Mosley regroups at 154 lb

24.11 - By Clinton Mollett - Oh how the mighty have fallen....just last year the world was at his feet, fans worshipped him, world champions feared him, experts of pugilism praised him and pilgrims from near and far were hypnotized by his dazzling hand speed and incredible skill. It was a time when people had him theoretically standing shoulder to shoulder with legendary pound for pound champions Robinson and Leonard, a time when invincible and Shane Mosley carried the same meaning.

Yes things were going pretty sweet for Mosley back then...that was until Vernon Forrest showed up on the scene. Mosley would eat some serious leather in their first fight together since the 1992 US Olympic Trials and the return match six months later would seal the Mosley-Forrest trilogy for good with 'The Viper' emerging victories and 'Sugar' Shane left bitterly disappointed.
Shane did however get one up on him, the Inglewood native beat him to the end of the rainbow to collect his pot of gold against DeLa Hoya, while the dangerous Vernon was forced to sit idle for many years as the top brass in the welterweight division passed him by on their way up to 154 and 160lb.

It seems that every time Mosley is almost about to reach the pinnacle of his career, Vernon Forrest shows up. It started when Forrest beat Mosley at the 1992 US Olympic Trials, denying him the chance to cap off an impressive amateur career with an Olympic medal and then stopped his attempt to unify the welterweight division. He made Mosley's chances of becoming one of history's all-time pound for pound greats a lot more remote and he is now threatening to limit 'Sugar" Shane's career achievements for many moons to come, with talk going around that he will tail gate Mosley into the Jr. Middleweight division.

With Shane Mosley's move up to 154lb, criticism quickly followed and the general feeling was that he should stay at 147lb (Mosley began his pro career at 135lb). So what is the guy supposed to do exactly?, he has trouble making weight at 147 and he won't be able to make any descent money with Vernon Forrest threatening to own that division, doesn't it make sense to move up and seek a big money rematch with DeLa Hoya?.

But before a possible rematch with DeLa Hoya, Mosley will have to get past former IBF Jr. Middleweight Champion Raul Marquez who has been campaigning at 160 lately, but will be coming down in weight to fight Mosley either on Feb 1st or Feb 8th. 31 yr old Raul Marquez won the IBF title in 1997 when he stopped Anthony Stevens in the ninth round but went on to suffer setbacks against Yori Boy Campus and Fernando Vargas. He is looking to re-establish himself as a force in boxing and believes his southpaw style will give Mosley problems, (Mosley has only fought two southpaws as a professional) which is part of the reason father/trainer Jack Mosley would rather have his son fight Javier Castillejo instead. But Shane will have none of that, he wants Raul Marquez in February and then DeLa Hoya in May.

Prediction - Mosley over Marquez by an eleventh round stoppage.

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