By Tim Smith, New York Daily News
Floyd Mayweather Jr. loves to talk trash before a fight. Getting under the skin of his opponent before they get in the ring is one of his major weapons. He's very good at it.
Before he fought the late Diego Corrales, Mayweather tweaked Corrales about assault charges that were pending against the boxer, stemming from his having punched his pregnant wife in the stomach. Mayweather said he was dedicating the fight to all abused women and even offered to have Corrales' estranged wife seat ringside as his guest to watch him beat up Corrales.
Corrales said it didn't have any effect on him. But Mayweather did drop him five times before stopping Corrales on a TKO.
Shane Mosley is more than aware of all the chatter coming from Mayweather in advance of their welterweight showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 1. As much as Mosley would like to avoid it, he can't. They spent a significant amount of time together on the promotional tour before heading to their respective training camps last month. And the two boxers and their camps are the subject of the HBO boxing reality series "24/7" and Mosley said he had seen the first episode. Mayweather spends most of his time tweaking Mosley, who said he has ignored the trash talking.
There is one thing that Mosley can't ignore and that is the subject of his past involvement with steroids, which is a major part of Mayweather's verbal harassment fodder.
And for that, Mosley has only himself to blame. As great a boxer as Mosley is and whatever his legacy becomes, he will forever be haunted by his decision to get involved with BALCO and its founder, Victor Conte, before he fought Oscar De La Hoya in 2003.
That point was driven home when Conte released a video tape on YouTube of a 2009 deposition in the defamation lawsuit Mosley filed against Conte of Mosley admitting that he used EPO provided by Conte. Mosley had already admitted in federal grand jury testimony that he used the designer steroids "the clear" and "the cream" from BALCO. Mosley maintains that he was an unwitting dupe of Conte and his former strength and conditioning coach Daryl Hudson.
Maybe Mosley was naïve. Maybe he was duped. Whatever the case, Mosley must realize that he caused all this by agreeing to use something that he knew nothing about. Now he has to live with the consequences for the Mayweather fight and beyond.
Perhaps that is why he bristles at any questions involving his past association with Conte and BALCO and steroids. During a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, Mosley snapped at a reporter who asked whether he felt any different than when he trained and fought on steroids in 2003. He said it was a stupid question because he has always been a clean boxer, because he has never tested positive for steroids.
Does he not realize that was the purpose of Conte concocting designer steroids and masking agents for the various athletes who beat a path to his door?
This is not to make Mosley a villain. This is merely a suggestion that he take ownership of his role in all this and stop trying to make us think that he's some kind of innocent. He made a mistake. If that mistake was trusting those around him, then so be it. If it was a mistake of trying to gain an illegal advantage, then so be it.
As much as Mosley would like to move away from what happened in 2003, he won't be able to do it. Ever.
People are always going to question his behavior. Some opponents, like Mayweather, will always seize upon it as a way to get under Mosley's skin before a fight. Until Mosley realizes that and takes ownership of what he has done, then it will continue to be a source of consternation for him.
PUNCHLINES ...
I've never been a big fan of the Super Six tournament. I thought it was a contrived tournament that took too long (three years) to determine the best 168-pound fighter in the world. And originally it didn't include Allan Green.
But it is growing on me and Green has been added, replacing Jermain Taylor, who suffered a devastating and career-threatening KO by Arthur Abraham in the opening round of the tournament. I'm still not a fan of the length of the tournament, but some of the fights have been compelling.
Carl Froch of Nothingham, England will defend his WBC 168-pound title against Mikkel Kessler in Herning, Denmark in a Group Stage 2 match on Showtime on Saturday night. The undefeated Froch may be familiar to U.S. boxing fans for knocking out Taylor in a match outside of the tournament. May favorites to win the thing are Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell, teammates on the 2004 U.S. Olympic boxing team. Ward won gold and Dirrell brought home bronze. The other major boxing match this weekend involves a couple of heavyweights that have designs on being champions. Cris Arreola will take on Tomasz Adamek in a 12-round match in Ontario, Calif., on Saturday night on HBO's "Boxing After Dark." Arreola came up very small in his first heavyweight championship fight against Vitali Klitschko. Arreola never laid a glove on Klitschko and his corner stopped the fight after 10 rounds. Adamek is trying to make his mark at heavyweight after winning world titles at light heavyweight and cruiserweight. When Arreola is in shape he can be an action fighter. Adamek is an all-action fighter no matter the occasion. Adamek has fought twice at heavyweight, stopping former contender and fellow Polish boxer Andrew Golata by knockout and taking a 12-round decision over Jason Estrada. Early on I thought Arreola had the temperament to be a serious contender for the heavyweight title. After the loss to Klitschko, I'm not to sure. Adamek certainly has what it takes to contend. The question is whether he can handle the power at the higher weight.
Source: nydailynews.com
Friday, 23 April 2010
Floyd Mayweather questions Hall of Fame credentials of Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao -- Grand Rapids Press
By David Mayo, The Grand Rapids Press
LAS VEGAS -- From a school where his daughter received a scholastic award Thursday, Floyd Mayweather took time to give reporters some instruction of his own, on precisely what constitutes a Hall of Famer.
He excluded one Shane Mosley, his opponent next week in a fight with the potential to be a welterweight classic, although Mayweather’s potential classics traditionally devolve into either one-way beatdowns or boxing clinics.
He also questioned the credentials of one Manny Pacquiao, the man he might have fought in the first half of this year, if not for that drug-testing snafu.
Ludicrous as it seems, that’s Mayweather’s stance, and the Grand Rapids native is sticking to it -- at least for eight more days, until, if all goes according to plan, he beats Mosley for his 41st win, then declares what a great future Hall of Famer he just defeated.
Predictable, isn’t it?
Once again, Mayweather brought up the steroid issue in his unending, droning effort to discredit Mosley and damage his opponent’s brain without actually punching it.
“I can’t see how a guy like Mosley can call himself great, or how Mosley can call himself a future Hall of Famer, when we don’t know how long he was taking those enhancement drugs. This is something that we don’t know,” Mayweather said.
Of course, Mosley, who never tested positive for steroids, although he did use them in 2003, agreed to random blood and urine testing administered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in order to fight Mayweather, and has tested clean each time.
Pacquiao never tested positive for steroids either, and there is absolutely no evidence he ever used them, save for speculation by people named Mayweather.
Yet Mayweather discredited Pacquiao’s Hall of Fame credentials both on the basis of past failings -- a disputed win and disputed draw with Juan Manuel Marquez, whom Mayweather dominated, a loss to Erik Morales, and a couple of early-career knockout losses -- and his own camp’s steroid suspicions, which he views as undenied rather than unconfirmed.
“That’s not for me to put him in the Hall of Fame,” Mayweather said. “All I’m saying is, if you’re an athlete, take the test. That’s all I’ve got to say. If you’re a clean athlete, take the test. That’s all I’m saying. That’s all I’ve got to say. If you’re a clean athlete, take the test. Show the world. You know what? I’m a natural. Take the test, that’s all I’ve got to say. USADA can meet you at any time. Take the test.”
Did we mention that’s all he’s got to say?
Soon, we can get down to the business of two of Earth’s three best welterweights throwing down with one another.
In the handful of days until then, Mayweather will toss around the usual stream of invectives, and while the general public might not warm up to such vitriol, these are fighters -- not sweetiepies, like, say, NFL quarterbacks.
So the venom spews and the targets are clear.
Primary target, Mosley.
Secondary target, Pacquiao.
Beyond the steroid issue, Mayweather said he thought Mosley disrespected Jack Mosley on this week’s HBO “24/7” episode by explaining he fired his father for a lack of focus.
Anyone who has followed the Mayweather family saga, feel free to insert punch line here.
He also discounted Pacquiao’s recognition as Fighter of the Decade, a title Mayweather might have won if he fought more than once in the last two years, based largely on the aforementioned disputed win and non-wins.
“So I’m trying to find out what it really is,” Mayweather said.
It really is eight days until resolution, filled with banter about why Mayweather doesn’t like all manner of things, including the “Who R U Picking?” fight theme.
“There’s no remedy on how to beat me yet,” he said. “So the thing is this: For everyone to try to solve the problem, it’s like a difficult math problem that can’t no one solve. No one can solve it. So the ultimate goal is to try to solve the problem. How to beat Floyd Mayweather, that’s the ultimate goal.”
E-mail David Mayo: dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo
Source: mlive.com
LAS VEGAS -- From a school where his daughter received a scholastic award Thursday, Floyd Mayweather took time to give reporters some instruction of his own, on precisely what constitutes a Hall of Famer.
He excluded one Shane Mosley, his opponent next week in a fight with the potential to be a welterweight classic, although Mayweather’s potential classics traditionally devolve into either one-way beatdowns or boxing clinics.
He also questioned the credentials of one Manny Pacquiao, the man he might have fought in the first half of this year, if not for that drug-testing snafu.
Ludicrous as it seems, that’s Mayweather’s stance, and the Grand Rapids native is sticking to it -- at least for eight more days, until, if all goes according to plan, he beats Mosley for his 41st win, then declares what a great future Hall of Famer he just defeated.
Predictable, isn’t it?
Once again, Mayweather brought up the steroid issue in his unending, droning effort to discredit Mosley and damage his opponent’s brain without actually punching it.
“I can’t see how a guy like Mosley can call himself great, or how Mosley can call himself a future Hall of Famer, when we don’t know how long he was taking those enhancement drugs. This is something that we don’t know,” Mayweather said.
Of course, Mosley, who never tested positive for steroids, although he did use them in 2003, agreed to random blood and urine testing administered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in order to fight Mayweather, and has tested clean each time.
Pacquiao never tested positive for steroids either, and there is absolutely no evidence he ever used them, save for speculation by people named Mayweather.
Yet Mayweather discredited Pacquiao’s Hall of Fame credentials both on the basis of past failings -- a disputed win and disputed draw with Juan Manuel Marquez, whom Mayweather dominated, a loss to Erik Morales, and a couple of early-career knockout losses -- and his own camp’s steroid suspicions, which he views as undenied rather than unconfirmed.
“That’s not for me to put him in the Hall of Fame,” Mayweather said. “All I’m saying is, if you’re an athlete, take the test. That’s all I’ve got to say. If you’re a clean athlete, take the test. That’s all I’m saying. That’s all I’ve got to say. If you’re a clean athlete, take the test. Show the world. You know what? I’m a natural. Take the test, that’s all I’ve got to say. USADA can meet you at any time. Take the test.”
Did we mention that’s all he’s got to say?
Soon, we can get down to the business of two of Earth’s three best welterweights throwing down with one another.
In the handful of days until then, Mayweather will toss around the usual stream of invectives, and while the general public might not warm up to such vitriol, these are fighters -- not sweetiepies, like, say, NFL quarterbacks.
So the venom spews and the targets are clear.
Primary target, Mosley.
Secondary target, Pacquiao.
Beyond the steroid issue, Mayweather said he thought Mosley disrespected Jack Mosley on this week’s HBO “24/7” episode by explaining he fired his father for a lack of focus.
Anyone who has followed the Mayweather family saga, feel free to insert punch line here.
He also discounted Pacquiao’s recognition as Fighter of the Decade, a title Mayweather might have won if he fought more than once in the last two years, based largely on the aforementioned disputed win and non-wins.
“So I’m trying to find out what it really is,” Mayweather said.
It really is eight days until resolution, filled with banter about why Mayweather doesn’t like all manner of things, including the “Who R U Picking?” fight theme.
“There’s no remedy on how to beat me yet,” he said. “So the thing is this: For everyone to try to solve the problem, it’s like a difficult math problem that can’t no one solve. No one can solve it. So the ultimate goal is to try to solve the problem. How to beat Floyd Mayweather, that’s the ultimate goal.”
E-mail David Mayo: dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo
Source: mlive.com
Mayweather questions Pacquiao's stature among boxing greats -- ABS-CBN News
abs-cbnNEWS.com
MANILA, Philippines – Former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. again took a swipe at international boxing star Manny Pacquiao, questioning the Filipino’s stature among boxing greats.
In a conference call about his upcoming fight against “Sugar” Shane Mosley, the controversial boxer downplayed Pacquiao’s sensational victories over Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto and Britain’s Ricky Hatton.
“He beat a Miguel Cotto who got pummeled with a cast and he beat a Ricky Hatton that got stretched by me… That’s not for me to put him in the Hall of Fame,” Mayweather said in a report posted on boxing.fighthype.com.
The Filipino stopped Cotto in 12 rounds last November to win the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title, his 7th in 7 weight classes.
Prior to facing Cotto, Pacquiao knocked out Hatton in just 2 rounds. It took Mayweather 10 rounds to stop the bull strong Briton.
The Boxing Writers Association of America thus picked the Filipino over Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera as the Fighter of the Decade.
Analysts also compared Pacquiao to the late boxing great Henry Armstrong, who simultaneously held world titles in 3 three different divisions.
The undefeated Mayweather also said that unlike him, the Filipino has suffered losses in his professional career, aside from struggling against counter punching expert Juan Manuel Marquez.
“Manny Pacquiao struggled twice, which we really know he got beat, struggled twice with Marquez, which we know he really lost. Right? And we know he been knocked out twice and he got outboxed by Erik Morales, but then they still give him Boxer of the Decade. So that’s another thing I don’t understand,” said Mayweather.
Pacquiao, considered as one of the most exciting boxers today, took over Mayweather’s pound-for-pound status when the latter went on temporary retirement in 2007.
The 2 boxers were supposed to settle the issue of who is the best pound-for-pound fighter through a match last March. However, negotiations for the bout collapsed over a drug test dispute.
As a result, Pacquiao instead fought Joshua Clottey, whom he defeated by unanimous decision last March 13.
Mayweather, for his part, secured a fight against Mosley on May 1.
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
MANILA, Philippines – Former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. again took a swipe at international boxing star Manny Pacquiao, questioning the Filipino’s stature among boxing greats.
In a conference call about his upcoming fight against “Sugar” Shane Mosley, the controversial boxer downplayed Pacquiao’s sensational victories over Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto and Britain’s Ricky Hatton.
“He beat a Miguel Cotto who got pummeled with a cast and he beat a Ricky Hatton that got stretched by me… That’s not for me to put him in the Hall of Fame,” Mayweather said in a report posted on boxing.fighthype.com.
The Filipino stopped Cotto in 12 rounds last November to win the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title, his 7th in 7 weight classes.
Prior to facing Cotto, Pacquiao knocked out Hatton in just 2 rounds. It took Mayweather 10 rounds to stop the bull strong Briton.
The Boxing Writers Association of America thus picked the Filipino over Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera as the Fighter of the Decade.
Analysts also compared Pacquiao to the late boxing great Henry Armstrong, who simultaneously held world titles in 3 three different divisions.
The undefeated Mayweather also said that unlike him, the Filipino has suffered losses in his professional career, aside from struggling against counter punching expert Juan Manuel Marquez.
“Manny Pacquiao struggled twice, which we really know he got beat, struggled twice with Marquez, which we know he really lost. Right? And we know he been knocked out twice and he got outboxed by Erik Morales, but then they still give him Boxer of the Decade. So that’s another thing I don’t understand,” said Mayweather.
Pacquiao, considered as one of the most exciting boxers today, took over Mayweather’s pound-for-pound status when the latter went on temporary retirement in 2007.
The 2 boxers were supposed to settle the issue of who is the best pound-for-pound fighter through a match last March. However, negotiations for the bout collapsed over a drug test dispute.
As a result, Pacquiao instead fought Joshua Clottey, whom he defeated by unanimous decision last March 13.
Mayweather, for his part, secured a fight against Mosley on May 1.
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
Mayweather shuns WBA belt ahead of Mosley fight -- CNN
CNN
(CNN) -- Floyd Mayweather will not be fighting Shane Mosley for a world title on May 1 after the "Money Man" refused to pay the World Boxing Association's sanctioning fee.
The five-time world champion takes on Mosley in Las Vegas on May 1 but insists his legacy is more important to him than fighting for "Sugar Shane's" welterweight title.
"I did not want to fight for the WBA title," Mayweather told Sky Sports. "At this point, it's all about enhancing my legacy.
"I've done a lot of things in this sport, things that a lot of fighters weren't able to do in the sport and didn't do in the sport. This fight with Shane Mosley will enhance my legacy."
Mayweather, 33, has won all 40 of his professional bouts and is a six-time world champion at five different weights.
His proposed "super fight" with WBO welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao broke down after a disagreement over drug testing procedures, and he opted to fight Mosely instead.
Mayweather referred to his opponent as "a solid welterweight with great accomplishments," but dismissed his chances of a victory at the MGM Grand.
"We are totally different," he added. "He's a fighter that always worries about landing one big shot, he worries about who is extremely strong.
"And I worry about being smart and winning. We approach fights in two totally different ways. When I shoot my shots, I am looking at my opponent. When Shane punches, a lot of times he closes his eyes.
"I am pretty sure Shane is going to be in good condition. We are going to put on one hell of a show on May 1 come the fight. Like I have always said before - there is no remedy on how to beat Floyd Mayweather. Everyone is trying to solve the problem.
"It's like a difficult maths problem that no one can solve. No one can solve it. The ultimate goal is try to solve the problem. How to beat Floyd Mayweather? I know what I have to go out there and do."
Source: edition.cnn.com
(CNN) -- Floyd Mayweather will not be fighting Shane Mosley for a world title on May 1 after the "Money Man" refused to pay the World Boxing Association's sanctioning fee.
The five-time world champion takes on Mosley in Las Vegas on May 1 but insists his legacy is more important to him than fighting for "Sugar Shane's" welterweight title.
"I did not want to fight for the WBA title," Mayweather told Sky Sports. "At this point, it's all about enhancing my legacy.
"I've done a lot of things in this sport, things that a lot of fighters weren't able to do in the sport and didn't do in the sport. This fight with Shane Mosley will enhance my legacy."
Mayweather, 33, has won all 40 of his professional bouts and is a six-time world champion at five different weights.
His proposed "super fight" with WBO welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao broke down after a disagreement over drug testing procedures, and he opted to fight Mosely instead.
Mayweather referred to his opponent as "a solid welterweight with great accomplishments," but dismissed his chances of a victory at the MGM Grand.
"We are totally different," he added. "He's a fighter that always worries about landing one big shot, he worries about who is extremely strong.
"And I worry about being smart and winning. We approach fights in two totally different ways. When I shoot my shots, I am looking at my opponent. When Shane punches, a lot of times he closes his eyes.
"I am pretty sure Shane is going to be in good condition. We are going to put on one hell of a show on May 1 come the fight. Like I have always said before - there is no remedy on how to beat Floyd Mayweather. Everyone is trying to solve the problem.
"It's like a difficult maths problem that no one can solve. No one can solve it. The ultimate goal is try to solve the problem. How to beat Floyd Mayweather? I know what I have to go out there and do."
Source: edition.cnn.com
Nazim Richardson: “If you put it on the scale and it weighs 147, there are certain farm animals that Shane Mosley can knock out” -- Eastside Boxing
By Geoffrey Ciani, Eastside Boxing
This week’s edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio featured an exclusive interview with highly regarded trainer Nazim Richardson who is currently working with Sugar Shane Mosley in preparations for his May 1 clash with Floyd Mayweather Junior. Here are some excerpts from that interview:
On preparations for Mosley’s upcoming fight with Mayweather:
“Well it’s not so much about Floyd, it’s that I have to have Shane be the best Shane Mosley he can be and make Floyd Mayweather have to make the necessary adjustments. I think that’s the problem, too many people are concentrating on Floyd.”
Regarding how he sees the fight between Mosley and Mayweather:
“I see it being the kind of fight that there’s going to be a whole lot of adjustments being made during the fight and nobody is going to be able to live by one philosophy. We’re going to have to vary and change at the drop of a dime. I have to have my athlete prepared for that..”
On whether he thinks Shane will be able to prevent Floyd from making adjustments like he did in victories against Oscar De La Hoya and Zab Judah:
“Well see, I have to think from a different perspective. I can’t be to the point of arrogance where I can assume that my guy’s juts going to go and put something out and that Floyd wouldn’t be able to make an adjustment. I wouldn’t be prepared if I did that. I have to be prepared that Floyd’s going to make an adjustment to what we have to do and then we have to readjust so it’s just that kind of fight. It’s like when you play chess, you have to assume the other guy is going to move his rook and going to move his pawn through.”
On whether he believes Shane’s age and long layoff will play a major factor in the fight:
“It’s going to be something we’re going to have to deal with earlier in the first couple of rounds, but his philosophy is that he lives like a boxer so it’s a part of his lifestyle. He’s in shape and he stays in the gym so he should be able to respond pretty quickly.”
On whether he thinks Floyd is ill-prepared to face adversity given he has never faced an elite welterweight before:
“Here’s my thing, I have to cross that bridge when I get to it. I feel as though he’s going to face adversity in this fight and there’s nothing that this kid has done in the past that will make me assume that he can’t adjust. I won’t underestimate the guy like that. One of Floyd’s greatest attributes is that he talks so much stuff and everybody wants to see him punched in the mouth so bad that they just takes him for granted and they look past his actual ability. Oscar (De La Hoya) was one to say he got angry and just wanted to run in there and punch him in the mouth. That’s what threw Oscar off his game plan. I think Ricky Hatton and a few other people have done the same thing. Don’t look past his skills just because he’s running his mouth.”
His thoughts on Floyd Mayweather as a fighter:
“I think he’s very talented. I just had an argument with somebody not too long ago because they were trying to tell me they don’t think much of him as a fighter. They think he’s a runner and this, that, and the other thing and I said, you know I think it’s ignorant to look at him from that perspective. The guy’s been successful with what he does. How can you belittle what he does if he’s been that successful with it? I think one of my strengths in me being able to find success in some of my athletes is that I don’t underestimate guys. I’m not arrogant and I don’t look past a guy’s ability and a guy’s skills. I refuse to do that because I think it’s foolish. Even if I don’t like it—I may not like the way you box—but I can’t ignore that it’s been successful for you. I can’t ignore that it gets judges to vote your way, so I’ve never been like that. I knew a guy, (Joe) Calzaghe—I’ve never cared for the way Calzaghe fights but I have great respect for his achievements.”
On preparing Mosley in his upset victory against Antonio Margarito:
“People were really counting him out in the Margarito fight so when they asked my opinion on it, I felt that he could deal with Margarito. I felt he had so much ability that he could handle Margarito. It’s not so much that I had to change things in him. I’ve always given the credit in full, Jack Mosley taught him how to box and did a hell of a job teaching him how to box. You don’t overhaul an engine if the engine has been running well, you tweak and make little adjustments to have it win that particular race that you’re dealing with, and that’s my job—to find the flaws in Shane Mosley and try to strengthen those and then find the flaws in Floyd Mayweather and try to help Shane Mosley exploit them.”
On what makes him so successful at being a teacher as opposed to being just a trainer:
“Well I admit to you that even as a teacher you have to willing students. You have to have students that accept the philosophy. I think a lot of times I convince my athletes in my credibility so they accept my philosophy and it makes it easier for me to teach.”
His views on Joe Calzaghe:
“It’s hard for us over here to respect Calzaghe’s style because it’s so far different from what we allow our athletes to do here. We won’t allow our athletes to slap with punches. I tell people a lot of times, I applaud Calzaghe’s father because had you brought Joe Calzaghe over here to some of the greatest trainers that live over here, they probably wouldn’t have found the same success with him. I’m talking about some of the all time great trainers. Some of our guys like even the current guys that are out there now, like John David Jackson, Freddie Roach, and people of that nature, Emanuel Steward—they won’t let their guys out of the gym without turning those punches over. So we just wouldn’t accept that style here so it would never have been able to grow and flourish into what he became. We would have probably snuffed that fighter out a long time ago, but his dad being new to boxing he let it slide and it turned out to work. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.”
His views on Manny Pacquiao as a fighter:
“I think Pacquiao is a phenomenal athlete. I’ve said this before and you probably heard me say it before and I’ll say it again: Most great athletes mislead you. Bernard Hopkins is such a ferocious specimen in the way he attacks, in his energy and his attitude, that you forget he’s a technical fighter. He’s actually a technical fighter, he’s not just a monster that tucks his head and runs in and starts fighting, but the way he would speak you would think he just jumps in there and rips people apart, but he’s a technical fighter. He breaks you down and he gets you out of there, but he’s misleading. This kid Mayweather runs his mouth so much that you forget he can actually fight. Since where we come from, most people who run their mouth that much can’t produce like that. As soon as we hear somebody running their mouth as much as him we got to put them into a little room, but this guy can actually fight but he misleads you with that, and he trains hard so he misleads you with that. You get Manny Pacquiao. Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach have purely convinced the boxing world that Pacquiao is only four inches tall and weighs about forty-two ounces. All you ever hear about is how small Manny Pacquiao is. ‘Manny Pacquiao is so small!’ ‘Manny Pacquiao is the teeniest man on earth!’ That’s what you’re convinced of. Then the guy gets in there and gets hit by a shot by Manny Pacquiao and they be standing in the middle of the ring doing the lazzy jazzy. They say, ‘How does this little man do this?’ Calling Manny Pacquiao the smallest welterweight is like calling Mike Tyson a small heavyweight but that’s what great fighters do. Shane Mosley, he smiles and makes you think he’s going to sell you short. How can somebody be that pleasant and that sweet and then be that ferocious on Margarito? He jumped on Margarito that night and Margarito is looking at him like what happened to the smile? So these guys mislead you and I think Freddie does a phenomenal job with him to the point where as though you can intimidate people to think he must be using something. Like I said, if you don’t produce any proof that this guy is on something then I can’t put that out on anybody. I mean the way Michael Jordan jumps you can assume Michael Jordan was using something. There are some athletes that phenomenal, but we got to understand with the human body there are people with the human body who produce things like that, but we can’t just take things out of context. We take away from Freddie, we take away from Manny when we don’t have any proof and we just assume this guy’s doing something, this guy’s done something, this guy’s on something. I think that’s unfair man, because like I said I’ve watched Pacquiao, I’m impressed with him, I’ve watched the work Freddie’s done with him, I’m impressed with Freddie’s work.”
Regarding Bernard Hopkins’ victory in his long awaited rematch with Roy Jones Junior:
“When one guy is reluctant to fight it’s one of the hardest fights to approach especially at Bernard’s age. See when you’re young and a guy doesn’t want to fight you, everybody is screaming all about Pacquiao’s last performance. You got Joshua Clottey and he’s not living up to his 50% of the fight. The fight turns out to start stinking, but you got a younger Pacquiao who can just go ahead and just start throwing punches all over and still make it a fight. Well it’s harder for an older man when a guy doesn’t want to fight. Bernard was in the same position Pacquiao was in only he wasn’t dealing with a guy who was known once as a great talent, but Roy Jones came to that fight not to get knocked out so then he can convince his family and everybody he can move forward and that he’s okay. The Danny Green fight he had his sons and everything checking on you every five seconds in the house. I know how it was after my stroke. ‘Dad, you okay?’ Roy Jones just tripped on the carpet walking down the stairs for breakfast, ‘Oh, it’s those knockouts showing up’, so he had to go back in there with a fighter the magnitude of Bernard Hopkins and show, ‘Look, I got past the first round—erase Danny Green. I got past the second round—erase Antonio Tarver. You all considered Bernard to be the best fighter of these last couple of guys I fought and I went the distance with him.’, and that was his only goal—to go the distance or get disqualified, but not to just come out with a knockout, not to be knocked out.”
His final prediction for Mosley’s fight with Floyd Mayweather:
“I see Shane Mosley getting his hand raised in this particular fight. That’s why I signed on for the project. If I didn’t feel that way, I wouldn’t be involved in the project and I’ve turned projects down where I just didn’t feel like I could tell a guy anything that would get him past that athlete, so I see Shane Mosley having his hand raised.”
On whether he believes Mosley can knock Mayweather out:
“I think I said it earlier and people think I’m joking when I say it. They think I’m saying it to be humorous. It’s a premiere weight for him. If you put it on the scale and it weighs in at 147, I feel that Shane Mosley can knock it out. If you put it on the scale and it weighs 147, there are certain farm animal that Shane Mosley can knock out if they come in at 147. It’s a premiere weight for him. Now I don’t know, he’s won belts at 154 but I can’t say he’s that great of an athlete at 154. I know at 147 he’s something special, he’s really something special.”
***
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Source: eastsideboxing.com
This week’s edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio featured an exclusive interview with highly regarded trainer Nazim Richardson who is currently working with Sugar Shane Mosley in preparations for his May 1 clash with Floyd Mayweather Junior. Here are some excerpts from that interview:
On preparations for Mosley’s upcoming fight with Mayweather:
“Well it’s not so much about Floyd, it’s that I have to have Shane be the best Shane Mosley he can be and make Floyd Mayweather have to make the necessary adjustments. I think that’s the problem, too many people are concentrating on Floyd.”
Regarding how he sees the fight between Mosley and Mayweather:
“I see it being the kind of fight that there’s going to be a whole lot of adjustments being made during the fight and nobody is going to be able to live by one philosophy. We’re going to have to vary and change at the drop of a dime. I have to have my athlete prepared for that..”
On whether he thinks Shane will be able to prevent Floyd from making adjustments like he did in victories against Oscar De La Hoya and Zab Judah:
“Well see, I have to think from a different perspective. I can’t be to the point of arrogance where I can assume that my guy’s juts going to go and put something out and that Floyd wouldn’t be able to make an adjustment. I wouldn’t be prepared if I did that. I have to be prepared that Floyd’s going to make an adjustment to what we have to do and then we have to readjust so it’s just that kind of fight. It’s like when you play chess, you have to assume the other guy is going to move his rook and going to move his pawn through.”
On whether he believes Shane’s age and long layoff will play a major factor in the fight:
“It’s going to be something we’re going to have to deal with earlier in the first couple of rounds, but his philosophy is that he lives like a boxer so it’s a part of his lifestyle. He’s in shape and he stays in the gym so he should be able to respond pretty quickly.”
On whether he thinks Floyd is ill-prepared to face adversity given he has never faced an elite welterweight before:
“Here’s my thing, I have to cross that bridge when I get to it. I feel as though he’s going to face adversity in this fight and there’s nothing that this kid has done in the past that will make me assume that he can’t adjust. I won’t underestimate the guy like that. One of Floyd’s greatest attributes is that he talks so much stuff and everybody wants to see him punched in the mouth so bad that they just takes him for granted and they look past his actual ability. Oscar (De La Hoya) was one to say he got angry and just wanted to run in there and punch him in the mouth. That’s what threw Oscar off his game plan. I think Ricky Hatton and a few other people have done the same thing. Don’t look past his skills just because he’s running his mouth.”
His thoughts on Floyd Mayweather as a fighter:
“I think he’s very talented. I just had an argument with somebody not too long ago because they were trying to tell me they don’t think much of him as a fighter. They think he’s a runner and this, that, and the other thing and I said, you know I think it’s ignorant to look at him from that perspective. The guy’s been successful with what he does. How can you belittle what he does if he’s been that successful with it? I think one of my strengths in me being able to find success in some of my athletes is that I don’t underestimate guys. I’m not arrogant and I don’t look past a guy’s ability and a guy’s skills. I refuse to do that because I think it’s foolish. Even if I don’t like it—I may not like the way you box—but I can’t ignore that it’s been successful for you. I can’t ignore that it gets judges to vote your way, so I’ve never been like that. I knew a guy, (Joe) Calzaghe—I’ve never cared for the way Calzaghe fights but I have great respect for his achievements.”
On preparing Mosley in his upset victory against Antonio Margarito:
“People were really counting him out in the Margarito fight so when they asked my opinion on it, I felt that he could deal with Margarito. I felt he had so much ability that he could handle Margarito. It’s not so much that I had to change things in him. I’ve always given the credit in full, Jack Mosley taught him how to box and did a hell of a job teaching him how to box. You don’t overhaul an engine if the engine has been running well, you tweak and make little adjustments to have it win that particular race that you’re dealing with, and that’s my job—to find the flaws in Shane Mosley and try to strengthen those and then find the flaws in Floyd Mayweather and try to help Shane Mosley exploit them.”
On what makes him so successful at being a teacher as opposed to being just a trainer:
“Well I admit to you that even as a teacher you have to willing students. You have to have students that accept the philosophy. I think a lot of times I convince my athletes in my credibility so they accept my philosophy and it makes it easier for me to teach.”
His views on Joe Calzaghe:
“It’s hard for us over here to respect Calzaghe’s style because it’s so far different from what we allow our athletes to do here. We won’t allow our athletes to slap with punches. I tell people a lot of times, I applaud Calzaghe’s father because had you brought Joe Calzaghe over here to some of the greatest trainers that live over here, they probably wouldn’t have found the same success with him. I’m talking about some of the all time great trainers. Some of our guys like even the current guys that are out there now, like John David Jackson, Freddie Roach, and people of that nature, Emanuel Steward—they won’t let their guys out of the gym without turning those punches over. So we just wouldn’t accept that style here so it would never have been able to grow and flourish into what he became. We would have probably snuffed that fighter out a long time ago, but his dad being new to boxing he let it slide and it turned out to work. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.”
His views on Manny Pacquiao as a fighter:
“I think Pacquiao is a phenomenal athlete. I’ve said this before and you probably heard me say it before and I’ll say it again: Most great athletes mislead you. Bernard Hopkins is such a ferocious specimen in the way he attacks, in his energy and his attitude, that you forget he’s a technical fighter. He’s actually a technical fighter, he’s not just a monster that tucks his head and runs in and starts fighting, but the way he would speak you would think he just jumps in there and rips people apart, but he’s a technical fighter. He breaks you down and he gets you out of there, but he’s misleading. This kid Mayweather runs his mouth so much that you forget he can actually fight. Since where we come from, most people who run their mouth that much can’t produce like that. As soon as we hear somebody running their mouth as much as him we got to put them into a little room, but this guy can actually fight but he misleads you with that, and he trains hard so he misleads you with that. You get Manny Pacquiao. Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach have purely convinced the boxing world that Pacquiao is only four inches tall and weighs about forty-two ounces. All you ever hear about is how small Manny Pacquiao is. ‘Manny Pacquiao is so small!’ ‘Manny Pacquiao is the teeniest man on earth!’ That’s what you’re convinced of. Then the guy gets in there and gets hit by a shot by Manny Pacquiao and they be standing in the middle of the ring doing the lazzy jazzy. They say, ‘How does this little man do this?’ Calling Manny Pacquiao the smallest welterweight is like calling Mike Tyson a small heavyweight but that’s what great fighters do. Shane Mosley, he smiles and makes you think he’s going to sell you short. How can somebody be that pleasant and that sweet and then be that ferocious on Margarito? He jumped on Margarito that night and Margarito is looking at him like what happened to the smile? So these guys mislead you and I think Freddie does a phenomenal job with him to the point where as though you can intimidate people to think he must be using something. Like I said, if you don’t produce any proof that this guy is on something then I can’t put that out on anybody. I mean the way Michael Jordan jumps you can assume Michael Jordan was using something. There are some athletes that phenomenal, but we got to understand with the human body there are people with the human body who produce things like that, but we can’t just take things out of context. We take away from Freddie, we take away from Manny when we don’t have any proof and we just assume this guy’s doing something, this guy’s done something, this guy’s on something. I think that’s unfair man, because like I said I’ve watched Pacquiao, I’m impressed with him, I’ve watched the work Freddie’s done with him, I’m impressed with Freddie’s work.”
Regarding Bernard Hopkins’ victory in his long awaited rematch with Roy Jones Junior:
“When one guy is reluctant to fight it’s one of the hardest fights to approach especially at Bernard’s age. See when you’re young and a guy doesn’t want to fight you, everybody is screaming all about Pacquiao’s last performance. You got Joshua Clottey and he’s not living up to his 50% of the fight. The fight turns out to start stinking, but you got a younger Pacquiao who can just go ahead and just start throwing punches all over and still make it a fight. Well it’s harder for an older man when a guy doesn’t want to fight. Bernard was in the same position Pacquiao was in only he wasn’t dealing with a guy who was known once as a great talent, but Roy Jones came to that fight not to get knocked out so then he can convince his family and everybody he can move forward and that he’s okay. The Danny Green fight he had his sons and everything checking on you every five seconds in the house. I know how it was after my stroke. ‘Dad, you okay?’ Roy Jones just tripped on the carpet walking down the stairs for breakfast, ‘Oh, it’s those knockouts showing up’, so he had to go back in there with a fighter the magnitude of Bernard Hopkins and show, ‘Look, I got past the first round—erase Danny Green. I got past the second round—erase Antonio Tarver. You all considered Bernard to be the best fighter of these last couple of guys I fought and I went the distance with him.’, and that was his only goal—to go the distance or get disqualified, but not to just come out with a knockout, not to be knocked out.”
His final prediction for Mosley’s fight with Floyd Mayweather:
“I see Shane Mosley getting his hand raised in this particular fight. That’s why I signed on for the project. If I didn’t feel that way, I wouldn’t be involved in the project and I’ve turned projects down where I just didn’t feel like I could tell a guy anything that would get him past that athlete, so I see Shane Mosley having his hand raised.”
On whether he believes Mosley can knock Mayweather out:
“I think I said it earlier and people think I’m joking when I say it. They think I’m saying it to be humorous. It’s a premiere weight for him. If you put it on the scale and it weighs in at 147, I feel that Shane Mosley can knock it out. If you put it on the scale and it weighs 147, there are certain farm animal that Shane Mosley can knock out if they come in at 147. It’s a premiere weight for him. Now I don’t know, he’s won belts at 154 but I can’t say he’s that great of an athlete at 154. I know at 147 he’s something special, he’s really something special.”
***
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Source: eastsideboxing.com
Floyd Mayweather Jr. crowns himself the greatest boxer ever -- Las Vegas Sun
By Case Keefer, Las Vegas Sun
Floyd Mayweather, Jr., controversially declared himself a better fighter than Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson in the latest episode of HBO's 24/7 Mayweather vs. Mosley.
Mayweather didn't back off those comments during a Thursday teleconference to preview his May 1 fight against Shane Mosley at the MGM Garden Arena.
In fact, Mayweather (40-0, 25 KO) elaborated and said a victory against Mosley would further prove his point.
"Things change, it's out with the old and in with the new," Mayweather said. "Muhammad Ali was one hell of a fighter, but Floyd Mayweather is the best."
Asked where he would put Mosley (46-5, 39 KO) on his all-time list, Mayweather said he wasn't sure Mosley should be ranked.
"I don't know how Mosley can call himself great or say he's a future Hall of Famer because we don't know how long this guy was taking enhancement drugs," Mayweather said.
Mosley's name was prominent in the 2003 BALCO investigation, which also included notable athletes such as Barry Bonds, and it was revealed he had taken illegal performance enhancers before a fight against Oscar De La Hoya.
Although Mayweather said beating Mosley would build on his legacy, he didn't have any compliments for his opponent.
"He's a fighter that always worries about landing one big shot and worries about who is strong," Mayweather said. "I worry about being smart and winning."
The conversation naturally drifted toward Manny Pacquiao, whom Mayweather was originally slated to fight in March before the two sides couldn't agree on drug testing procedures.
Mayweather had no slot for where Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KO) ranked in the all-time great list, but assured it was nowhere close to him.
"We know he's been knocked out twice and he's been out-boxed by Erik Morales," Mayweather said. "But they still give him boxer of the decade. That's something I don't understand."
"All I'll say is this: If you're a clean athlete, take the test. Show the world."
Mayweather harped on the idea that Pacquiao gets more credit than him despite his undefeated record.
Mayweather said he heard detractors after every one of his victories and already planned on it happening again after the Mosley fight.
"When I go out and beat Shane Mosley, they will say he's over the hill," Mayweather said. "There's always an excuse."
Although the bout is between two of the biggest names in boxing, a title will not be on the line. Mosley's WBA welterweight championship belt is safe even if he loses.
Mayweather said this did not bother him and that he no longer cared about titles.
"At this level, for Floyd, it's not about belts," said Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's promoter. "It's about fighting for his legacy and it's about money."
As far as Mayweather is concerned, however, his legacy should already be intact.
"I got respect for Sugar Ray Robinson. I got respect for Muhammad Ali," Mayweather said. "But I'm a man just like them and put on my pants just like they put on their pants. But what makes them any better than me?"
Source: lasvegassun.com
Floyd Mayweather, Jr., controversially declared himself a better fighter than Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson in the latest episode of HBO's 24/7 Mayweather vs. Mosley.
Mayweather didn't back off those comments during a Thursday teleconference to preview his May 1 fight against Shane Mosley at the MGM Garden Arena.
In fact, Mayweather (40-0, 25 KO) elaborated and said a victory against Mosley would further prove his point.
"Things change, it's out with the old and in with the new," Mayweather said. "Muhammad Ali was one hell of a fighter, but Floyd Mayweather is the best."
Asked where he would put Mosley (46-5, 39 KO) on his all-time list, Mayweather said he wasn't sure Mosley should be ranked.
"I don't know how Mosley can call himself great or say he's a future Hall of Famer because we don't know how long this guy was taking enhancement drugs," Mayweather said.
Mosley's name was prominent in the 2003 BALCO investigation, which also included notable athletes such as Barry Bonds, and it was revealed he had taken illegal performance enhancers before a fight against Oscar De La Hoya.
Although Mayweather said beating Mosley would build on his legacy, he didn't have any compliments for his opponent.
"He's a fighter that always worries about landing one big shot and worries about who is strong," Mayweather said. "I worry about being smart and winning."
The conversation naturally drifted toward Manny Pacquiao, whom Mayweather was originally slated to fight in March before the two sides couldn't agree on drug testing procedures.
Mayweather had no slot for where Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KO) ranked in the all-time great list, but assured it was nowhere close to him.
"We know he's been knocked out twice and he's been out-boxed by Erik Morales," Mayweather said. "But they still give him boxer of the decade. That's something I don't understand."
"All I'll say is this: If you're a clean athlete, take the test. Show the world."
Mayweather harped on the idea that Pacquiao gets more credit than him despite his undefeated record.
Mayweather said he heard detractors after every one of his victories and already planned on it happening again after the Mosley fight.
"When I go out and beat Shane Mosley, they will say he's over the hill," Mayweather said. "There's always an excuse."
Although the bout is between two of the biggest names in boxing, a title will not be on the line. Mosley's WBA welterweight championship belt is safe even if he loses.
Mayweather said this did not bother him and that he no longer cared about titles.
"At this level, for Floyd, it's not about belts," said Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's promoter. "It's about fighting for his legacy and it's about money."
As far as Mayweather is concerned, however, his legacy should already be intact.
"I got respect for Sugar Ray Robinson. I got respect for Muhammad Ali," Mayweather said. "But I'm a man just like them and put on my pants just like they put on their pants. But what makes them any better than me?"
Source: lasvegassun.com
Mayweather shuns WBA belt -- Sky Sports
Sky Sports
The WBA welterweight title will not be on the line for Floyd Mayweather when he fights Shane Mosley after the 'Money Man' refused to pay their sanctioning fee.
Mayweather, already a five-weight world champion and former WBC and IBF welterweight title holder, takes on the current WBA champ Mosley in the early hours of May 2.
However, the unbeaten 33-year-old is no longer chasing titles, but merely looking to add to his legacy.
"I did not want to fight for the WBA title," Mayweather said. "At this point, it's all about enhancing my legacy.
"I've done a lot of things in this sport, things that a lot of fighters weren't able to do in the sport and didn't do in the sport. This fight with Shane Mosley will enhance my legacy."
And while Mayweather acknowledged Mosley as 'a solid welterweight with great accomplishments', he does not believes 'Sugar Shane' has the tools to destroy his unbeaten record.
"Like I have always said before - there is no remedy on how to beat Floyd Mayweather," he said. "Everyone is trying to solve the problem.
"It's like a difficult maths problem that no one can solve. No one can solve it. The ultimate goal is try to solve the problem. How to beat Floyd Mayweather? I know what I have to go out there and do."
Mosley, a three-weight champion and future Hall of Famer, is renowned for his hand and foot speed but Mayweather appears unconcerned by the challenge that stands before him.
"We are totally different," he added. "He's a fighter that always worries about landing one big shot, he worries about who is extremely strong.
"And I worry about being smart and winning. We approach fights in two totally different ways. When I shoot my shots, I am looking at my opponent. When Shane punches, a lot of times he closes his eyes.
"I am pretty sure Shane is going to be in good condition. We are going to put on one hell of a show on May 1 come the fight."
Source: skysports.com
The WBA welterweight title will not be on the line for Floyd Mayweather when he fights Shane Mosley after the 'Money Man' refused to pay their sanctioning fee.
Mayweather, already a five-weight world champion and former WBC and IBF welterweight title holder, takes on the current WBA champ Mosley in the early hours of May 2.
However, the unbeaten 33-year-old is no longer chasing titles, but merely looking to add to his legacy.
"I did not want to fight for the WBA title," Mayweather said. "At this point, it's all about enhancing my legacy.
"I've done a lot of things in this sport, things that a lot of fighters weren't able to do in the sport and didn't do in the sport. This fight with Shane Mosley will enhance my legacy."
And while Mayweather acknowledged Mosley as 'a solid welterweight with great accomplishments', he does not believes 'Sugar Shane' has the tools to destroy his unbeaten record.
"Like I have always said before - there is no remedy on how to beat Floyd Mayweather," he said. "Everyone is trying to solve the problem.
"It's like a difficult maths problem that no one can solve. No one can solve it. The ultimate goal is try to solve the problem. How to beat Floyd Mayweather? I know what I have to go out there and do."
Mosley, a three-weight champion and future Hall of Famer, is renowned for his hand and foot speed but Mayweather appears unconcerned by the challenge that stands before him.
"We are totally different," he added. "He's a fighter that always worries about landing one big shot, he worries about who is extremely strong.
"And I worry about being smart and winning. We approach fights in two totally different ways. When I shoot my shots, I am looking at my opponent. When Shane punches, a lot of times he closes his eyes.
"I am pretty sure Shane is going to be in good condition. We are going to put on one hell of a show on May 1 come the fight."
Source: skysports.com
Mayweather without the profanity is worth every word -- 15Rounds
By Norm Frauenheim, 15Rounds.com
Maybe, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was celebrating Earth Day. Or, maybe, he was being a good dad. His daughter was said to be nearby. Whatever the occasion or motivation, a thoughtful, likable side of Mayweather showed up Thursday without the profanity that pollutes so many of his other dates with the media.
“Thanks,” he said.
Huh, I thought.
I was tempted to suspect that the voice on the conference call was Frank Caliendo doing Mayweather in a planned addition to an act already well-known for impersonations of Charles Barkley, John Madden and Donald Trump. But, no, this was exactly the Mayweather many encounter and would like to hear more often. Mayweather’s best known role, heavily bleeped by HBO in early-evening versions of 24/7 for kids still in the audience, is reason to hit the mute button even for bored adults who have heard it all. Mayweather has said it all, ad nauseam, which also means the edgy potential to outrage has been deleted from the expletives.
Mayweather is good at playing the bad guy. He knows the lines. That’s for bleeping sure. But there’s also a sense that he too has grown weary of it. Perhaps, he has outgrown it. Shane Mosley has been cast in the good-guy role for their May 1 showdown at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand. Yet, even Mosley is skeptical about a story line that is as old and clichéd as a movie script for an old Western.
“Good versus evil?” Mosley said Tuesday. “I don’t know. I don’t really think so. I think that Floyd just acts out because that’s just him being himself. But you know, probably outside of the fight, you probably could see some good qualities Floyd has. He can charm up a little bit and be more friendly or whatever. It’s just when the fight happens. He just starts getting a little crazy and starts going back to the things that he’s used to doing.
“…Some of the things that he says, it’s bad and it reflects and looks bad on him when he says the different things. Some of the things he says I don’t really think he means. He just kind of says it to get a reaction out of you to see what happens and see what you do and that’s probably part of his plan or his strategy before the fight. It’s like fighting before the fight. He’ll just say what’s on the top of his head and just get a reaction out of you. If he gets a reaction out of you, then he’s done a good job, he’s won. So, I don’t perceive him as being a real, like an evil person. That’s just sometimes his nature.’’
If true character is revealed by what happens in a fight, however, Mayweather is as careful and calculating as anyone has ever been. The bad guy is Tyson-like, raging at everyone and everything before opening bell and after it. That guy is not Mayweather, a tactician who doesn’t let emotion interfere with the dangerous business of ducking and delivering punches. A lot comparisons have been made in the buildup for Mayweather-Mosley, which Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer believes will set a pay-per-view record. Other than the ring they will share on May 1, however, Mayweather says there are no similarities between him and Mosley.
“We’re totally different,’’ Mayweather said while attending a school function for his daughter.
Mayweather made the fight sound like target practice. It’s all about location, location, location.
“I look at my opponent and where I’m punching,’’ Maywather said.
Mosley doesn’t, he said. Instead, Mayweather said Mosley closes his eyes when he throws a punch with power, which is thought to be a Mosley advantage.
“I think he’s a fighter who worries about landing a big shot,’’ said Mayweather, whose father, Floyd Sr., and uncle/trainer Roger already have said that they believe Mosley doesn’t have the smarts to win a welterweight fight that is being hyped as the modern-day sequel to Sugar Ray Leonard’s victory over Thomas Hearns in a 1981 classic.
The suggestion is that Mayweather can do more. Maybe, he can. Until opening bell, however, Mayweather’s verbal sparring, as well-rehearsed as it is well-known, is expected. Its impact, if any against the 38-year-old Mosley, is harder to figure. Mayweather is confident it has had its intended effect. He repeated Thursday that Mosley is acting out of character, including reports about comments a few days ago on a Los Angeles radio show in which he wondered whether Mayweather had dabbled in steroids and questioned his sexuality.
“…He wanted to talk about my suit, curls in my hair, getting a nose job …is he funny? Is he gay or something,’’ Mosley said on ESPN 710 in Los Angeles.
The comment might have angered a lot of fighters. Not Mayweather. He didn’t even mention it during the conference call. But Mayweather’s comment fits like another piece in the puzzle that Mayweather methodically puts together in training camp, at press conferences, in E-mail and on twitter. It’s all business, which means everything is an opportunity.
“His trainer said he wouldn’t trash-talk,’’ Mayweather said of Naazim Richardson’s plan to keep Mosley from getting distracted by “hysteria” from Mayweather. “We’re up one, I guess, cause we baited him into talking trash.’’
Maybe, that’s why Mayweather didn’t talk trash Thursday. He didn’t have to.
Source: 15rounds.com
Maybe, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was celebrating Earth Day. Or, maybe, he was being a good dad. His daughter was said to be nearby. Whatever the occasion or motivation, a thoughtful, likable side of Mayweather showed up Thursday without the profanity that pollutes so many of his other dates with the media.
“Thanks,” he said.
Huh, I thought.
I was tempted to suspect that the voice on the conference call was Frank Caliendo doing Mayweather in a planned addition to an act already well-known for impersonations of Charles Barkley, John Madden and Donald Trump. But, no, this was exactly the Mayweather many encounter and would like to hear more often. Mayweather’s best known role, heavily bleeped by HBO in early-evening versions of 24/7 for kids still in the audience, is reason to hit the mute button even for bored adults who have heard it all. Mayweather has said it all, ad nauseam, which also means the edgy potential to outrage has been deleted from the expletives.
Mayweather is good at playing the bad guy. He knows the lines. That’s for bleeping sure. But there’s also a sense that he too has grown weary of it. Perhaps, he has outgrown it. Shane Mosley has been cast in the good-guy role for their May 1 showdown at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand. Yet, even Mosley is skeptical about a story line that is as old and clichéd as a movie script for an old Western.
“Good versus evil?” Mosley said Tuesday. “I don’t know. I don’t really think so. I think that Floyd just acts out because that’s just him being himself. But you know, probably outside of the fight, you probably could see some good qualities Floyd has. He can charm up a little bit and be more friendly or whatever. It’s just when the fight happens. He just starts getting a little crazy and starts going back to the things that he’s used to doing.
“…Some of the things that he says, it’s bad and it reflects and looks bad on him when he says the different things. Some of the things he says I don’t really think he means. He just kind of says it to get a reaction out of you to see what happens and see what you do and that’s probably part of his plan or his strategy before the fight. It’s like fighting before the fight. He’ll just say what’s on the top of his head and just get a reaction out of you. If he gets a reaction out of you, then he’s done a good job, he’s won. So, I don’t perceive him as being a real, like an evil person. That’s just sometimes his nature.’’
If true character is revealed by what happens in a fight, however, Mayweather is as careful and calculating as anyone has ever been. The bad guy is Tyson-like, raging at everyone and everything before opening bell and after it. That guy is not Mayweather, a tactician who doesn’t let emotion interfere with the dangerous business of ducking and delivering punches. A lot comparisons have been made in the buildup for Mayweather-Mosley, which Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer believes will set a pay-per-view record. Other than the ring they will share on May 1, however, Mayweather says there are no similarities between him and Mosley.
“We’re totally different,’’ Mayweather said while attending a school function for his daughter.
Mayweather made the fight sound like target practice. It’s all about location, location, location.
“I look at my opponent and where I’m punching,’’ Maywather said.
Mosley doesn’t, he said. Instead, Mayweather said Mosley closes his eyes when he throws a punch with power, which is thought to be a Mosley advantage.
“I think he’s a fighter who worries about landing a big shot,’’ said Mayweather, whose father, Floyd Sr., and uncle/trainer Roger already have said that they believe Mosley doesn’t have the smarts to win a welterweight fight that is being hyped as the modern-day sequel to Sugar Ray Leonard’s victory over Thomas Hearns in a 1981 classic.
The suggestion is that Mayweather can do more. Maybe, he can. Until opening bell, however, Mayweather’s verbal sparring, as well-rehearsed as it is well-known, is expected. Its impact, if any against the 38-year-old Mosley, is harder to figure. Mayweather is confident it has had its intended effect. He repeated Thursday that Mosley is acting out of character, including reports about comments a few days ago on a Los Angeles radio show in which he wondered whether Mayweather had dabbled in steroids and questioned his sexuality.
“…He wanted to talk about my suit, curls in my hair, getting a nose job …is he funny? Is he gay or something,’’ Mosley said on ESPN 710 in Los Angeles.
The comment might have angered a lot of fighters. Not Mayweather. He didn’t even mention it during the conference call. But Mayweather’s comment fits like another piece in the puzzle that Mayweather methodically puts together in training camp, at press conferences, in E-mail and on twitter. It’s all business, which means everything is an opportunity.
“His trainer said he wouldn’t trash-talk,’’ Mayweather said of Naazim Richardson’s plan to keep Mosley from getting distracted by “hysteria” from Mayweather. “We’re up one, I guess, cause we baited him into talking trash.’’
Maybe, that’s why Mayweather didn’t talk trash Thursday. He didn’t have to.
Source: 15rounds.com
Rivals Pick Mikkel Kessler To Dethrone Carl Froch -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
WBC champion, Carl Froch, of England, will suffer his first loss to Denmark's Mikkel Kessler on Saturday night, that is, if you believe three of the tournament's four fighters who are not in action this weekend in Showtime's Super Six Super Middleweight World Boxing Classic.
The 32-year-old Froch (26-0, 20 knockouts), who is nicknamed, "The Cobra," will meet the 31-year-old Kessler (42-2, 32 KOs), whose alias is "The Viking Warrior," in front of Kessler's partisan fans at the sold-out MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark.
Froch is coming off of October's split-decision victory over 26-year-old southpaw, Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs), of Flint, Mich., who rebounded with last month's lopsided, 11th-round disqualification victory over Germany's 30-year-old Arthur Abraham (31-1, 25 KOs).
Kessler was dethroned as WBA champion after November's lopsided, technical decision loss to 26-year-old Andre Ward (21-0, 13 KOs), of Oakland, Calif.
Dirrell, Abraham and Ward are all picking Kessler to rebound in victory, while only 30-year-old Allan Green (29-1, 20 KOs), of Tulsa, Ok., is picking Froch.
"I'm going with Froch. I think he is more confident right now," said Green, who gets a shot at Ward's WBA crown on June 19. "I think that Kessler may be a tad bit quicker, but I think Froch is slicker, and he has more options, so he will win this fight."
Ward has a different take on Kessler, who is 39-0, with 29 knockouts in Denmark, and who stopped Gusmyr Perdomo in the fourth round of his only previous appearance at MCH Arena in September.
"Mikkel Kessler is too skillful, too polished, and has too many tools in the tool kit for Carl Froch to overcome. He's very motivated, coming off his loss to me, and he has the chance to regain a world title with a win over Froch," said Ward, who then refrenced the fact that Kessler has replaced trainer Richard Olsen with Jimmy Montoya.
"Kessler has a new trainer and seems refreshed and rejuvenated and has proven in the past that he can come back after being defeated to win a world championship," said Ward. "Froch is a tough customer and will give everything he has. It will definitely be a tough match-up for Kessler, but at the end of the night, Mikkel Kessler will get his hand raised."
Dirrell lost on the road to Froch, who fought him before his hometown fans in Nottingham, England.
"Mikkel Kessler will win by majority decision. He's a very smart boxer with great ability," said Dirrell. "Despite his loss to Ward, Kessler has had a lot of success against Europeans, and that will be the case again in his fight with Froch."
Abraham, likewise, is going with Kessler, his promotional stablemate with Sauerland Promotions.
"As my teammate, I do, of course hope that Kessler will beat Froch, although it will be a very tough and exciting fight. All Super Six fighters are very strong, so I look forward to an exciting evening in Herning," said Abraham, who is scheduled to face Froch on August 21 in Nottingham, England.
"I think Kessler will win. This is basically his last chance," said Abraham. "His career and his future -- at least in the Super Six -- are on the line. It would be a huge surprise if someone of his class would be eliminated that early."
Entering the second of three Group Stage 2 matches, hometown fighters have a record of 4-0 in the tournament.
Froch is in a three-way tie for second place with two points, but can overtake Abraham (three points) for the top spot on the tournament scoreboard in victory.
Kessler has no points, and needs to win -- worth two points -- to stay alive in the tournament.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
WBC champion, Carl Froch, of England, will suffer his first loss to Denmark's Mikkel Kessler on Saturday night, that is, if you believe three of the tournament's four fighters who are not in action this weekend in Showtime's Super Six Super Middleweight World Boxing Classic.
The 32-year-old Froch (26-0, 20 knockouts), who is nicknamed, "The Cobra," will meet the 31-year-old Kessler (42-2, 32 KOs), whose alias is "The Viking Warrior," in front of Kessler's partisan fans at the sold-out MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark.
Froch is coming off of October's split-decision victory over 26-year-old southpaw, Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs), of Flint, Mich., who rebounded with last month's lopsided, 11th-round disqualification victory over Germany's 30-year-old Arthur Abraham (31-1, 25 KOs).
Kessler was dethroned as WBA champion after November's lopsided, technical decision loss to 26-year-old Andre Ward (21-0, 13 KOs), of Oakland, Calif.
Dirrell, Abraham and Ward are all picking Kessler to rebound in victory, while only 30-year-old Allan Green (29-1, 20 KOs), of Tulsa, Ok., is picking Froch.
"I'm going with Froch. I think he is more confident right now," said Green, who gets a shot at Ward's WBA crown on June 19. "I think that Kessler may be a tad bit quicker, but I think Froch is slicker, and he has more options, so he will win this fight."
Ward has a different take on Kessler, who is 39-0, with 29 knockouts in Denmark, and who stopped Gusmyr Perdomo in the fourth round of his only previous appearance at MCH Arena in September.
"Mikkel Kessler is too skillful, too polished, and has too many tools in the tool kit for Carl Froch to overcome. He's very motivated, coming off his loss to me, and he has the chance to regain a world title with a win over Froch," said Ward, who then refrenced the fact that Kessler has replaced trainer Richard Olsen with Jimmy Montoya.
"Kessler has a new trainer and seems refreshed and rejuvenated and has proven in the past that he can come back after being defeated to win a world championship," said Ward. "Froch is a tough customer and will give everything he has. It will definitely be a tough match-up for Kessler, but at the end of the night, Mikkel Kessler will get his hand raised."
Dirrell lost on the road to Froch, who fought him before his hometown fans in Nottingham, England.
"Mikkel Kessler will win by majority decision. He's a very smart boxer with great ability," said Dirrell. "Despite his loss to Ward, Kessler has had a lot of success against Europeans, and that will be the case again in his fight with Froch."
Abraham, likewise, is going with Kessler, his promotional stablemate with Sauerland Promotions.
"As my teammate, I do, of course hope that Kessler will beat Froch, although it will be a very tough and exciting fight. All Super Six fighters are very strong, so I look forward to an exciting evening in Herning," said Abraham, who is scheduled to face Froch on August 21 in Nottingham, England.
"I think Kessler will win. This is basically his last chance," said Abraham. "His career and his future -- at least in the Super Six -- are on the line. It would be a huge surprise if someone of his class would be eliminated that early."
Entering the second of three Group Stage 2 matches, hometown fighters have a record of 4-0 in the tournament.
Froch is in a three-way tie for second place with two points, but can overtake Abraham (three points) for the top spot on the tournament scoreboard in victory.
Kessler has no points, and needs to win -- worth two points -- to stay alive in the tournament.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Carl Froch Lands in Denmark to Face Mikkel Kessler -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
WBC super middleweight (168 pounds) champion, Carl Froch, successfully landed in Denmark on Wednesday afternoon where the 32-year-old from England will defend his crown this Saturday against Denmark's Mikkel Kessler as part of group stage No. 2 of Showtime's Super Six World Middleweight Boxing Classic.
Nicknamed, "The Cobra," the 32-year-old Froch (26-0, 25 knockouts) arrived by a private jet in spite of the ash from the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano in Iceland, which has hampered air travel throughout Europe.
"I am here to knock Mikkel Kessler out," said Froch, upon emerging from the jet plane. "He has never been in the ring with someone like me,"
In addition to Froch, the crew of Showtime's Fight Camp 360: Inside the Super Six World Boxing Classic, also landed safely in Denmark to detail and capture all of this week's action leading up to and including Froch-Kessler.
Showtime's Chris DeBlasio "was walking the cold streets of Denmark" at 11 p.m. in Denmark, and 5 p.m. ET., when reached by FanHouse.
"The trip was actually surprisingly very smooth on the airplane," said DeBlasio, senior director of communications for Showtime whose initial flight was out of New York's JFK. "It was the coordination of getting seats on the different airplanes was difficult."
Kessler is coming off of a loss to Andre Ward (21-0, 13 KOs) that dethroned him as WBA king.
"I am in great shape. I am glad Carl made it here in good time so that I can knock him out. I have worked very hard with [trainer] Jimmy Montoya," said the 31-year-old Kessler (42-2, 32 KOs), who is nicknamed, "The Viking Warrior," and who will be in front of his partisan fans at the sold-out MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark.
"I am faster, better and stronger than ever," said Kessler. "Saturday will be the biggest fight of my life, and believe me, I am ready."
Froch, trainer, Robert McCraken, and, Froch's model girlfriend, Rachael Cordingley, were picked up at the airport by Danish racing legend, John Nielsen, a 1990 Le Mans champion who drove the trio to a nearby race course where Froch drove two fast laps before participating in a press conference at MCA Herning.
"I like fast cars, and I really enjoyed the ride," said Froch. "But I am here to take care of business, knock Mikkel out, and take my belt back home."
DeBlasio said he and the crew had "about a five-hour layover" in Austria.
"For me, personally, and the Fight Camp crew, we all ended up traveling together. We were able to secure seats on a flight at the last minute and there were about 10 seats that we were able to secure for myself and for the Fight Camp crew," said DeBlasio, adding that the broadcast team of Gus Johnnson, Antonio Tarver, and, Al Bernstein, will call the fight from New York.
"Our original flight was to go through Paris, but on Tuesday morning, when I arrived at the office with my luggage, I learned that American Airlines had canceled that flight," said DeBlasio. "We had some backup flights that we were looking into, so, myself, and the Fight Camp crew were able to get a flight from JFK to Vienna, Austria, on Wednesday morning. The sky was sunny and clear, and the flight was smooth."
From Austria, the crew and DeBlasio flew into Copenhagen, Denmark.
"We landed in Copenhagen safely at about 3:30, Wednesday afternoon local time. For me, personally, the fear was that we could be going into any sort of cloudy, or, dreary atmosphere," said DeBlasio.
"I wasn't exactly sure what the sky was going to look like in Denmark," said DeBlasio. "The reality of it was that the sky was clear, the air was clean, and the cities are alive with hustle and bustle."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
WBC super middleweight (168 pounds) champion, Carl Froch, successfully landed in Denmark on Wednesday afternoon where the 32-year-old from England will defend his crown this Saturday against Denmark's Mikkel Kessler as part of group stage No. 2 of Showtime's Super Six World Middleweight Boxing Classic.
Nicknamed, "The Cobra," the 32-year-old Froch (26-0, 25 knockouts) arrived by a private jet in spite of the ash from the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano in Iceland, which has hampered air travel throughout Europe.
"I am here to knock Mikkel Kessler out," said Froch, upon emerging from the jet plane. "He has never been in the ring with someone like me,"
In addition to Froch, the crew of Showtime's Fight Camp 360: Inside the Super Six World Boxing Classic, also landed safely in Denmark to detail and capture all of this week's action leading up to and including Froch-Kessler.
Showtime's Chris DeBlasio "was walking the cold streets of Denmark" at 11 p.m. in Denmark, and 5 p.m. ET., when reached by FanHouse.
"The trip was actually surprisingly very smooth on the airplane," said DeBlasio, senior director of communications for Showtime whose initial flight was out of New York's JFK. "It was the coordination of getting seats on the different airplanes was difficult."
Kessler is coming off of a loss to Andre Ward (21-0, 13 KOs) that dethroned him as WBA king.
"I am in great shape. I am glad Carl made it here in good time so that I can knock him out. I have worked very hard with [trainer] Jimmy Montoya," said the 31-year-old Kessler (42-2, 32 KOs), who is nicknamed, "The Viking Warrior," and who will be in front of his partisan fans at the sold-out MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark.
"I am faster, better and stronger than ever," said Kessler. "Saturday will be the biggest fight of my life, and believe me, I am ready."
Froch, trainer, Robert McCraken, and, Froch's model girlfriend, Rachael Cordingley, were picked up at the airport by Danish racing legend, John Nielsen, a 1990 Le Mans champion who drove the trio to a nearby race course where Froch drove two fast laps before participating in a press conference at MCA Herning.
"I like fast cars, and I really enjoyed the ride," said Froch. "But I am here to take care of business, knock Mikkel out, and take my belt back home."
DeBlasio said he and the crew had "about a five-hour layover" in Austria.
"For me, personally, and the Fight Camp crew, we all ended up traveling together. We were able to secure seats on a flight at the last minute and there were about 10 seats that we were able to secure for myself and for the Fight Camp crew," said DeBlasio, adding that the broadcast team of Gus Johnnson, Antonio Tarver, and, Al Bernstein, will call the fight from New York.
"Our original flight was to go through Paris, but on Tuesday morning, when I arrived at the office with my luggage, I learned that American Airlines had canceled that flight," said DeBlasio. "We had some backup flights that we were looking into, so, myself, and the Fight Camp crew were able to get a flight from JFK to Vienna, Austria, on Wednesday morning. The sky was sunny and clear, and the flight was smooth."
From Austria, the crew and DeBlasio flew into Copenhagen, Denmark.
"We landed in Copenhagen safely at about 3:30, Wednesday afternoon local time. For me, personally, the fear was that we could be going into any sort of cloudy, or, dreary atmosphere," said DeBlasio.
"I wasn't exactly sure what the sky was going to look like in Denmark," said DeBlasio. "The reality of it was that the sky was clear, the air was clean, and the cities are alive with hustle and bustle."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Selcuk Aydin - "[Luis] Collazo Fears Me!" -- Eastside Boxing
By James Slater, Eastside Boxing
Unbeaten Turkish welterweight Selcuk Aydin is, it's fair to say, an angry man right now. Having arrived to train in Miami last week so as to get ready for his WBC interim title clash with Luis Collazo, the 26-year-old with the impressive amateur background and the 19-0(15) pro record is dismayed to learn that former WBA 147-pound champ Collazo may not now take the fight that was set for Turkey on June 5th.
As fans may have read in the news, Collazo has said he is no longer able to make welterweight, and therefore he doesn't plan on going to Turkey to face the exciting puncher known as "Mini-Tyson." Aydin's manager, Malte Muller-Michaelis, believes and is hopeful that the fight will still go ahead (posters have even been printed for the fight). Aydin himself has made it clear he believes Collazo is afraid of him..
Very kindly granting me the following interview direct from his Miami training camp earlier today (when Selcuk spoke himself in his admittedly broken English, and at other times was translated by Michaelis and Vedat Alyaz), the German-based Turkish warrior had the following things to say:
James Slater: It's great to speak with you, Selcuk. First of all, how has training been in Miami with trainer Ismael Salas?
Selcuk Aydin: We are doing general preparations right now, working on fitness and also some technical things. I'm mentally ready to fight, we will begin sparring in early May. I am happy with my new coach (Salas, who also works with Yuriorkis Gamboa), I have had a number of different coaches in the past, but now I am confident I am with the right one. I had the [physical] strength and conditioning before and now he will make me perfect technically. But I'm a little upset right now, because my mind is on Collazo. I do not like this bullshit! Collazo fears me! I'm waiting to fight him. He agreed to fight me two months ago, and now we have this bullshit with his weight or whatever it is! He said he'd come to Turkey to fight me and now he has to, to prove he is a man. If he's a man he will fight me!
J.S: You obviously want to fight and are very confident you will beat Collazo?
S.A: No-one can stop me! I will give him two-rounds, after three-rounds he will be finished. He fears me, I know it! He can't beat me and he knows that. I am here and I am for real - the whole world will see what I am this year. I want the big names, the champions. I want Collazo, [Andre] Berto, [Floyd] Mayweather, [Miguel] Cotto, [Manny] Pacquiao - all the big names. No-one can stop me, I'm too strong. I don't care about how people say those guys are the best, I am ready to prove I am the best - starting with this fight on June 5th. If Collazo is man enough to fight me!
J.S: If you cannot get Collazo, will you still fight on June 5th, and is there any idea who it will be against instead?
Malte Muller-Michaelis - Aydin's manager: It's very difficult right now. We won the purse bids for the fight, and we are now doing our advertising campaign for the fight, with posters and things like that. We believe the fight with Collazo will still go on. It will be a great fight, too. Two great fighters going at it - it will be no walk in the park for either man. We have to wait and see, but we still believe the fight will go on.
J.S: Selcuk, your nickname is "Mini-Tyson." Was that name given to you purely because you fight like Tyson did, or are you a fan of his also?
S.A: My style is tough like Tyson. I like the way he did things [in the ring]. I want to be the same as he was. I am waiting for the big fights to come. I will show what I have in the ring and then we can talk about how good I am - when I've proven it.
J.S: Do you make welterweight okay yourself?
S.A: I am just five-pounds over [welterweight] right now. I make it easy, with the right diet and the correct training.
J.S: You are 19-0(15) as a pro now; who would you say has given you your toughest test as a pro so far?
S.A: Said Ouali (who Aydin won a 12-round split decision over in defence of his WBC International welterweight title in April of last year - in what was the 26-year-old's U.S debut). He is a southpaw and I took quite a few punches from him. It was a tough fight but I was in good condition for it. I went 12 hard rounds and I am proud of the way I came through it. I would say that fight is also my best performance so far.
J.S: You want the big names at 147, as you've said. If you could choose any one big name to fight in the next 12-months, Collazo aside, who would it be?
S.A: (answering immediately) Berto. Of course, it all depends on the June fight - I have to win that first of all - but I feel me and Berto have similar styles. I hope we can make this fight with Berto and his crew. I only want to fight the champions, the big names.
J.S: At age 26, how close do you think you are from reaching your peak?
S.A: I've had 19 [pro] fights, and in each one I have got better and better. I am in the best of shape right now, but I will continue to improve. I will prove myself when the time comes for me to face the best champions.
J.S: As you know, you last fought in July of last year. Are you concerned at all about ring-rust?
S.A: No, I have no problems with that. I'm just waiting for my fight with Collazo and then someone like Berto. I could have taken a smaller fight [to keep busy], but I chose not to; that was my decision.
J.S: Well, we hope you get the fight with Collazo, or if not him a big fight instead. It's been great speaking with you.
S.A: Whatever happens, I need to fight. I just want to fight - whether it's someone else or not. It's important that I fight, but like I said, if Collazo is a man he will come and fight me.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Unbeaten Turkish welterweight Selcuk Aydin is, it's fair to say, an angry man right now. Having arrived to train in Miami last week so as to get ready for his WBC interim title clash with Luis Collazo, the 26-year-old with the impressive amateur background and the 19-0(15) pro record is dismayed to learn that former WBA 147-pound champ Collazo may not now take the fight that was set for Turkey on June 5th.
As fans may have read in the news, Collazo has said he is no longer able to make welterweight, and therefore he doesn't plan on going to Turkey to face the exciting puncher known as "Mini-Tyson." Aydin's manager, Malte Muller-Michaelis, believes and is hopeful that the fight will still go ahead (posters have even been printed for the fight). Aydin himself has made it clear he believes Collazo is afraid of him..
Very kindly granting me the following interview direct from his Miami training camp earlier today (when Selcuk spoke himself in his admittedly broken English, and at other times was translated by Michaelis and Vedat Alyaz), the German-based Turkish warrior had the following things to say:
James Slater: It's great to speak with you, Selcuk. First of all, how has training been in Miami with trainer Ismael Salas?
Selcuk Aydin: We are doing general preparations right now, working on fitness and also some technical things. I'm mentally ready to fight, we will begin sparring in early May. I am happy with my new coach (Salas, who also works with Yuriorkis Gamboa), I have had a number of different coaches in the past, but now I am confident I am with the right one. I had the [physical] strength and conditioning before and now he will make me perfect technically. But I'm a little upset right now, because my mind is on Collazo. I do not like this bullshit! Collazo fears me! I'm waiting to fight him. He agreed to fight me two months ago, and now we have this bullshit with his weight or whatever it is! He said he'd come to Turkey to fight me and now he has to, to prove he is a man. If he's a man he will fight me!
J.S: You obviously want to fight and are very confident you will beat Collazo?
S.A: No-one can stop me! I will give him two-rounds, after three-rounds he will be finished. He fears me, I know it! He can't beat me and he knows that. I am here and I am for real - the whole world will see what I am this year. I want the big names, the champions. I want Collazo, [Andre] Berto, [Floyd] Mayweather, [Miguel] Cotto, [Manny] Pacquiao - all the big names. No-one can stop me, I'm too strong. I don't care about how people say those guys are the best, I am ready to prove I am the best - starting with this fight on June 5th. If Collazo is man enough to fight me!
J.S: If you cannot get Collazo, will you still fight on June 5th, and is there any idea who it will be against instead?
Malte Muller-Michaelis - Aydin's manager: It's very difficult right now. We won the purse bids for the fight, and we are now doing our advertising campaign for the fight, with posters and things like that. We believe the fight with Collazo will still go on. It will be a great fight, too. Two great fighters going at it - it will be no walk in the park for either man. We have to wait and see, but we still believe the fight will go on.
J.S: Selcuk, your nickname is "Mini-Tyson." Was that name given to you purely because you fight like Tyson did, or are you a fan of his also?
S.A: My style is tough like Tyson. I like the way he did things [in the ring]. I want to be the same as he was. I am waiting for the big fights to come. I will show what I have in the ring and then we can talk about how good I am - when I've proven it.
J.S: Do you make welterweight okay yourself?
S.A: I am just five-pounds over [welterweight] right now. I make it easy, with the right diet and the correct training.
J.S: You are 19-0(15) as a pro now; who would you say has given you your toughest test as a pro so far?
S.A: Said Ouali (who Aydin won a 12-round split decision over in defence of his WBC International welterweight title in April of last year - in what was the 26-year-old's U.S debut). He is a southpaw and I took quite a few punches from him. It was a tough fight but I was in good condition for it. I went 12 hard rounds and I am proud of the way I came through it. I would say that fight is also my best performance so far.
J.S: You want the big names at 147, as you've said. If you could choose any one big name to fight in the next 12-months, Collazo aside, who would it be?
S.A: (answering immediately) Berto. Of course, it all depends on the June fight - I have to win that first of all - but I feel me and Berto have similar styles. I hope we can make this fight with Berto and his crew. I only want to fight the champions, the big names.
J.S: At age 26, how close do you think you are from reaching your peak?
S.A: I've had 19 [pro] fights, and in each one I have got better and better. I am in the best of shape right now, but I will continue to improve. I will prove myself when the time comes for me to face the best champions.
J.S: As you know, you last fought in July of last year. Are you concerned at all about ring-rust?
S.A: No, I have no problems with that. I'm just waiting for my fight with Collazo and then someone like Berto. I could have taken a smaller fight [to keep busy], but I chose not to; that was my decision.
J.S: Well, we hope you get the fight with Collazo, or if not him a big fight instead. It's been great speaking with you.
S.A: Whatever happens, I need to fight. I just want to fight - whether it's someone else or not. It's important that I fight, but like I said, if Collazo is a man he will come and fight me.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Collazo-Aydin WBC bout is canceled -- ESPN
By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
Despite an announcement earlier this week, the fight between Selcuk Aydin of Turkey and American Luis Collazo for the vacant WBC interim welterweight title will not take place.
Collazo's adviser and trainer, Nirmal Lorick, said that the Don King-promoted fighter no longer wants to make the weight and is unhappy with the $105,000 purse offer.
"We are not fighting at 147 [pounds] anymore," Lorick said. "We told Don a couple of weeks ago he was having trouble with the weight and that we're not fighting at 147 anymore. The inactivity has been a real problem for Luis. He feels his body has been through enough and he'd rather move up in weight to fight someone else. We're looking for a fight with [junior middleweight titlist and new middleweight champ] Sergio Martinez."
Collazo (30-4, 15 KOs), a former WBA welterweight titleholder, has been chronically inactive, in part because few name opponents want to fight the southpaw. Since losing a slugfest to welterweight titlist Andre Berto in January 2009, Collazo has fought only once, on a club show against a journeyman opponent last June.
Collazo, 29, also lost his two other high-profile bouts, a lopsided decision to Shane Mosley in 2007 and a controversial decision to Ricky Hatton in 2006.
"We waited around for months thinking we'd have the rematch with Berto while the purse bid kept getting rescheduled," Lorick said. "Then Berto got an exception to fight Mosley [in a January fight that was ultimately canceled] and we were supposed to fight Aydin for the interim [title].
"Then the fight was delayed over and over," Lorick continued. "It's ridiculous. Now, they say Luis should go over there, lose the weight and fight for no money? By the time Don gets paid, they take out the taxes, Luis ends up with nothing. Training camp alone costs us $15,000 to $20,000. But the weight is really the issue. We are not going to put Luis' health in danger by making that weight anymore."
Although there was no signed contract, Aydin (19-0, 15 KOs) and German promoter Arena-Box believed the fight was happening to the point that Aydin arrived in Florida last week to begin training for the bout with trainer Ismael Salas and strength coach Jorge Rojas.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
Despite an announcement earlier this week, the fight between Selcuk Aydin of Turkey and American Luis Collazo for the vacant WBC interim welterweight title will not take place.
Collazo's adviser and trainer, Nirmal Lorick, said that the Don King-promoted fighter no longer wants to make the weight and is unhappy with the $105,000 purse offer.
"We are not fighting at 147 [pounds] anymore," Lorick said. "We told Don a couple of weeks ago he was having trouble with the weight and that we're not fighting at 147 anymore. The inactivity has been a real problem for Luis. He feels his body has been through enough and he'd rather move up in weight to fight someone else. We're looking for a fight with [junior middleweight titlist and new middleweight champ] Sergio Martinez."
Collazo (30-4, 15 KOs), a former WBA welterweight titleholder, has been chronically inactive, in part because few name opponents want to fight the southpaw. Since losing a slugfest to welterweight titlist Andre Berto in January 2009, Collazo has fought only once, on a club show against a journeyman opponent last June.
Collazo, 29, also lost his two other high-profile bouts, a lopsided decision to Shane Mosley in 2007 and a controversial decision to Ricky Hatton in 2006.
"We waited around for months thinking we'd have the rematch with Berto while the purse bid kept getting rescheduled," Lorick said. "Then Berto got an exception to fight Mosley [in a January fight that was ultimately canceled] and we were supposed to fight Aydin for the interim [title].
"Then the fight was delayed over and over," Lorick continued. "It's ridiculous. Now, they say Luis should go over there, lose the weight and fight for no money? By the time Don gets paid, they take out the taxes, Luis ends up with nothing. Training camp alone costs us $15,000 to $20,000. But the weight is really the issue. We are not going to put Luis' health in danger by making that weight anymore."
Although there was no signed contract, Aydin (19-0, 15 KOs) and German promoter Arena-Box believed the fight was happening to the point that Aydin arrived in Florida last week to begin training for the bout with trainer Ismael Salas and strength coach Jorge Rojas.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
'Money' Mayweather Says It's About Legacy, Cash, Not Title -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Unbeaten, five-time champion, Floyd Mayweather, claims that every victory from here on out "is about enhancing" his legacy, and that his May 1 bout with WBA welterweight (147 pounds) king, Shane Mosley, is not about winning another championship belt.
"Like I've said before, Shane is a solid welterweight, and he's been around the sport for a long, long time. And he's done some good things in the sport, and I've done a lot of things in the sport," said Mayweather, who is nicknamed, "Money."
"But I've done a lot of things that a lot of fighters didn't do in this sport, and weren't able to do in this sport," said Mayweather. "So at this point, it's about enhancing my legacy."
In fact, this fight most certainly is not for the title, because the 33-year-old Mayweather (40-0, 25 knockouts) has refused to pay the WBA's sanctioning fee.
That means that the 38-year-old Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) can defend the crown, but Mayweather -- who "didn't want to fight for the WBA title" -- can't win it.
"This is not a WBA championship fight. But on a separate side, we are currently discussing with the WBA, for Shane, that Shane would be defending his belt," said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, which is co-promoting the bout with Mayweather's promotional company.
"But for the purpose of this call, it's basically a non-WBA fight. It's the two best fighters fighting each other, that's what's at stake here," said Schaefer during a Tuesday conference call with Mosley.
"The general public is embracing this fight for what it is, truly one of the greatest all-time showdowns between two of the greatest athletes of our time," Schaefer said during Wednesday's Mayweather conference call. "I am convinced that we are on track to break the all-time pay per view record."
When it has come to pay per view attractions in boxing, Mayweather and a good opponent have been the common denominators.
In his past three victories over Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and, Juan Manuel Marquez, respectively, by split-decision, 10th-round knockout, and, unanimous decision, Mayweather has generated a record 2.4 million, 920,000, and, 1.05 million buys.
"At this level, for Floyd, it's not about belts. It's about fighting to, like he said, improve his legacy, and, also, it's about money," said advisor Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. "Floyd's already the best fighter in the world. Why does he need a belt to prove that?"
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Unbeaten, five-time champion, Floyd Mayweather, claims that every victory from here on out "is about enhancing" his legacy, and that his May 1 bout with WBA welterweight (147 pounds) king, Shane Mosley, is not about winning another championship belt.
"Like I've said before, Shane is a solid welterweight, and he's been around the sport for a long, long time. And he's done some good things in the sport, and I've done a lot of things in the sport," said Mayweather, who is nicknamed, "Money."
"But I've done a lot of things that a lot of fighters didn't do in this sport, and weren't able to do in this sport," said Mayweather. "So at this point, it's about enhancing my legacy."
In fact, this fight most certainly is not for the title, because the 33-year-old Mayweather (40-0, 25 knockouts) has refused to pay the WBA's sanctioning fee.
That means that the 38-year-old Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) can defend the crown, but Mayweather -- who "didn't want to fight for the WBA title" -- can't win it.
"This is not a WBA championship fight. But on a separate side, we are currently discussing with the WBA, for Shane, that Shane would be defending his belt," said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, which is co-promoting the bout with Mayweather's promotional company.
"But for the purpose of this call, it's basically a non-WBA fight. It's the two best fighters fighting each other, that's what's at stake here," said Schaefer during a Tuesday conference call with Mosley.
"The general public is embracing this fight for what it is, truly one of the greatest all-time showdowns between two of the greatest athletes of our time," Schaefer said during Wednesday's Mayweather conference call. "I am convinced that we are on track to break the all-time pay per view record."
When it has come to pay per view attractions in boxing, Mayweather and a good opponent have been the common denominators.
In his past three victories over Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and, Juan Manuel Marquez, respectively, by split-decision, 10th-round knockout, and, unanimous decision, Mayweather has generated a record 2.4 million, 920,000, and, 1.05 million buys.
"At this level, for Floyd, it's not about belts. It's about fighting to, like he said, improve his legacy, and, also, it's about money," said advisor Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. "Floyd's already the best fighter in the world. Why does he need a belt to prove that?"
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Mosley, Mayweather being opposites is big part of draw -- USA Today
By Bob Velin, USA TODAY
Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather, who finally meet in the ring May 1 in Las Vegas, are as different as night and day or salt and pepper.
Their welterweight mega-showdown (9 p.m. ET, HBO pay-per-view) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena promises to be a contrast of styles and personalities.
A look at a few points of difference between 38-year-old Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) and 33-year-old Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs).
•Offense vs. defense: Mosley is an offensive fighter, a skilled power puncher who comes to fight. He has been involved in several all-out brawls, most recently his welterweight title victory against Antonio Margarito, in which he pounded Margarito into submission in the ninth round. He also brawled in his fights against Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas. Mosley's defensive shortcomings can leave him vulnerable to counterpunching, which is one of Mayweather's strengths.
Mayweather is skilled at avoiding getting hit. His only stoppage since 2006 was a devastating 10th-round knockout of Ricky Hatton in December 2007. His quickness is hard to match, though Mosley says Mayweather will meet his match on May 1.
Mayweather admits his fighting style is 180 degrees opposite of Mosley's.
"We're totally different," Mayweather said Thursday during a conference call with news reporters. "He's a fighter that always worries about landing one big shot. He worries about who's extremely strong. And I worry about being smart and winning.
"Shane maintains a low level with wide shots and not using a full jab. I use a full jab. When I shoot my shots, I look at my opponent, look where I'm punching. When Shane punches, a lot of times he closes his eyes. We're two totally different fighters."
Any similarities? "Yeah, we're both fighting May 1st," Mayweather says with a chuckle.
•Trash talking vs. quiet confidence: Mayweather's bombastic, braggadocio style has made him a favorite on HBO's reality series 24/7, which debuts its third of four episodes Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET. On episode 2, Mayweather said he's better than Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson.
Mosley says he thinks Robinson was the best, but it's not his call. "It's not for myself to tell everyone that I'm the greatest," he says. "When people start deciding that Sugar Ray Robinson is the greatest, or Muhammad Ali, the people have spoken.
"You're not just tooting your own horn and saying, 'Oh, I'm the greatest.' "
Source: usatoday.com
Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather, who finally meet in the ring May 1 in Las Vegas, are as different as night and day or salt and pepper.
Their welterweight mega-showdown (9 p.m. ET, HBO pay-per-view) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena promises to be a contrast of styles and personalities.
A look at a few points of difference between 38-year-old Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) and 33-year-old Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs).
•Offense vs. defense: Mosley is an offensive fighter, a skilled power puncher who comes to fight. He has been involved in several all-out brawls, most recently his welterweight title victory against Antonio Margarito, in which he pounded Margarito into submission in the ninth round. He also brawled in his fights against Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas. Mosley's defensive shortcomings can leave him vulnerable to counterpunching, which is one of Mayweather's strengths.
Mayweather is skilled at avoiding getting hit. His only stoppage since 2006 was a devastating 10th-round knockout of Ricky Hatton in December 2007. His quickness is hard to match, though Mosley says Mayweather will meet his match on May 1.
Mayweather admits his fighting style is 180 degrees opposite of Mosley's.
"We're totally different," Mayweather said Thursday during a conference call with news reporters. "He's a fighter that always worries about landing one big shot. He worries about who's extremely strong. And I worry about being smart and winning.
"Shane maintains a low level with wide shots and not using a full jab. I use a full jab. When I shoot my shots, I look at my opponent, look where I'm punching. When Shane punches, a lot of times he closes his eyes. We're two totally different fighters."
Any similarities? "Yeah, we're both fighting May 1st," Mayweather says with a chuckle.
•Trash talking vs. quiet confidence: Mayweather's bombastic, braggadocio style has made him a favorite on HBO's reality series 24/7, which debuts its third of four episodes Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET. On episode 2, Mayweather said he's better than Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson.
Mosley says he thinks Robinson was the best, but it's not his call. "It's not for myself to tell everyone that I'm the greatest," he says. "When people start deciding that Sugar Ray Robinson is the greatest, or Muhammad Ali, the people have spoken.
"You're not just tooting your own horn and saying, 'Oh, I'm the greatest.' "
Source: usatoday.com
Mayweather aims to enhance his legacy against Mosley -- Reuters
By Mark Lamport-Stokes, Reuters
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Already accepted as one of the greatest boxers of any era, Floyd Mayweather has set his sights on adding further gloss to his glittering career instead of acquiring more titles.
The six-times world champion will face fellow American Shane Mosley in an eagerly anticipated welterweight clash in Las Vegas on May 1 when his opponent's WBA crown will not be on the line.
"I did not want to fight for the WBA title," Mayweather said on Thursday during a teleconference call with reporters. "At this point, it's all about enhancing my legacy.
"I've done a lot of things in this sport, things that a lot of fighters weren't able to do in the sport and didn't do in the sport. This fight with Shane Mosley will enhance my legacy."
Renowned for his superb defense, lightning speed and brash talking, Mayweather is unbeaten in a 40-fight professional career that includes 25 knockouts.
While describing Mosley (46-5, 39 knockouts) as "a solid welterweight with great accomplishments," he scoffed at the notion his opponent would be able to dent his unblemished record.
"Like I have always said before ... there is no remedy on how to beat Floyd Mayweather," he said. "Everyone is trying to solve the problem.
MATHS PROBLEM
"It's like a difficult maths problem that can't no one solve. No one can solve it. The ultimate goal is try to solve the problem. How to beat Floyd Mayweather? I know what I have to go out there and do."
Mosley, a former IBF lightweight champion, is also known for his hand and foot speed but Mayweather bristled when asked to highlight the similarities between the two boxers.
"We are totally different," said the undefeated five-division world champion. "He's a fighter that always worries about landing one big shot, he worries about who is extremely strong.
"And I worry about being smart and winning. We approach fights in two totally different ways. When I shoot my shots, I am looking at my opponent. When Shane punches, a lot of times he closes his eyes."
Mayweather, who prides himself on being one of the best prepared boxers of his era, promised fans a fight to savor at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1.
"I have showed the world that I am always in tip-top shape and I am in the best condition," said the 33-year-old who outclassed Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in his most recent bout in September after a 21-month retirement.
"I am pretty sure Shane is going to be in good condition. We are going to put on one hell of a show on May 1 come the fight."
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
© Thomson Reuters 2010 All rights reserved.
Source: ca.reuters.com
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Already accepted as one of the greatest boxers of any era, Floyd Mayweather has set his sights on adding further gloss to his glittering career instead of acquiring more titles.
The six-times world champion will face fellow American Shane Mosley in an eagerly anticipated welterweight clash in Las Vegas on May 1 when his opponent's WBA crown will not be on the line.
"I did not want to fight for the WBA title," Mayweather said on Thursday during a teleconference call with reporters. "At this point, it's all about enhancing my legacy.
"I've done a lot of things in this sport, things that a lot of fighters weren't able to do in the sport and didn't do in the sport. This fight with Shane Mosley will enhance my legacy."
Renowned for his superb defense, lightning speed and brash talking, Mayweather is unbeaten in a 40-fight professional career that includes 25 knockouts.
While describing Mosley (46-5, 39 knockouts) as "a solid welterweight with great accomplishments," he scoffed at the notion his opponent would be able to dent his unblemished record.
"Like I have always said before ... there is no remedy on how to beat Floyd Mayweather," he said. "Everyone is trying to solve the problem.
MATHS PROBLEM
"It's like a difficult maths problem that can't no one solve. No one can solve it. The ultimate goal is try to solve the problem. How to beat Floyd Mayweather? I know what I have to go out there and do."
Mosley, a former IBF lightweight champion, is also known for his hand and foot speed but Mayweather bristled when asked to highlight the similarities between the two boxers.
"We are totally different," said the undefeated five-division world champion. "He's a fighter that always worries about landing one big shot, he worries about who is extremely strong.
"And I worry about being smart and winning. We approach fights in two totally different ways. When I shoot my shots, I am looking at my opponent. When Shane punches, a lot of times he closes his eyes."
Mayweather, who prides himself on being one of the best prepared boxers of his era, promised fans a fight to savor at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1.
"I have showed the world that I am always in tip-top shape and I am in the best condition," said the 33-year-old who outclassed Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in his most recent bout in September after a 21-month retirement.
"I am pretty sure Shane is going to be in good condition. We are going to put on one hell of a show on May 1 come the fight."
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
© Thomson Reuters 2010 All rights reserved.
Source: ca.reuters.com
Floyd Mayweather Defends His Drawing Power -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
About nine days before Floyd Mayweather ended a 21-month retirement with a September 19, 2009, unanimous decision over WBA and WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, his former promoter, Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank, ripped him as "a fighter who stinks his opponent out," who, "doesn't engage," and, "fights scared."
"He's a great defensive fighter, but people don't want to spend money watching a defensive fighter," said Arum, who called Mayweather "a tremendous talent."
"Mayweather will not engage an opponent, and that makes a stinking fight," said Arum. "And if people are being asked to pay $50 to watch it on pay per view, I can see their reluctance."
In addition to Arum, UFC President, Dana White also took shots at Mayweather-Marquez, saying, "Floyd wants you to pay to see him run around in circles, and lay on the ropes, and move around and not fight."
Although criticized for his lack of drawing ability and the fact that he was facing a smaller man in his return bout, Mayweather (40-0, 25 knockouts), who out-weighed Marquez 146-to-142 pounds, was nevertheless a pay-per-view hit.
Mayweather-Marquez resulted in an unexpected 1.05 million buys, which, at the time, was only the fifth non-heavyweight fight to reach seven figures.
Mayweather addressed his marketability during Thursday's conference call with reporters, promoting his May 1 clash with WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"Everybody's entitled to their own opinion. Of course, I want to please the fans, and I want to please everybody that's buying pay-per-view. But self-preservation is the law of the land, and I come first. I'm going to fight for Floyd Mayweather first," said Mayweather, whose split-decision victory over Oscar de la Hoya in May 2007 sold a record 2.4 million, and whose 10th-round knockout over Ricky Hatton drew 920,000.
"Bob Arum always says that I can't draw flies," said Mayweather. "That's something that he's going to say forever. But the thing is, he's always trying to get his fighters to fight me."
While away from the sport following the win over Hatton, Mayweather's cross-over appeal lead to his participation in "Dancing With The Stars" and defeating professional wrestling's "Big Show" in a highly-viewed match.
"Actually, when Floyd came back, he was bigger than he was when he left the sport. All that it did was give him a chance to spend more time with his family, and to give him a chance to really enjoy his time off," Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather promotions, said of Mayweather, who briefly interrupted the conference call to pick up his young daughter from school, where he said, "She's was getting an award today for being the No. 1 student in her school."
"He's always known that he's the best," said Ellerbe. "And the reason why he's the best is that he's never been beaten."
Mayweather expressed disappointment in the comments made by White, saying that he "was friends with Dana White before he even got involved with the MMA."
"Dana White used to be with my uncle Jeff. He's one of the guys who helped Dana White get started. Somebody had to teach him about boxing, and my uncle, Jeff Mayweather, taught him about boxing," said Mayweather, who said that he once advertised a product of White's on his boxing trunks earlier in his career.
"After the Marquez fight, I called Dana White up, and I just talked to him like a man. I said, 'I don't have nothing against you at all. You know? You do your thing, and I wish you guys nothing but the best. And I'm pretty sure that you feel the same way,'" Mayweather said.
He continued, "I asked him if he wanted to go and eat lunch and sit down like men and talk about it. And he said that he would get back with me. He never called, but I never worried about it. Every fighter's ultimate goal is to fight Floyd Mayweather. No matter what happens. If you notice, de la Hoya got his biggest payday fighting Floyd Mayweather. Shane Mosley is getting his biggest payday with Floyd Mayweather. And the list goes on and on."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
About nine days before Floyd Mayweather ended a 21-month retirement with a September 19, 2009, unanimous decision over WBA and WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, his former promoter, Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank, ripped him as "a fighter who stinks his opponent out," who, "doesn't engage," and, "fights scared."
"He's a great defensive fighter, but people don't want to spend money watching a defensive fighter," said Arum, who called Mayweather "a tremendous talent."
"Mayweather will not engage an opponent, and that makes a stinking fight," said Arum. "And if people are being asked to pay $50 to watch it on pay per view, I can see their reluctance."
In addition to Arum, UFC President, Dana White also took shots at Mayweather-Marquez, saying, "Floyd wants you to pay to see him run around in circles, and lay on the ropes, and move around and not fight."
Although criticized for his lack of drawing ability and the fact that he was facing a smaller man in his return bout, Mayweather (40-0, 25 knockouts), who out-weighed Marquez 146-to-142 pounds, was nevertheless a pay-per-view hit.
Mayweather-Marquez resulted in an unexpected 1.05 million buys, which, at the time, was only the fifth non-heavyweight fight to reach seven figures.
Mayweather addressed his marketability during Thursday's conference call with reporters, promoting his May 1 clash with WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"Everybody's entitled to their own opinion. Of course, I want to please the fans, and I want to please everybody that's buying pay-per-view. But self-preservation is the law of the land, and I come first. I'm going to fight for Floyd Mayweather first," said Mayweather, whose split-decision victory over Oscar de la Hoya in May 2007 sold a record 2.4 million, and whose 10th-round knockout over Ricky Hatton drew 920,000.
"Bob Arum always says that I can't draw flies," said Mayweather. "That's something that he's going to say forever. But the thing is, he's always trying to get his fighters to fight me."
While away from the sport following the win over Hatton, Mayweather's cross-over appeal lead to his participation in "Dancing With The Stars" and defeating professional wrestling's "Big Show" in a highly-viewed match.
"Actually, when Floyd came back, he was bigger than he was when he left the sport. All that it did was give him a chance to spend more time with his family, and to give him a chance to really enjoy his time off," Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather promotions, said of Mayweather, who briefly interrupted the conference call to pick up his young daughter from school, where he said, "She's was getting an award today for being the No. 1 student in her school."
"He's always known that he's the best," said Ellerbe. "And the reason why he's the best is that he's never been beaten."
Mayweather expressed disappointment in the comments made by White, saying that he "was friends with Dana White before he even got involved with the MMA."
"Dana White used to be with my uncle Jeff. He's one of the guys who helped Dana White get started. Somebody had to teach him about boxing, and my uncle, Jeff Mayweather, taught him about boxing," said Mayweather, who said that he once advertised a product of White's on his boxing trunks earlier in his career.
"After the Marquez fight, I called Dana White up, and I just talked to him like a man. I said, 'I don't have nothing against you at all. You know? You do your thing, and I wish you guys nothing but the best. And I'm pretty sure that you feel the same way,'" Mayweather said.
He continued, "I asked him if he wanted to go and eat lunch and sit down like men and talk about it. And he said that he would get back with me. He never called, but I never worried about it. Every fighter's ultimate goal is to fight Floyd Mayweather. No matter what happens. If you notice, de la Hoya got his biggest payday fighting Floyd Mayweather. Shane Mosley is getting his biggest payday with Floyd Mayweather. And the list goes on and on."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Audio: Shane Mosley Conference Call Transcript -- Eastside Boxing
Eastside Boxing
Shane Mosley: I'm happy that the fight is taking place and I'm happy with the training camp that we've been doing with Naazim Jameson and all the sparring partners, Karl Dargan, Rock, Mike Sharp and Eloy Perez and a few others. I'm just happy and excited to show my stuff May 1. It's going to be very exciting. I'm in great shape. I'm in tremendous shape and I'm ready to take on Mayweather.
Schaefer:
Thank you, Shane. We are going to open it up now for the media members for any questions. Operator, please?
Q (Bernard Fernandez):
You mentioned that Karl Dargan and Rock, that you're sparring with them. They've been a little bit inactive lately, but I was just curious of your impressions of them as they're both Naazimm's relatives obviously, son and nephew.
Mosley:
This camp has been like a family and I'm happy to have all of them contributing. They have great backgrounds, and Naazim Richardson trains them. Karl Dargan is very fast, a little taller than Mayweather, but has very fast hands. I think that a lot of it is the reaction time that I'm dealing with when I work with Karl Dargan to emulate Mayweather. We try to figure out different ways and different strategies of attacking..
Q (Fernandez):
One other question is, is all the stuff that's popping up now that Victor Conte is sending out, is that any kind of a distraction to you?
Mosley:
I haven't really heard anything about it and I don't choose to even talk about it. That's been 2003 when that type of stuff happened, so.
Q (Robert Morales):
Shane, what would a victory over Floyd Mayweather, Jr. do for your legacy?
Mosley:
I think a victory would do very good. It gives the people a chance to see that Sugar Shane really means business when he gets in that ring and fights. I rise to the occasion at every big fight. It's going to be great.
Q (Morales):
One other thing. On the second 24/7, and I don't know if you watched it or not because you said you didn't watch the first one, Floyd is saying he thinks he is better than Ali, better than Sugar Ray Robinson. Do you think he is perhaps overstating that a little bit?
Mosley:
I think that you can't say who was the best fighter. I think Sugar Robinson was the greatest. Everybody has their own opinions about different fighters and what they can do and their ability. I think that it's important that it's not for you; it's not for myself to tell everybody that I'm the greatest, it's for your guys to decide that. So when the people start deciding that Sugar Robinson is the greatest or Muhammad Ali is the greatest, it's the people that have spoken. You're not just tooting your own horn and saying, oh I'm the greatest. A lot of the people believe that Sugar Robinson was one of the greatest so I guess he's one of the greatest, him and Ali.
Q (Morales):
Judd, obviously we've all, and I'm sure you've seen the YouTube stuff, I just want to ask you just a basic question, if I may. I know I can hear you in the background objecting to the form of the question. I believe that was you. It did seem like the person asking the questions had some difficulty forming his questions. Do you think that that defamation video made Shane look bad or do you think it made the questioner look bad because he didn't know how to form his questions?
Burstein:
Well, first of all, I'm going to answer it quickly, but the real answer is there's no point in talking about this. This was 2003. Shane will be victorious in court and that will answer all the questions. The whole thing about the Conte video was not more a) it was he couldn't ask questions; but b) that Conte edited it and took it out of context. But there's nothing more to say about this.
Q (Bob Velin):
Do you feel at all like you're disrespected by fans and the media or do you feel like people put you on an even footing with Floyd?
Mosley:
I don't know. I mean I really don't get that stuff anymore. I haven't really been looking into the media and seeing what they've been saying. I don't know really what's going on. I try to keep myself away from it so I can be focused on the fight and that's my main importance right now is just being focused on the fight and being the best I can be when I get to the ring.
Q (Velin):
Do you feel Floyd is with all the trash talking that he's doing is trying to goad you into distraction before the fight and maybe anger? Does that stuff anger you or do you not even pay attention to it?
Mosley:
At this point, I'm not angered by it. I'm just trying to go to the fight and be the best I can be in the fight. Right now at this point, we're getting ready to fight now.
Q (Velin):
Floyd, Sr. has said that he had heard you've been getting beat up by your sparring partner. How do you respond to something like that?
Mosley:
I don't know how he can hear that unless he has some kind of spy inside the gym which I don't know of. No, I've been working good. I'm working diligently and I'm working real good and the sparring partners have been giving me good work. It's great.
Q (Velin):
One last question. Do you feel 100% healthy and ready to go for this fight?
Mosley:
I'm 100% healthy. I'm ready to go. I'm ready to fight and show the world I'm the best fighter.
Q (Ed Graney):
Obviously they're saying you don't want to talk about any of this with Conte which is fine, but drug testing is a huge part of this fight. That's one of the reasons you guys made it such a big deal when you all agreed to Olympic drug testing for it. Two thousand three is a long time ago, but can you say since then how you have felt differently in fights? Can you tell a difference from that night to how you fight now or recent fights from when you didn't take that stuff? I mean what did it do to you as a fighter to come off it and then try to get back to just 100% of yourself and how you feel now when your in the ring compared to then.
Mosley:
That's just a stupid question that you asked me because I never did that stuff. I never was on it really like that. I've always been a clean fighter. Actually, I feel good and I've been feeling good. I've been knocking around everybody since 2003 and before 2003. I don't feel that I should be condemned for something that I never tested positive for and I just told the truth of what happened, because the truth was brought to me by the Federal people that took me court that brought me in as a witness. They brought me in as a witness and the truth was revealed to me there, that this man that I'd seen one time in my whole entire life, before going to deposition and that's the second time I've seen him. It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous now that the media wants to make me the poster boy of steroids when I don't even .... Whatever, if you guys want to continue to think that or put that out there, so be it. So be it. You guys know the truth.
Q (Don Steinberg):
How are you doing guys? I appreciate your taking the time. This is for Shane. I'm doing a story to tell the people of Philadelphia a little bit more about your trainer and brother, Naazim. I just wanted to get a sense. Someone's who's been in this sport for so long, what can a guy like him come in and what has he been able to do for you either in the gym or in the corner and what's it like working with him? What's his personality like? Is he a hard ass? Does he make you laugh? Just kind of an insight to his personality as a trainer.
Mosley:
Naazim is all of the above. He's hard on me and makes sure that I'm prepared physically, mentally and especially, all different ways to be prepared to enter the fight. I think that's the difference, is being prepared. He's 100% in the game. I'm fighting and he's fighting as well. He's not fighting with his fist and hands, but he's fighting with his mind which is a good thing. I'm happy and pleased with everything that's going on in my camp.
Q (Steinberg):
Anything specifically different or are you doing anything differently?
Mosley:
I'm not sure I'm doing anything differently. I think that he brings me back to all the movement and keep myself sharp and mentally sharp and sound. The punches that he's having me do, I'm throwing very well and sharp. I'm ready to go.
Q (Steinberg):
What's he like to work with?
Mosley:
He's a great trainer. I think he's one of the best if not the best trainer right now today in this era. I couldn't ask for a better person, a better friend and a better trainer in my camp right now.
Q (George Willis):
I wanted you to recount that little incident. I think you talked about it when you guys were sitting down on that faceoff about the time Floyd came to you and said something like, "I want to be just like you one day," something like that.
Mosley:
Yes, it was something at, I think he was just out of the Olympics and he was maybe 2-0, 3-0, something like that. I came to his dressing room and I was telling him that he's a great fighter. He looks good and he was going to be a world champion one day. I said you're going to be World Champion one day. You look real good. And he's was like "Oh man, thank you." Basically he was just saying, "You're doing good, too." I think I was the Champion then or I was getting ready to be the Champion. He said, "Hopefully if I can be just like you, it will be great if I can win a title and all that stuff." So we were both giving each other props and stuff about how good we were. That was it. He just wanted to have the accomplishments that I had accomplished in my professional career. He said if I can have those accomplishments then I'd be happy too, if I can be like you and have all the accomplishments that I have. I don't know if was like being exactly like me per se, but just the accomplishments and everything I've done in my boxing career at that time, he was impressed with and he let me know that then.
Q (Willis):
How much do you think that his intimidation tactics are part of his getting to another opponent and how much do you think you have frustrated him by not reacting to any of that?
Mosley:
I'm not really sure. I know me not reacting to his antics or whatever, that's just me blocking all that stuff out and wanting to fight. I don't really care about the different things that are being said. That doesn't really matter. What matters is the fight and what happens in the fight. So that's my whole interest and I kind of block all that other stuff out.
Q (Willis):
And one last question. You had a series of fights at 154. How do you think having fought heavier opponents, bigger opponents, how do you think that will translate into a fight where you're fighting a guy that's mostly a speed and defensive guy?
Mosley:
Well, I think it might be a little different. I know it helps with the power aspect. I should be able to walk him down, a little stronger or better and do different things. I feel good about being in a ring with bigger guys. Both bigger and smaller; I've been in the ring with both sizes.
Q (Willis):
Okay. And what's up with the tattoo on your shoulder?
Mosley:
I've had it for about eight or nine months now. I was going to have it before the Berto fight. It's a warrior, you know. It's a Maori warrior tattoo that shows what type of fighter I am. When I get in the ring, I'm a warrior and I want the people to see that.
Q (David Mayo):
Shane, obviously this has a chance to be the biggest fight of the year in 2010 and a lots being made of it. There's a lot of coverage. Is it the biggest fight at this stage can you say that you've ever been involved in and if not, what was?
Mosley:
Well, I think at this point it will be the biggest fight. You have a lot of viewers watching it. It's a fight that the world wanted to see. So it's a big fight. It's a very big fight and I'm excited to have this fight.
Q (Mayo):
It's bigger than fighting Oscar the first time?
Mosley:
The first time I fought Oscar it had its own significance and it took me where I am today right now to be able to fight this type of mega fight. But it is definitely a big fight. Fighting De la Hoya the first time was a real big fight. There was a lot of people there at the fight and there was a lot of big expectations, but this is probably I can say right now, one of the biggest fights.
Q (Mayo):
And to follow up real quickly on a question from earlier about Mayweather's intimidation tactics. Obviously, you've had your fair share of things to say about your going to knock Mayweather out and some of his rhetoric and his talk really ramps up when it gets to fight week and he gets to see you face to face. How do you deal with that? Do you address it? Do you let it drop? Do you pick your spots? What do you do?
Mosley:
Well, I guess it depends. As it comes, you pick your spots and maybe check them a little bit here and there and get him back to thinking. But at this point, it's time to fight now. At this point, we've done a little talking and this and that, but now it's fight time now and now we're getting ready to show what we can do.
Q (Mayo):
As you've been on the outside watching that over the years, do you think it has worked against certain guys?
Mosley:
I think so. I think a lot of the press and media and just the whole event of all that can kind of distract a fighter but at this time, I just try to be; like I said, I just try to just think about focusing on the fight. Now it's getting close to the fight and we need to worry about the fight instead of worrying about what people are saying about us.
Q (Dan Rafael):
Shane, just a couple things. First of all, I want to clarify are you defending your WBA title in this fight? Is that up for grabs?
Mosley:
I don't think so.
Schaefer:
No, actually I can answer that for you. It looks like the fight will not be for Shane's WBA title, however Shane will be; I mean Floyd is not fighting for the WBA title, but Shane is.
Q (Rafael):
Okay, that's kind of what I thought. I wonder Shane, I know this is a business, but the guys that get in the ring and do the fighting like to have belt fight to win titles and certainly in the instance of you against Floyd, arguably the two best welterweights in the world fighting for a lot of money, but pride as well as for maybe the championship of the world and you seem willing to do and I've heard a lot of comments from Floyd where he talks about well, the belts just collect dust and this and that. What is your take on that sort of attitude where I know you're a guy that likes to fight the best guys and obviously wants to earn a lot of money doing it, but also I know takes certain pride in being champion. What do you think that says about Floyd where he has just this cavalier attitude where he at least publically says he doesn't really give a darn about it?
Schaefer:
No, you know my opinion about the subject. I think at that level, it really depends on the fighters. I think boxing is a sport of champions and it is the belt and it signifies the champion and so I think really at that level it is up to the fighters. Some fighters want to fight for a belt, others don't. I think it depends on the fight and it depends on the circumstances. But let's see what Shane has to say.
Mosley:
I don't know what to think about that. I think he should want; I mean everybody grows up wanting to fight for a belt and want to be world champion and for them to just dismiss it like oh, I'm bigger than the belt, I don't know. That just doesn't seem like he's in the sport for the sport. He's in it just for the money, which is good if he wants to do that. If he wants to fight for money, to each his own, but I love the glory, the legendary status of being a champion and winning belts and being the best guys out there. If he did that, the money is going to come regardless.
Q (Rafael):
One other question for you about Floyd. He has stated, as has been discussed in this call, he's the greatest fighter of all time, better than all the Ali's and Sugar Robinson's as we've covered. And then you look at his resume and he was the welterweight champ of the world when he beat some guys that he beat and then of course gave that up when he retired. But there are a lot of people, myself included, who have criticized the level of his competition particularly since he's come out of the Lightweight division. When you look at his resume, do you think he has any real resume as a welterweight that by beating you, that would be clearly by far and away his best welterweight victory to do that?
Mosley:
I always say that the best fighters, you have to let the people decide that. You can't be the one to say oh, I'm the best, I'm the best.
Q (Rafael):
But what do you think of his resume as a welterweight so far?
Mosley:
As a welterweight, he hasn't fought another top welterweight and I'm the first one that's he fought that's world champion so it makes the fight a big fight. All the other guys have not really been the best, if you will. There are a lot of great welterweights out there that he could have chosen to fight instead of fighting the ones that he fought. The guys coming from ...-47, 35-47, so like I said we'll see what happens in the fight.
Q (Gordon Marino):
Hey, Shane. I appreciate your taking my call. I just had one question. I image you're going to want to put a lot of pressure on Mayweather and I was just wondering how you plan to deal with that ... right hand of his?
Mosley:
Well, that's what's being worked on, different things like that. So, hopefully, we'll implement that into the fight when we fight him.
Q (Marino):
Okay, so you're keeping it a secret?
Mosley:
I'm supposed to.
Q:
Strategy wise, you guys are both incredibly fast fighters and I'm curious of your perception of Floyd's speed. Do you think you're as fast as Floyd at this point in your career and how are you going to counter that speed?
Mosley:
Well, I think I'm as fast as any fighter out there and especially Floyd. I'm one of the fastest. I've always been quick. We'll see when we get in there. I've never been in the ring with Floyd so I don't know how to answer that, how I'm going to counter. I'm just going to do what I do best as Sugar Shane Mosley.
Q:
I mean when you watch the tapes, what's your perception of his speed?
Mosley:
I think he has good hand speed, but I think my hand speed is good, too. I don't know if I'm going to be faster or I'm going to be slower. I have to get in the ring and see. I believe I'm faster. I believe that I'm going to have the advantage in the speed, but we'll see.
Q (Jake Donovan):
It seems like you and Naazim have two have very different personalities, but you both have the same understanding of the sport. I just wanted to know like how it was when you two first started training together, like how long it took for you two to gel and what your thoughts are of him as a trainer compared to everyone else you've been with in your career.
Mosley:
I think he's a great trainer. I think he's the best trainer, one of the best trainers that I've worked with.
Q (Donovan):
You had it right the first time. He is the best trainer in the sport.
Mosley:
Yes. It's been great working with him. Right from day one, we gelled perfectly because we had the same philosophies about boxing and different things. We worked great. Right from day one it was a great match.
Q (Donovan):
To me, from my own experience with Naazim, he seems to be the most honest guy out there. He'll always tell you what's on his mind, never in a disrespectful manner, but he's not going to sugarcoat anything. Has that caused any problems in training? I know some guys they tell you what you want to hear and Naazim tells you what you need to hear. Do you feel like his take is more refreshing than what most others are willing to tell you?
Mosley:
I think so. I think him giving me his honest opinion on what he believes and what he feels makes it that much better when we get into the fight. We understand each other. I know what he's telling me is the truth and it's not I just can't just guess and say okay, well can you sugarcoat it a little bit for me? I know that he's telling me the truth when I get into the fight or when I'm sparring or whatever. Whatever it is, he's going to give me his honest opinion and I'm happy with that.
Q (Donovan):
Does that give you more confidence once you step into the ring? I mean I know it's only the one fight with him, but this will be your second.
Mosley:
It'll definitely gives me more confidence definitely since I've been to the ring. I know that I definitely need to do the work. All the good work for this fight I've done, the training and different strategies and moves we did, I know that I'm ready and prepared for the fight. All I've got to do is just execute.
Q (Michael Rosenthal):
Good, good, good. I'm not sure exactly how to ask this, but the fight is being portrayed by some people as sort of a good versus evil, although I think evil is a little bit strong. Does that seem appropriate to you? That would be my first question.
Mosley:
Good versus evil? I don't know. I don't really think so. I think that Floyd just acts out because of that's just being himself. But you know, probably outside of the fight, you probably could see some good qualities Floyd has. He can charm up a little bit and be more friendly or whatever. It's just when the fight happens, he just starts getting a little crazy and starts going back to the things that he's used to doing. But, I don't know if you'd say good versus evil. But it's just going to be a great fight.
Q (Rosenthal):
You sort of answered my follow-up. I believe you told me that you don't really think he's such a bad guy. It's just sort of stuff that he says.
Mosley:
Yes, some of the things that he says, it's bad and it reflects and looks bad on him when he says the different things. Some of the things he says I don't really think he means. He just kind of says it to get a reaction out of you to see what happens and see what you do and that's probably part of his plan or his strategy before the fight. It's like fighting before the fight. He'll just say what's on the top of his head and just get a reaction out of you. If he gets a reaction out of you, then he's done a good job, he's won. So, I don't perceive him as being a real, like an evil person. That's just sometimes his nature.
Q (Rosenthal):
Okay. So last thing. So one on one, when you've run into him over the years, you guys have been fine with each other?
Mosley:
Yes, we see each other like I said on the basketball courts or I might see him out and about. We're fine. There's no problems. I see like his family members, Roger and Floyd, Sr. and a few other guys. I don't hate any of those guys. We have a job to do right now and it's competitive. It's a competitive sport. We want to know who is the best and I'm here to get in there and show that I'm the best.
Q (Tim Smith):
I just wanted to ask and sort of follow-up on that last question and then I have another question. Do you think after this that you and Floyd will have any kind of relationship? I don't know if you guys had any kind of relationship previous to this, but can you see yourself maybe having any kind of relationship with him whether it's a professional relationship or whether it's a personal relationship or being friends or hanging out or anything like that?
Mosley:
Yes, of course. It's nothing personal. I know for me, it's all business. This is business and this is a competitive sport. This is our legacy on who's the best fighter. It's a challenge. So it's a challenge that I'm ready to take and I'm ready to go into the history books as being the guy to beat Floyd Mayweather and the guy that beats everybody out there, the last man standing. I'm into that. So, when I say that, I mean yes definitely I'll be there. We can be friends. We can go to dinner, whatever after the fight. It's all good. The families can get together, all that. But for now, I guess we're enemies.
Q (Smith):
Okay. And the second question, how disruptive has just the Olympic style training and having to let these guys know where you are 24 hours a day and just sort of opening up your camp to the testing, has that been a disruption for you or has it thrown off what you normally would be doing in preparation?
Mosley:
Actually, no. Actually, I like the fact that they come all the time and I learned a lot of different things about different things to do. Different things that, if you will, just eating natural and normal foods without taking any of the vitamins. Taking a bunch of vitamins is a good thing for your body. I feel good. I feel great. This has actually been a breakthrough. I like it.
Q (Smith):
Okay. You mean say like if you had the sniffles or you have a cold, most people would just like reach for the Tylenol Sinus or whatever. You can't just reach for that. You have to sort of find out whether it's okay to take something for the sniffles or sinus infection or cold or whatever, right?
Mosley:
Yes it's been educational, but you can take Tylenol or some other things if you get the sniffles. But there's other things to take that's natural that you can use that you can take too as well. It hasn't bothered me at all. Everything has been great. I love the fact, like I said, it's been like a breakthrough for me with this USADA thing. It's actually a good thing.
Q (Smith):
Now have they said how far up to the fight that they're going to keep testing?
Mosley:
I don't know. I'm fine with it. All my testing has been real quick. I did like five of them already and everything is good.
Q (Smith):
Okay, five tests. How many for blood?
Mosley:
I did three for blood and five for blood and urine.
(this is NOT the end of call. click here for the audio to hear the rest)
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Shane Mosley: I'm happy that the fight is taking place and I'm happy with the training camp that we've been doing with Naazim Jameson and all the sparring partners, Karl Dargan, Rock, Mike Sharp and Eloy Perez and a few others. I'm just happy and excited to show my stuff May 1. It's going to be very exciting. I'm in great shape. I'm in tremendous shape and I'm ready to take on Mayweather.
Schaefer:
Thank you, Shane. We are going to open it up now for the media members for any questions. Operator, please?
Q (Bernard Fernandez):
You mentioned that Karl Dargan and Rock, that you're sparring with them. They've been a little bit inactive lately, but I was just curious of your impressions of them as they're both Naazimm's relatives obviously, son and nephew.
Mosley:
This camp has been like a family and I'm happy to have all of them contributing. They have great backgrounds, and Naazim Richardson trains them. Karl Dargan is very fast, a little taller than Mayweather, but has very fast hands. I think that a lot of it is the reaction time that I'm dealing with when I work with Karl Dargan to emulate Mayweather. We try to figure out different ways and different strategies of attacking..
Q (Fernandez):
One other question is, is all the stuff that's popping up now that Victor Conte is sending out, is that any kind of a distraction to you?
Mosley:
I haven't really heard anything about it and I don't choose to even talk about it. That's been 2003 when that type of stuff happened, so.
Q (Robert Morales):
Shane, what would a victory over Floyd Mayweather, Jr. do for your legacy?
Mosley:
I think a victory would do very good. It gives the people a chance to see that Sugar Shane really means business when he gets in that ring and fights. I rise to the occasion at every big fight. It's going to be great.
Q (Morales):
One other thing. On the second 24/7, and I don't know if you watched it or not because you said you didn't watch the first one, Floyd is saying he thinks he is better than Ali, better than Sugar Ray Robinson. Do you think he is perhaps overstating that a little bit?
Mosley:
I think that you can't say who was the best fighter. I think Sugar Robinson was the greatest. Everybody has their own opinions about different fighters and what they can do and their ability. I think that it's important that it's not for you; it's not for myself to tell everybody that I'm the greatest, it's for your guys to decide that. So when the people start deciding that Sugar Robinson is the greatest or Muhammad Ali is the greatest, it's the people that have spoken. You're not just tooting your own horn and saying, oh I'm the greatest. A lot of the people believe that Sugar Robinson was one of the greatest so I guess he's one of the greatest, him and Ali.
Q (Morales):
Judd, obviously we've all, and I'm sure you've seen the YouTube stuff, I just want to ask you just a basic question, if I may. I know I can hear you in the background objecting to the form of the question. I believe that was you. It did seem like the person asking the questions had some difficulty forming his questions. Do you think that that defamation video made Shane look bad or do you think it made the questioner look bad because he didn't know how to form his questions?
Burstein:
Well, first of all, I'm going to answer it quickly, but the real answer is there's no point in talking about this. This was 2003. Shane will be victorious in court and that will answer all the questions. The whole thing about the Conte video was not more a) it was he couldn't ask questions; but b) that Conte edited it and took it out of context. But there's nothing more to say about this.
Q (Bob Velin):
Do you feel at all like you're disrespected by fans and the media or do you feel like people put you on an even footing with Floyd?
Mosley:
I don't know. I mean I really don't get that stuff anymore. I haven't really been looking into the media and seeing what they've been saying. I don't know really what's going on. I try to keep myself away from it so I can be focused on the fight and that's my main importance right now is just being focused on the fight and being the best I can be when I get to the ring.
Q (Velin):
Do you feel Floyd is with all the trash talking that he's doing is trying to goad you into distraction before the fight and maybe anger? Does that stuff anger you or do you not even pay attention to it?
Mosley:
At this point, I'm not angered by it. I'm just trying to go to the fight and be the best I can be in the fight. Right now at this point, we're getting ready to fight now.
Q (Velin):
Floyd, Sr. has said that he had heard you've been getting beat up by your sparring partner. How do you respond to something like that?
Mosley:
I don't know how he can hear that unless he has some kind of spy inside the gym which I don't know of. No, I've been working good. I'm working diligently and I'm working real good and the sparring partners have been giving me good work. It's great.
Q (Velin):
One last question. Do you feel 100% healthy and ready to go for this fight?
Mosley:
I'm 100% healthy. I'm ready to go. I'm ready to fight and show the world I'm the best fighter.
Q (Ed Graney):
Obviously they're saying you don't want to talk about any of this with Conte which is fine, but drug testing is a huge part of this fight. That's one of the reasons you guys made it such a big deal when you all agreed to Olympic drug testing for it. Two thousand three is a long time ago, but can you say since then how you have felt differently in fights? Can you tell a difference from that night to how you fight now or recent fights from when you didn't take that stuff? I mean what did it do to you as a fighter to come off it and then try to get back to just 100% of yourself and how you feel now when your in the ring compared to then.
Mosley:
That's just a stupid question that you asked me because I never did that stuff. I never was on it really like that. I've always been a clean fighter. Actually, I feel good and I've been feeling good. I've been knocking around everybody since 2003 and before 2003. I don't feel that I should be condemned for something that I never tested positive for and I just told the truth of what happened, because the truth was brought to me by the Federal people that took me court that brought me in as a witness. They brought me in as a witness and the truth was revealed to me there, that this man that I'd seen one time in my whole entire life, before going to deposition and that's the second time I've seen him. It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous now that the media wants to make me the poster boy of steroids when I don't even .... Whatever, if you guys want to continue to think that or put that out there, so be it. So be it. You guys know the truth.
Q (Don Steinberg):
How are you doing guys? I appreciate your taking the time. This is for Shane. I'm doing a story to tell the people of Philadelphia a little bit more about your trainer and brother, Naazim. I just wanted to get a sense. Someone's who's been in this sport for so long, what can a guy like him come in and what has he been able to do for you either in the gym or in the corner and what's it like working with him? What's his personality like? Is he a hard ass? Does he make you laugh? Just kind of an insight to his personality as a trainer.
Mosley:
Naazim is all of the above. He's hard on me and makes sure that I'm prepared physically, mentally and especially, all different ways to be prepared to enter the fight. I think that's the difference, is being prepared. He's 100% in the game. I'm fighting and he's fighting as well. He's not fighting with his fist and hands, but he's fighting with his mind which is a good thing. I'm happy and pleased with everything that's going on in my camp.
Q (Steinberg):
Anything specifically different or are you doing anything differently?
Mosley:
I'm not sure I'm doing anything differently. I think that he brings me back to all the movement and keep myself sharp and mentally sharp and sound. The punches that he's having me do, I'm throwing very well and sharp. I'm ready to go.
Q (Steinberg):
What's he like to work with?
Mosley:
He's a great trainer. I think he's one of the best if not the best trainer right now today in this era. I couldn't ask for a better person, a better friend and a better trainer in my camp right now.
Q (George Willis):
I wanted you to recount that little incident. I think you talked about it when you guys were sitting down on that faceoff about the time Floyd came to you and said something like, "I want to be just like you one day," something like that.
Mosley:
Yes, it was something at, I think he was just out of the Olympics and he was maybe 2-0, 3-0, something like that. I came to his dressing room and I was telling him that he's a great fighter. He looks good and he was going to be a world champion one day. I said you're going to be World Champion one day. You look real good. And he's was like "Oh man, thank you." Basically he was just saying, "You're doing good, too." I think I was the Champion then or I was getting ready to be the Champion. He said, "Hopefully if I can be just like you, it will be great if I can win a title and all that stuff." So we were both giving each other props and stuff about how good we were. That was it. He just wanted to have the accomplishments that I had accomplished in my professional career. He said if I can have those accomplishments then I'd be happy too, if I can be like you and have all the accomplishments that I have. I don't know if was like being exactly like me per se, but just the accomplishments and everything I've done in my boxing career at that time, he was impressed with and he let me know that then.
Q (Willis):
How much do you think that his intimidation tactics are part of his getting to another opponent and how much do you think you have frustrated him by not reacting to any of that?
Mosley:
I'm not really sure. I know me not reacting to his antics or whatever, that's just me blocking all that stuff out and wanting to fight. I don't really care about the different things that are being said. That doesn't really matter. What matters is the fight and what happens in the fight. So that's my whole interest and I kind of block all that other stuff out.
Q (Willis):
And one last question. You had a series of fights at 154. How do you think having fought heavier opponents, bigger opponents, how do you think that will translate into a fight where you're fighting a guy that's mostly a speed and defensive guy?
Mosley:
Well, I think it might be a little different. I know it helps with the power aspect. I should be able to walk him down, a little stronger or better and do different things. I feel good about being in a ring with bigger guys. Both bigger and smaller; I've been in the ring with both sizes.
Q (Willis):
Okay. And what's up with the tattoo on your shoulder?
Mosley:
I've had it for about eight or nine months now. I was going to have it before the Berto fight. It's a warrior, you know. It's a Maori warrior tattoo that shows what type of fighter I am. When I get in the ring, I'm a warrior and I want the people to see that.
Q (David Mayo):
Shane, obviously this has a chance to be the biggest fight of the year in 2010 and a lots being made of it. There's a lot of coverage. Is it the biggest fight at this stage can you say that you've ever been involved in and if not, what was?
Mosley:
Well, I think at this point it will be the biggest fight. You have a lot of viewers watching it. It's a fight that the world wanted to see. So it's a big fight. It's a very big fight and I'm excited to have this fight.
Q (Mayo):
It's bigger than fighting Oscar the first time?
Mosley:
The first time I fought Oscar it had its own significance and it took me where I am today right now to be able to fight this type of mega fight. But it is definitely a big fight. Fighting De la Hoya the first time was a real big fight. There was a lot of people there at the fight and there was a lot of big expectations, but this is probably I can say right now, one of the biggest fights.
Q (Mayo):
And to follow up real quickly on a question from earlier about Mayweather's intimidation tactics. Obviously, you've had your fair share of things to say about your going to knock Mayweather out and some of his rhetoric and his talk really ramps up when it gets to fight week and he gets to see you face to face. How do you deal with that? Do you address it? Do you let it drop? Do you pick your spots? What do you do?
Mosley:
Well, I guess it depends. As it comes, you pick your spots and maybe check them a little bit here and there and get him back to thinking. But at this point, it's time to fight now. At this point, we've done a little talking and this and that, but now it's fight time now and now we're getting ready to show what we can do.
Q (Mayo):
As you've been on the outside watching that over the years, do you think it has worked against certain guys?
Mosley:
I think so. I think a lot of the press and media and just the whole event of all that can kind of distract a fighter but at this time, I just try to be; like I said, I just try to just think about focusing on the fight. Now it's getting close to the fight and we need to worry about the fight instead of worrying about what people are saying about us.
Q (Dan Rafael):
Shane, just a couple things. First of all, I want to clarify are you defending your WBA title in this fight? Is that up for grabs?
Mosley:
I don't think so.
Schaefer:
No, actually I can answer that for you. It looks like the fight will not be for Shane's WBA title, however Shane will be; I mean Floyd is not fighting for the WBA title, but Shane is.
Q (Rafael):
Okay, that's kind of what I thought. I wonder Shane, I know this is a business, but the guys that get in the ring and do the fighting like to have belt fight to win titles and certainly in the instance of you against Floyd, arguably the two best welterweights in the world fighting for a lot of money, but pride as well as for maybe the championship of the world and you seem willing to do and I've heard a lot of comments from Floyd where he talks about well, the belts just collect dust and this and that. What is your take on that sort of attitude where I know you're a guy that likes to fight the best guys and obviously wants to earn a lot of money doing it, but also I know takes certain pride in being champion. What do you think that says about Floyd where he has just this cavalier attitude where he at least publically says he doesn't really give a darn about it?
Schaefer:
No, you know my opinion about the subject. I think at that level, it really depends on the fighters. I think boxing is a sport of champions and it is the belt and it signifies the champion and so I think really at that level it is up to the fighters. Some fighters want to fight for a belt, others don't. I think it depends on the fight and it depends on the circumstances. But let's see what Shane has to say.
Mosley:
I don't know what to think about that. I think he should want; I mean everybody grows up wanting to fight for a belt and want to be world champion and for them to just dismiss it like oh, I'm bigger than the belt, I don't know. That just doesn't seem like he's in the sport for the sport. He's in it just for the money, which is good if he wants to do that. If he wants to fight for money, to each his own, but I love the glory, the legendary status of being a champion and winning belts and being the best guys out there. If he did that, the money is going to come regardless.
Q (Rafael):
One other question for you about Floyd. He has stated, as has been discussed in this call, he's the greatest fighter of all time, better than all the Ali's and Sugar Robinson's as we've covered. And then you look at his resume and he was the welterweight champ of the world when he beat some guys that he beat and then of course gave that up when he retired. But there are a lot of people, myself included, who have criticized the level of his competition particularly since he's come out of the Lightweight division. When you look at his resume, do you think he has any real resume as a welterweight that by beating you, that would be clearly by far and away his best welterweight victory to do that?
Mosley:
I always say that the best fighters, you have to let the people decide that. You can't be the one to say oh, I'm the best, I'm the best.
Q (Rafael):
But what do you think of his resume as a welterweight so far?
Mosley:
As a welterweight, he hasn't fought another top welterweight and I'm the first one that's he fought that's world champion so it makes the fight a big fight. All the other guys have not really been the best, if you will. There are a lot of great welterweights out there that he could have chosen to fight instead of fighting the ones that he fought. The guys coming from ...-47, 35-47, so like I said we'll see what happens in the fight.
Q (Gordon Marino):
Hey, Shane. I appreciate your taking my call. I just had one question. I image you're going to want to put a lot of pressure on Mayweather and I was just wondering how you plan to deal with that ... right hand of his?
Mosley:
Well, that's what's being worked on, different things like that. So, hopefully, we'll implement that into the fight when we fight him.
Q (Marino):
Okay, so you're keeping it a secret?
Mosley:
I'm supposed to.
Q:
Strategy wise, you guys are both incredibly fast fighters and I'm curious of your perception of Floyd's speed. Do you think you're as fast as Floyd at this point in your career and how are you going to counter that speed?
Mosley:
Well, I think I'm as fast as any fighter out there and especially Floyd. I'm one of the fastest. I've always been quick. We'll see when we get in there. I've never been in the ring with Floyd so I don't know how to answer that, how I'm going to counter. I'm just going to do what I do best as Sugar Shane Mosley.
Q:
I mean when you watch the tapes, what's your perception of his speed?
Mosley:
I think he has good hand speed, but I think my hand speed is good, too. I don't know if I'm going to be faster or I'm going to be slower. I have to get in the ring and see. I believe I'm faster. I believe that I'm going to have the advantage in the speed, but we'll see.
Q (Jake Donovan):
It seems like you and Naazim have two have very different personalities, but you both have the same understanding of the sport. I just wanted to know like how it was when you two first started training together, like how long it took for you two to gel and what your thoughts are of him as a trainer compared to everyone else you've been with in your career.
Mosley:
I think he's a great trainer. I think he's the best trainer, one of the best trainers that I've worked with.
Q (Donovan):
You had it right the first time. He is the best trainer in the sport.
Mosley:
Yes. It's been great working with him. Right from day one, we gelled perfectly because we had the same philosophies about boxing and different things. We worked great. Right from day one it was a great match.
Q (Donovan):
To me, from my own experience with Naazim, he seems to be the most honest guy out there. He'll always tell you what's on his mind, never in a disrespectful manner, but he's not going to sugarcoat anything. Has that caused any problems in training? I know some guys they tell you what you want to hear and Naazim tells you what you need to hear. Do you feel like his take is more refreshing than what most others are willing to tell you?
Mosley:
I think so. I think him giving me his honest opinion on what he believes and what he feels makes it that much better when we get into the fight. We understand each other. I know what he's telling me is the truth and it's not I just can't just guess and say okay, well can you sugarcoat it a little bit for me? I know that he's telling me the truth when I get into the fight or when I'm sparring or whatever. Whatever it is, he's going to give me his honest opinion and I'm happy with that.
Q (Donovan):
Does that give you more confidence once you step into the ring? I mean I know it's only the one fight with him, but this will be your second.
Mosley:
It'll definitely gives me more confidence definitely since I've been to the ring. I know that I definitely need to do the work. All the good work for this fight I've done, the training and different strategies and moves we did, I know that I'm ready and prepared for the fight. All I've got to do is just execute.
Q (Michael Rosenthal):
Good, good, good. I'm not sure exactly how to ask this, but the fight is being portrayed by some people as sort of a good versus evil, although I think evil is a little bit strong. Does that seem appropriate to you? That would be my first question.
Mosley:
Good versus evil? I don't know. I don't really think so. I think that Floyd just acts out because of that's just being himself. But you know, probably outside of the fight, you probably could see some good qualities Floyd has. He can charm up a little bit and be more friendly or whatever. It's just when the fight happens, he just starts getting a little crazy and starts going back to the things that he's used to doing. But, I don't know if you'd say good versus evil. But it's just going to be a great fight.
Q (Rosenthal):
You sort of answered my follow-up. I believe you told me that you don't really think he's such a bad guy. It's just sort of stuff that he says.
Mosley:
Yes, some of the things that he says, it's bad and it reflects and looks bad on him when he says the different things. Some of the things he says I don't really think he means. He just kind of says it to get a reaction out of you to see what happens and see what you do and that's probably part of his plan or his strategy before the fight. It's like fighting before the fight. He'll just say what's on the top of his head and just get a reaction out of you. If he gets a reaction out of you, then he's done a good job, he's won. So, I don't perceive him as being a real, like an evil person. That's just sometimes his nature.
Q (Rosenthal):
Okay. So last thing. So one on one, when you've run into him over the years, you guys have been fine with each other?
Mosley:
Yes, we see each other like I said on the basketball courts or I might see him out and about. We're fine. There's no problems. I see like his family members, Roger and Floyd, Sr. and a few other guys. I don't hate any of those guys. We have a job to do right now and it's competitive. It's a competitive sport. We want to know who is the best and I'm here to get in there and show that I'm the best.
Q (Tim Smith):
I just wanted to ask and sort of follow-up on that last question and then I have another question. Do you think after this that you and Floyd will have any kind of relationship? I don't know if you guys had any kind of relationship previous to this, but can you see yourself maybe having any kind of relationship with him whether it's a professional relationship or whether it's a personal relationship or being friends or hanging out or anything like that?
Mosley:
Yes, of course. It's nothing personal. I know for me, it's all business. This is business and this is a competitive sport. This is our legacy on who's the best fighter. It's a challenge. So it's a challenge that I'm ready to take and I'm ready to go into the history books as being the guy to beat Floyd Mayweather and the guy that beats everybody out there, the last man standing. I'm into that. So, when I say that, I mean yes definitely I'll be there. We can be friends. We can go to dinner, whatever after the fight. It's all good. The families can get together, all that. But for now, I guess we're enemies.
Q (Smith):
Okay. And the second question, how disruptive has just the Olympic style training and having to let these guys know where you are 24 hours a day and just sort of opening up your camp to the testing, has that been a disruption for you or has it thrown off what you normally would be doing in preparation?
Mosley:
Actually, no. Actually, I like the fact that they come all the time and I learned a lot of different things about different things to do. Different things that, if you will, just eating natural and normal foods without taking any of the vitamins. Taking a bunch of vitamins is a good thing for your body. I feel good. I feel great. This has actually been a breakthrough. I like it.
Q (Smith):
Okay. You mean say like if you had the sniffles or you have a cold, most people would just like reach for the Tylenol Sinus or whatever. You can't just reach for that. You have to sort of find out whether it's okay to take something for the sniffles or sinus infection or cold or whatever, right?
Mosley:
Yes it's been educational, but you can take Tylenol or some other things if you get the sniffles. But there's other things to take that's natural that you can use that you can take too as well. It hasn't bothered me at all. Everything has been great. I love the fact, like I said, it's been like a breakthrough for me with this USADA thing. It's actually a good thing.
Q (Smith):
Now have they said how far up to the fight that they're going to keep testing?
Mosley:
I don't know. I'm fine with it. All my testing has been real quick. I did like five of them already and everything is good.
Q (Smith):
Okay, five tests. How many for blood?
Mosley:
I did three for blood and five for blood and urine.
(this is NOT the end of call. click here for the audio to hear the rest)
Source: eastsideboxing.com
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