbelievable desire to win this fight. He can't fast-talk Floyd, but he has a burning desire to whip Mayweather's behind.
Q: How does Mayweather win?
A: Floyd will pick his spots -- keep the fight outside. He'll counterpunch and fight a technical bout. He has superior speed and movement.
Q: Is this fight the biggest test of Mayweather's career?
A: Yes. The intensity of this fight will be more than Floyd has ever faced. This is definitely his biggest test. Mosley is just big enough to attack him.
Q: Mosley's wife, Jin, filed for divorce in 2009. He has a new trainer. How is Mosley's mental state right now?
A: I think there are a lot of burdens off of him. I think he is on a high. I think Mosley is very focused on this fight.
Q: What about you?
A: You bet I'm excited. I had a lunch meeting a few weeks ago with the HBO boxing crew -- Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and Harold Lederman. They thought Mosley an 8-1 shot. I said, I think you guys are crazy -- this isn't any runaway fight.
Q: Who wins?
A: It's hard to call. I believe it's a dead-even fight. ... The officiating will be the key: Mayweather, possibly, by decision.
Source: freep.com
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