Door-wide open for Mayweather vs Mosley
Shane Mosley vs. Andre Berto, the fight that was keeping fans optimistic during the whole Mayweather-Pacquiao debacle, has been cancelled. Berto, whose parents are from Haiti and who represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympics (after missing out on a spot in the American team due to disqualification in the trials), has pulled out of the January 30th bout with Shane Mosley.
Berto sited that he was left "mentally and physically exhausted" by the catastrophic 7.0 earthquake in his native Haiti that has been estimated to have taken as many as 200,000 lives. Pulling out of a world championship fight that is set to take place within a fortnight is usually an unforgivable act.
But considering the extenuating circumstances, I think we can all sympathize with Berto. There are things more important to a boxer than boxing, although fans prefer to believe otherwise.
However a sweetener of sorts seems to be on the horizon for the fans, something im sure we would all trade the Pacquiao-Clottey and Mosley-Berto fights for. That sweetener is Floyd Mayweather Jr. VS Shane Mosley.
A fight that has a history deeper than many fights that actually have occurred; Mosley ducked Mayweather, Mayweather ducked Mosley, Mayweather claims Mosley is not a Pay-Per-View attraction, Mosley enters the ring and calls out Mayweather following Mayweather's September victory over Juan Manuel Marquez. The list of events and non-events goes on and on. And that's not the only thing that makes the bout so mouth watering.
Shane Mosley is a Welterweight, and all the fans have been dying to see Mayweather to fight a worthy opponent in his own weight class after the way he manhandled Marquez. But Mosley is more than a worthy opponent. He has the speed, power and experience, as well as one of the best trainers in the world in Naazim Richardson, to make it all possible.
Richardson, who also trains Bernard Hopkins and Steve Cunningham, may just have the smarts to solve the Mayweather defensive puzzle. Despite all this, I suspect Mayweather would still a slight betting favourite. Careful matchmaking isn't the only reason his record stands at 40-0. In a sport called boxing, he is undoubtedly the best boxer. But Mosley won't let Mayweather box him; he will turn it into a fight without a doubt. That is what makes this match up as big as Mayweather-Pacquiao, and possibly more competitive.
The negotiations should run a little smoother than the Mayweather-Pacquiao talks since both Mosley and Mayweather are handled by Golden Boy Promotions. CEO Richard Schaefer revealed he has already begun working on the fight and will continue to work as hard as he can to get something settled for an early May date. Schaefer revealed that "it would be like turning back the clock to the days of Leonard and Hearns" if he could get the fight done. This could be the fight that finally defines the hall of fame careers of both Mayweather and Mosley.