Connect with us

Featured Articles

Why Shane Mosley is Coming Back

Published

on

Great fighters believe in themselves when no one else does. It’s what drove them before they hit it big in the sport they love, arduous days toiling long hours for little or no reward other than the pride of knowing they did their best. It’s what vaulted them to the top of the sport, and it’s ultimately what kept them there once they made it.

Every time I’ve talked to Shane Mosley over the past year, he’s told me he’s coming back to the ring. Mosley, age 43, is now set to fight Ricardo Mayorga, age 41, on August 29 at the Forum in Inglewood, California. The bout, a rematch of a 2008 Round 12 knockout win for Mosley, will be available live on pay-per-view.

Mosley was adamant he will return to vintage form.

“Of course! I can do this,” said Mosley. “I’m sharp. I’m fast. I’m sparring with everybody. I mean from 168 on down: I’m talking about the top guys.”

Mosley told me before his opponent was named he already had a prediction for the fight.

“Somebody is getting knocked out.”

Long before Mosley told me of his comeback plan, I had heard a rumor about the future Hall of Fame fighter. A notable boxing historian told me Mosley was the consummate gym rat, one who traveled all over the country and the world all throughout his career to spar and workout with other fighters. I was told that if a boxing gym existed, Mosley had probably been there to hone his game.

Mosley confirmed it.

“Very true. I go all over the world and train at every gym. I sparred with Carl Frampton the other day in England. I’m getting ready to spar with Shawn Porter [for the Adrien Broner fight]. I’m always working.”

Mosley is one of the better fighters of his generation. Host of HBO Boxing telecasts Jim Lampley has referred to him as arguably the greatest lightweight since Roberto Duran, high praise for a fighter who also won world titles at welterweight and junior middleweight.

At his peak, Mosley was damn near unbeatable.

An aging Mosley stuck around long enough to lose handily to the best fighters of the next generation, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. But Mosely said it wasn’t his age that was the problem. Rather, it was that he suffered injuries before both bouts.

“I had a pulled groin when I fought Mayweather. I had a popped Achilles tendon when I fought Pacquiao. So all the fights after Margarito, that was a little downhill for me.”

Mosley is 1-4-1 in his last six fights. He hasn’t been in the ring since a 2013 shellacking by Anthony Mundine. But like most great fighters, Mosley still believes in himself, even if no one else does. He said his time out of the ring, time spent staying in shape while training his son, Shane Mosley Jr., as well as notable middleweight Curtis Stevens, has done his body good.

Without the nagging injuries he suffered over last few years, Mosley wholeheartedly believes he is still an elite fighter.

“Now I want to fight again because I feel so much better. My body feels rejuvenated now. I just feel so sharp, so good. I know I can beat these guys. I’m in there working with all the champions from 168 down to 122. I know I can do numbers on lot of people.”

On August 29, we’ll see if Mosley can do a number on Mayorga. The fan-friendly brawler is nowhere near his peak, so if Mosley is truly back to fighting form, he should annihilate Mayorga within the distance.

And a win there could propel Mosley, the aging fighter who still believes in himself, into the types of fights he craves. He’s recently called for rematches with Mayweather and Pacquiao, and has used Twitter to call out everyone from Amir Khan to Paulie Malignaggi.

Consider Mosley-Mayorga 2 an audition for him. Mosley doesn’t care if you don’t believe in him. He’s going to do it anyway.

WATCH RELATED VIDEOS ON BOXINGCHANNEL.TV

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles1 week ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles1 week ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles6 days ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles3 days ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles2 days ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles2 days ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles3 days ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles6 days ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles1 week ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles1 week ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles1 month ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending