Mayweather vs Mosley
Los Angeles - Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather continued their media tour in Los Angeles today as they promote a May 1st boxing match in Las Vegas, Nevada and broadcast in the United States by HBO Pay Per View.
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The main stream media outlets have covered Mosley and Mayweather's tour due to the familiar names both men provide to the average sports consumer.
Mayweather and Mosley have both defeated Oscar De La Hoya - boxing's ex-top American pay per view seller - and appeared numerous on America's largest boxing outlet HBO.
So while casual fans might think that a clash between two former American pound for pound greats might produce a great fight, I openly ponder, "Is this the best American boxing can produce?"
Mayweather and Mosley are the two most well known active American boxers in the world, but in terms of action, both men have been lacking, for years.
Richard Schaefer, Golden Boy Promotions top dog and lead man in putting together this pay per view fight, has gone out on a limb by stating that the Mosley - Mayweather fight would rake in three million pay per views - breaking the all-time record for boxing pay per views, in a recessed economy.
Oscar De La Hoya's fight with Mayweather clocked in approximately two million plus buys in 2005 when many Americans were riding high on the hog with fat pockets lined from refinanced mortgages and record high prices for home sales.
My assumption is that Mayweather- Mosley will fall short of the Schaefer predicted three million buys and probably sell closer to two million pay per views - a grand feat in the current American economic landscape.
So with two million average sports fans tuning in, will they be thrilled by the in the ring action produced?
Unlikely. My prediction is that the fans who buy into Golden Boy and HBO's marketing campaign - which will promise an all-time great, must see fight - will turn off the television disappointed on May 1st.
Much like the two million fans that tuned into watch De La Hoya and Mayweather felt cheated of their forty or so dollars due to the cautious and dull nature of the encounter.
Mayweather and Mosley epitomize the current characteristics of American fighters - holding and defense. Shane Mosley has been allowed to hold and hit his way into an extended career after two defeats by Ronald Winky Wright in 2004. Mosley's ability to stop any fighters offense with questionable defensive holding kills the momentum necessary for any fight to be a true fan pleasing barn burner.
As for Mayweather, his cautious defensive style where hitting and not being being hit is the main mission objective can be a hardcore boxing fan's ecstasy and a casual fan's NyQuil. Respect his boxing wizardry we must, but Mayweather does not bring a quarter of the action Manny Pacquiao can conjure with his search and destroy style.
The combination of Mosley and Mayweather is the best America has to offer, but may be the last bitter sip from the drink that killed boxing with casual sport fans.
So when less then three million fans tune into Mayweather and Mosley, Schaefer should be thankful, he might have salvaged some from turning away from the sport for good.
Weights are in for Friday Night Fights at the Pechanga Resort and Casino
ESPN will broadcast Friday Night Fights from the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California with the main event featuring lightweights Martin Honorio (27-4-1, Mexico City, Mexico) facing Wilton Hilario (12-0-1, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) in a schedule 12 round fight.
Super bantamweight prospect Rico Ramos (14-0, Los Angeles, California) returns in an eight round fight against Cecilio Santos (24-12-3, Mexico City).
Looking to rebound from his first career defeat, John Molina (18-1, Covina, California) will face Ricardo Median (31-35-5, Mazatlan, Mexico).
Source: Examiner.com
