By Greg Bishop, The New York Times
LAS VEGAS — For months, Floyd Mayweather Jr. proved himself a man without a mute button, a boxer and a boaster who liked to fight and talk at the same time.
On Saturday night, against Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Mayweather needed few, if any, words. Once again, his fists spoke loudly, clearly and emphatically as he affirmed his status as a 4-1 favorite with a lopsided and unanimous decision.
Mayweather did not win Mosley’s welterweight championship belt, but only because he refused to pay the sanctioning fee. Instead, Mayweather retained his unbeaten record and controlled a challenger many ranked among the most dangerous he has fought.
By the late rounds, Mosley needed a knockout. In the seventh round, his security guard bellowed, “You’re the better fighter, let them go!” But it was Mayweather who kept landing, kept smiling that mischievous grin, who staggered Mosley once, twice and again.
Mosley had no answer for Mayweather’s speed, strategy, crisp jabs or series of right hands. After the eighth round, Mosley’s trainer, Naazim Richardson, told him that conditioning appeared to be the difference, and said it looked as if he was fading.
Against a fighter of Mayweather’s pedigree, those words proved ominous. Mosley never again seriously challenged.
Mayweather and Mosley presented classic contrasts: loud against subtle, smirk versus smile, flashy meets subdued. Even their entrances highlighted their differences. Mosley’s was low key; Mayweather, in some sort of sweater vest, was preceded by the O’Jays.
Mosley seemed to surprise Mayweather in the second round, making Mayweather’s knees wobble with a straight right hand to the face, then sending Mayweather into the ropes. Chants of “Mosley! Mosley! Mosley!” rang throughout the arena.
Other than that round, Mayweather controlled the early pace. He fought in classic Mayweather style — not exactly enthralling, but technically proficient, based not on speed or aggression but on timing that was nearly perfect.
Mosley’s corner implored him to jab more, but Mayweather continued to dictate terms. In the sixth round, he kept smiling, then landed a series of right hands, including a sharp blow to the face.
Mayweather defended his unblemished record (41-0) against Mosley (46-6), not Manny Pacquiao, who balked at Mayweather’s demands for blood testing. Mosley accepted those conditions, and both fighters allowed the United States Anti-Doping Agency to administer the tests.
Historically, 40-0 is the boxing equivalent of unlucky No. 13. Sugar Ray Robinson, George Foreman and Felix Trinidad suffered their first loss in their 41st professional fight. Mosley’s first defeat came in bout No. 39.
Despite Mayweather’s grandstanding, both boxers considered this fight important, even career-defining. Mayweather called for an impromptu workout late Wednesday, confirming his camp’s assertion that he prepared for Mosley with more intensity and vigor than his already maniacal standards mandated.
Mosley has delivered so often at the MGM that his camp nicknamed the building Mosley’s Greatest Moments. But questions lingered for the 38-year-old Mosley. Was his dismantling of Antonio Margarito in January 2009 an aberration? Or a sign that Mosley had put a messy divorce and his role in the Balco steroid scandal behind him?
Mosley’s camp believed that Mayweather had built his record against inferior competition. They thought Mosley possessed superior power and at least equal speed, enabling him to disrupt Mayweather’s tactical skill.
“Boxing ain’t about speed,” said Mayweather’s trainer and uncle, Roger Mayweather. “It ain’t about power. It’s about skill. Skill wins fights.”
The jousting between the camps started after Mayweather bested Juan Manual Marquez in September. To Mayweather, that fight affirmed his ability to last 12 rounds against elite opposition, despite a nearly two-year boxing absence. But when it ended, Mosley climbed into the ring and dimmed the celebration. Mayweather considered Mosley’s challenge a sign of disrespect.
Over the past three weeks, Mayweather lobbed insults at Mosley. Although the boxers played nice at Wednesday’s news conference, tension boiled over two days later at the weigh-in. After their argument nearly led to blows, both camps claimed the skirmish proved that the other side was worried.
The real fighting took place Saturday, in front of governors (Arnold Schwarzenegger), hip-hop moguls (Jay-Z), actors (Will Smith), Hall of Famers (Magic Johnson) and what seemed like the entire Jets organization, including Mark Sanchez and the owner, Woody Johnson.
But the most serious sign of this fight’s importance came from the boxing royalty in attendance: Muhammad Ali, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson and Tommy Hearns, among others.
Last week, Mayweather challenged reporters and boxing experts. He said that when he beat Mosley, everyone would point to Mosley’s age, once again diminishing Mayweather’s triumph.
“No matter what happens, I’m always in a no-win situation,” he said. “All I’ve done is consistently beat whoever they put in front of me. I’m never going to get my just due.”
Perhaps, but on Saturday, Mayweather claimed his 41st victory. Let the chatter resume.
Source: nytimes.com
i think it's time for pacquiao and mayweather to fight. don't you think?
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