Articles of 2004
Wright vs. Mosley II Fight Predictions
Boxing fans are now counting down the hours until Winky Wright and Shane Mosley meet again. Here's what the staff at the TheSweetScience.com think is likely to happen on Saturday night.
There is nothing to suggest that Mosley can do anything different the second time around. He is too small, too inactive and too far removed from his prime to do much more than make it to the final bell. Wright by unanimous decision.
Matt Aguilar
I have to go with Winky. Shane did not have a clue about how to solve Wright's style the first time around. I don't see anything changing much this time. I'm sure with Goossen in his corner he'll try a few new tricks, but Winky's an old pro. There's not a whole lot he hasn't seen. The only thing I see different is a possible knockout. Winky hurt Shane a couple of times late in their first encounter. This time he might go for the kill if Shane gets wobbled.
Jim Amato
Ronald' Winky” Wright should be much too fast and shifty for a faded Shane Mosley. He's a clever southpaw who should outbox him easily and could stop him late. Wright is also a genuine 154 pounder, while Mosley was at his most deadly at lightweight. Despite myths to the contrary, Mosley hasn't been the same since the first Oscar De La Hoya fight. Mosley may have gotten rid of his trainer/father Jack, but Sugar Shane's chin is still much too high, a flaw he never would've developed with a better trainer. I expect to see Wright pop, move and riddle him with right left flurries, while Mosley slogs ahead and wonders where his reflexes went. I would be very surprised to see Mosley win, and can't fathom how the beefed up lightweight could possibly knock Winky out. In 1994, Wright got off the deck six or seven times against Julio Cesar Vazquez, yet still lasted the twelve round distance. This could be Mosley's last fight.
Jim Brady
New trainer Joe Goossen has Mosley fighting like the Sugar Shane of old. More importantly, he has Mosley believing he is the Sugar Shane of old. Mosley unanimous decision.
Bobby Cassidy
While I do feel that we will in fact see a new and improved Mosley on November 20 courtesy of Joe Goossen's magic I still can't get past my 18 month feeling that Shane is simply a fish out of water at 154-pounds. Conversely, Winky is a career 154-pounder. Nothing was ever more obvious than what transpired on March 13. And while many figure that Winky will come in overconfident for the rematch, I believe that Dan Birmingham who has been with Wink his entire boxing lifetime will have his charge BETTER prepared than he did eight months ago. Shane will make a fight of it early on, but Wink will once again prove to be too slick, too strong . . . and two for two against Shane when all is said and done. Winky by unanimous decision.
Jake Donovan
It should be like déjà vu all over again. Winky is too solid defensively for Shane to make a dent in his armor, not that Sugar won’t try. The good boxer beats the good puncher over twelve one-sided rounds. A unanimous decision for Winky Wright.
Robert Ecksel
No big changes from the first fight. Mosley, even with Joe Goossen in his corner, won't be able to figure Wright out. Besides, his confidence has to be a little shaky. Wright by easy decision.
Rick Folstad
Joe Goossen is clearly the x factor in this equation. Exhibit A, Corrales’ masterful performance in the return bout with Casamayor. As such, Mosley tempts me in this one, if I’m honest. But then the facts are the facts. Wright’s domination in their first meeting was as convincing as it was comprehensive. To ignore such is to ignore all common sense and good reason. Past experience tells me to do so leads to nothing but pained reflection. So, it will be closer than most expect, but once again it will be Wright by Decision.
Chris Gielty
Shane Mosley hasn't shown he can make adjustments when fighting an opponent for the second time. You'd think he would have learned from his mistake of taking a Vernon Forrest rematch without another fight in-between to work on new tactics or, at the very least, boost his confidence. Wright should win this bout just as easily as he won the first. Winky Wright by unanimous decision.
Tim Graham
Saturday night Shane Mosley, 39-3 (35 KOs), will fight the 47-3 (25 KOs) Winky Wright in a rematch. Mosley goes into the fight as a 9-5 underdog. Wright has been a natural junior middleweight his entire professional career. Mosley is the harder hitter with an 81.4% to 50% kayo advantage. Even though neither fighter has ever been knocked out, if Mosley is to win he has to take that power to Wright’s body, using the speed and angles he used as a lightweight. If anyone can coach Shane back into his old style of fighting I believe Joe Goossen is the man to do it. For that reason I pick Sugar Shane to win by a close decision.
Sam Gregory
In regards to Wright/Mosley II, I see the outcome relatively the same. The good bigger man should prevail against the good smaller man. Both talented and accomplished boxers, but I feel Winky has the advantage.
Mike Indri
Shane Mosely's effectiveness has eroded since his move up to welterweight. Winky Wright is now working through his late prime as a boxer-puncher, seeking, as he does, consummate career bouts with De La Hoya or Trinidad or Hopkins and Mosley's not the man to deny him his due. Any way you look at it, it's too little and too late for Mosley against a determined Ronald Wright. Wright UD12 Mosley.
Patrick Kehoe
History repeats itself. If not a fighter in decline, Mosley surely hasn't shown any recent signs of improvement. (Yes, he beat De La Hoya again, but did he look better doing it the first or the second time?) It's difficult to imagine that throwing his father overboard for Joe Goossen could be uplifting, either in Shane's mind or in his corner. Wright by decision.
George Kimball
If you saw the first fight, you've seen the second. Wright was simply too slick, too strong and all wrong for Shane Mosley the first time around and I expect to see much of the same in the rematch. Mosley always has answers for why he loses but will come up empty once again. Sugar Shane gets props for taking on Wright – twice – because not many top fighters will, he's too good. Wright by Decision over Mosley.
Joey Knish
There was a time when I was very high on Shane Mosley. However, since his first fight with De La Hoya back in June of 2000, I've been forced to see that if Shane can't overwhelm his opponent physically, he doesn't adjust and doesn't win. When fighting an opponent who is bigger and stronger than he is, Mosley panics and tries to end the fight with one big punch. Shane cannot overwhelm Winky Wright physically from what I saw in their first meeting. Winky also doesn't believe he can lose, and if the first round ends up being the 13th round, Shane will start to harbor doubt and think here we go again. Mosley is a warrior and too tough to be stopped by Wright, but he'll lose. Wright by UD.
Frank Lotierzo
Another 12 rounds just like the first 12. Too much man, too much ability, too late discovered. Wright by decision.
David Mayo
I can't see past Winky in this fight, I know Shane has changed trainers and I'm sure this will lift him slightly and perhaps rebuild some confidence. You can't knock his dedication to the sport and his willingness to get back on the horse both with Winky and previously with Forrest. But I just cannot see what Mosley can do that much different, and Wright is just as cute, just as accurate and will have an answer for anything Mosley can bring to the fight. And of course only a return to the blistering speed of his lightweight reign is likely to change that. Sadly, Mosley is far removed from those halcyon days and I presume and predict he's in for another difficult night. He may start better, but ultimately Wright will outwork him over the distance for a points win.
David Payne
Mosley will dominate in the early rounds and look in good form to reclaim the title. Wright’s sheer endurance and dogged determination will pull him through, however, to steal back a close decision. Wright by Decision.
Deon Potgieter
You can change trainers, as Shane Mosley did, but after 43 professional fights, you can't change muscle memory. When the bell rings, the guy coming out of Mosley's corner will be the same Mosley that has only one controversial victory in his last five fights, with one no contest. Wright beat him by a combined 16 points in their last fight; there is little reason to suspect he won't do it again. Winky Wright by decision.
Pat Putnam
Wright is a throwback boxer who would have been more appreciated in an earlier age with less titles. Mosley's brilliant moves relied on a youth that has now passed. The split with his Dad is not a good sign either. Anyway you'd have to say Wright has got his number from the first fight. So it's Winky by wide points decision.
Jonathan Rendall
Winky has Shane completely figured out, whereas Mosley still can't fathom how to fight a sharper, busier guy who is a southpaw to boot. Wright by Unanimous Decision.
Scott Yaniga
Articles of 2004
2004 Boxing Pound for Pound List
The final boxing pound-for-pound list of the year for 2004.
1. Bernard Hopkins: The top guy from beginning to end, Hopkins took care of Oscar De La Hoya with a body shot in the biggest fight of 2004. Now, he'll wait for Jermain Taylor to progress a little further, or he'll go the rematch route with Felix Trinidad. Either way, Hopkins stands to earn a lot of money in 2005 and extend that all-time middleweight reign.
2. Floyd Mayweather: How long has it been since we've seen Mayweather in a meaningful fight? Certainly not in 2004, when he outpointed the difficult DeMarcus Corley. He's slated for a January outing against a no-name. Enough stalling, already, “Pretty Boy”. Fight someone we care about (preferably Kostya Tszyu), or you'll lose your #2 position sometime in 2005.
3. Felix Trinidad: “Tito” stormed back with a magnificent knockout of Ricardo Mayorga in 2004, and now hopes to capitalize on it with big money fights. He'd like nothing more than a rematch with his only conqueror, Hopkins, but he may also opt for old nemesis Oscar De La Hoya. Either way, Trinidad is sure to fight a big fight sometime in the coming year.
4. Kostya Tszyu: What a difference one fight makes. As recently as late October, the boxing world was wondering whether Tszyu was even serious about the sport anymore. We found out with a second round demolition of Sharmba Mitchell. And that made the junior welterweight division very attractive. Tszyu has several options now, including Arturo Gatti and Mayweather or even a hop up to welterweight to challenge Cory Spinks. Let's hope one of them happens in 2005.
5. Manny Pacquiao: Pacquiao fought twice in 2004, and what a fight the first one was. His thrilling war with Juan Manuel Marquez was the best brawl of the year, and there is a chance that the two rivals will go at it again in 2005. If not, Pacquiao has a list full of options: Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, etc. Pacquiao will fight one of them in the next year.
6. Marco Antonio Barrera: Another guy thought to be washed up when the year started, Barrera resurrected his career for the second time with a masterful victory over Paulie Ayala and a close decision over rival Erik Morales in another great fight. Barrera is obviously shooting for a return with Pacquiao, who decimated him in November 2003. Barrera says it was an off-night. Hopefully, we'll find out if that was the case.
7. Winky Wright: Winky entered the “superstar” realm in 2004 with a pair of decision victories over Shane Mosley. The first was very impressive, as Wright practically shut Mosley out. The second was closer, but proved once again that Winky was the superior fighter. He'd like a shot at Trinidad or Oscar De La Hoya, but neither will happen. He'd probably be best off shooting for a name like Fernando Vargas or Ricardo Mayorga.
8. Juan Manuel Marquez: After several years on the outside looking in, Marquez is finally in a position to make some money after his courageous performance against Pacquiao. He rose from three first-round knockdowns to wage the fight of his life in a fight that was ruled a draw. It would also be interesting to see Marquez against countrymen Barrera and Erik Morales.
9. Erik Morales: “El Terrible” fought another great fight against Barrera, but, again, it was in a losing cause. He has now lost two of three to his fierce rival, and probably wants nothing to do with him anymore. But, eventually, talk of Barrera-Morales 4 will come up again. In the meantime, Morales could shoot for Pacquiao or Marquez.
10. Glencoffe Johnson: The newest entry, Johnson pumped some life into boxing in 2004 with a pair of upsets of Roy Jones Jr. and Antonio Tarver. Now, he's set to make some really big money in rematches with either, or a shot at old conqueror Hopkins. Either way, Johnson is better than anyone imagined.
11. Jose Luis Castillo: Castillo made some comeback noise of his own in 2004, beating Juan Lazcano for his old vacant title and decisioning Joel Casamayor for another big win. He says he wants Kostya Tszyu next, and if that materializes, boxing fans will be in for a treat. If not, Castillo vs. Diego Corrales is a great fight.
12. Oscar De La Hoya: Hard to erase that picture of De La Hoya grimacing in agony courtesy of a Hopkins shot to the ribs, but the “Golden Boy” had no business fighting at 160 pounds. He should drop down to junior middle or even welterweight again if he has any hope of regaining his past form. But 2005 could be the final year for one of boxing's all-time great attractions.
On the brink: Antonio Tarver, Diego Corrales, James Toney
Articles of 2004
Heavyweight Joe Mesi Bringing Lawsuit
As reported by the Buffalo News, Joe Mesi is suing the New York State Athletic Commission and the MRI center that conducted tests on the heavyweight boxer after his bout with Vassiliy Jirov. Mesi reportedly suffered brain injuries in the Jirov bout, which has left his boxing status uncertain.
The lawsuit alleges Mesi's medical records were improperly released to the NYSAC. The records, the lawsuit goes on to allege, were then released to the media, prejudicing Mesi's right to have his status reviewed by the appropriate boxing authorities.
The lawsuit does not seek specific monetary damages, as the extent of damages will be affected by whether Mesi is able to resume his career as a leading heavyweight contender.
Mesi hopes to have his status reviewed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission within the coming month. The ruling of the NSAC promises to be key in whether Mesi will be able to resume his boxing career.
Articles of 2004
The Best in Chicago Boxing Returns
Dominic Pesoli's 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum's Top Rank Incorporated along with Miller Lite presents SOLO BOXEO DE MILLER, THE ARAGON RUMBLE, another installment of The Best in Chicago Boxing on Friday, January 14th, broadcast live internationally as part of Telefutura's Friday night professional boxing series.
The newly remodeled Aragon Ballroom is located at 1106 W. Lawrence Ave. near the corner of Lawrence and Broadway in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood and is easily accessible, just 4 blocks west of Lake Shore Drive and just 4 miles east of the Kennedy expressway. There are three large parking lots located within a 1/2 block of the Aragon Ballroom. Additionally, the Howard Street Blue Line stops just across the street. Doors will open at 6pm with the first bell at 7pm.
Headlining the action packed card is the American debut of super-bantamweight Ricardo “PIOLO” Castillo, 12-2 (6KO's) of Mexicali, Mexico as he squares off in a scheduled ten rounder against WBO Latino Champion, Edel Ruiz, 24-12-3 (13KO's) of Los Mochis, SI, Mexico. Castillo will be accompanied to the ring by his brother, World Lightweight Champion Jose Luis Castillo.
In the co-main event of the evening, one of Chicago's most popular fighters, middleweight “MACHO” Miguel Hernandez, 14-1 (9KO's), battles hard swinging local veteran “MARVELOUS” Shay Mobley, 7-4-1 (2KO's), of One In a Million Inc.in a scheduled eight rounder.
The huge undercard bouts include;
Carlos Molina vs TBA, six rounds, junior middleweights
Frankie Tafoya vs TBA, four rounds, featherweights
Ottu Holified vs. Allen Medina, four rounds, middleweights
Francisco Rodriguez vs. LaShaun Blair, four rounds, bantamweights
Rita Figueroa vs. Sarina Hayden, four rounds, junior welterweights
Said Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, “it was a terrific evening last month and our fans were thrilled to be at the Aragon to watch David, Speedy and Luciano. David Diaz's fight against Jaime Rangel was a fight people will talk about for a long time. Our commitment to our fans is to make every event of ours better than the last one. This main event is terrific, both guys are very tough Mexicans who won't take a step back.
The fans love Miguel and Mobley figures to be a very tough opponent. Him and David Estrada had a six round war last June at our show. And the undercard showcases a lot of new, younger talent that is coming out of Chicago right now. Tafoya and Holifield have both had very successful beginnings to their careers and Francisco Rodriguez comes with fantastic amateur credentials and David Diaz says he has all the talent to be a great pro.”
“We've got big plans for 2005 and this show should take up right where last months show left off. The huge crowd loved the action last time and I'm sure they'll say the same thing this time.”
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