Thursday, August 5, 2010

Mosley vs Mora...

On September 18th Shane Mosley will re-enter the ring roughly 5 months removed from the one sided whooping Floyd Mayweather put on him earlier this summer. He will be taking on, of TV show The Contender fame, Sergio "The Latin Snake" Mora at the Staples Center. This fight has the chance to be a very interesting fight, though some may not think so, and I'll explain why.

Shane is on redemption road one more time, trying to etch his place in modern boxing history, while Mora is getting only his second crack at a big name. Shane is going to be gunning for the KO after what happened with Floyd, no doubt in my mind, he wants to have an exclamation point return to the ring. Mora, who has never been KO'd, is looking to knock off another great fighter like he did in his first fight with the late Vernon Forrest, which was the reversed by Forrest in a re-match.

When I was enthralled by the first season of The Contender I picked Mora right off the bat to win and it is for the same reasons I think he can beat Shane Mosley. First of all, he is long and tall. Mora is 6ft tall, which is very tall for a Welterwight, with a 73' reach. Mosley is much shorter at 5'9'' but has a reach of 74'. I think if Sergio stays away, sticks his jab, and uses side to side movement he could make it a bitter night for Sugar Shane. Secondly, Mora has an unorthodox style and guard that is hard to figure out as could be seen in the Manfredo fight and even the first Forrest fight. He's a slickster, knowing he does not possess devastating power, and uses these awkward attributes to his favor. Thirdly, Mora is confident. Sergio Mora has a ton of confidence in himself, borderline cocky, and that is what fighters need. I think the most important person a fighter needs to believe in them is themselves. Mora has that.

There are negatives I see in Sergio that Mosley will definitely benefit from in this fight. First and foremost is Mora's inactivity. Mora's last fight was April 3rd and before that he had not fought since September 13th of 2008! That is not nearly enough fighting in almost 3 years for someone to stay at the peak of their abilities. Secondly, Mora's lack of power will play into Mosley's hands. Shane has never shown a glass chin, he has been rocked a few times, but then again who hasn't? I do not think Shane will have any fear of a KO when mixing it up with The Snake.

Mosley obviously possess the veteran knowledge, having boxed more than double the amount of professional rounds in his career that Mora has. Shane has been in the ring with the best, and beaten some of them as well. It will be interesting to see how Shane goes at Mora, after his last performance he can not afford to be anything except aggressive.

Basically what I am thinking is that Sergio Mora is no Floyd Mayweather Jr, this we know, but is Sugar Shane Mosley still Sugar Shane Mosley? We'll find out in September.

Prediction- Upset, and end of a career. Mora 115-113.