Mayweather vs Mosley
Pittsburgh Fight Sports Examiner | Scott Heritage
The latest comments from the camp of Floyd Mayweather indicate that the former pound for pound champ is in good spirits ahead of his May showdown with Shane Mosley.
There was a lot of talk when the fight was made that Floyd didn't rally want the fight and that he took it purely because there were very few other credible opponents available.
Far from it though, Mayweather seems to be relishing the challenge that a focused and rejuvenated Mosley will bring.
In terms of styles, Mayweather should have an easy time with the older Mosley. The one factor that might make the difference in Mosley's favor is that he is viewed by many as the first genuine welterweight Mayweather has faced.
Perhaps Mayweather views Mosley as a genuine threat rather than just another name on his record. Seemingly he struggled to find that same kind of focus for the undersized and eventually outclassed Juan Manuel Marquez in his first fight back after his retirement.
Of his upcoming fight, speaking to 411Mania Mayweather said:
"I have kept my mind focused on training for this fight with very few distractions. Everyone knows I am pretty much an open book with plenty of access to my gym when I am training for a fight. But for this one it's different. I recognize what Mosley brings to the ring and he's going to be one hell of an opponent. He's one of the best fighters of this era and he's been talking a lot about knocking me out. That is not going to happen and on May 1 people are going to see another side of me. I am ready to capitalize on this opportunity and come fight night, I will leave no doubt in anyone's mind that I am the best in the world."
Obviously fighters tend to say this kind of thing before every fight, no matter who they are facing. (Even now Vitali Klitschko is practicing keeping a straight face for when he's asked about his upcoming fight against the no.21 ranked Albert Sosnowski). If Mayweather's trainers are to be believed though he is training harder than ever for Sugar Shane.
Comparing previous opponent Juan Manuel Marquez to Shane Mosley, Mayweather quipped:
"Marquez tried drinking his own urine last time around, and people do crazy things when they know they have to face the best fighter in the world. Hopefully Mosley got the memo that drinking pee doesn't work."
Hopefully Mosley won't resort to such odd measures as urine drinking. There are several athletes that extol the virtues of drinking one's own expulsions although most get along fine without it. I can only imagine Mosley trying to convince his trainer Naazim Richards or close friend Bernard Hopkins that drinking urine was a good idea.
From the sounds of the statements Mayweather has been making lately, he seems eager to be regarded as the pound for pound best again. In the opinion of most, only beating Manny Pacquiao can get him there, but beating several top names starting with Mosley will certainly give him a valid claim. Especially if Pacquiao fights his Top Rank stable mates for his next few fights.
Mayweather on Mosley's chances:
"Let's see what he tries to do. Nothing, absolutely nothing works when you have to face me"
Francis, Pittsburgh: "People call Mayweather a fraud and he's fighting the highest ranked opponent he can. Where is Clottey, barely even top ten? Pac is the fraud beating up on washed up shot fighters like Hatton and Oscar and now Bob Arum's bum of the month club"
Henry, Pittsburgh: "If Mayweather thinks beating Mosley will get him back on top he better think again. Mosley is custom made for a guy like Floyd. Every time Mosley has fought someone who can box and move he's been beaten. He might have beaten Senior concrete hands but his lateral movement is terrible. Floyd's is the best in the business and he's going to make a fool out of Mosley"
Source: Examiner.com
