Mosley-De La Hoya: Big
Fight Breakdown
By Ed Ludwig
13.09 - We are only hours away from the much anticipated
rematch between the Golden Boy Oscar De
La Hoya (36-2 29 KOs) and Sugar Shane
Mosley (38-2 35 KOs). The event is being billed
as Redemption and De La Hoya has his opportunity
for redemption and achieve further greatness with a
victory whereas Mosley could show that his career is
going nowhere but up despite the setbacks against Vernon
Forrest. Eastside Boxing asked some boxing insiders
for their predictions and keys to victory. I would like
to thank everyone for taking part in the inaugural Big
Fight Breakdown.
Iceman John Scully
Trainer for Lawrence Clay-Bey:
I am still kind of up in the air about this match-up.
They are definitely in different places mentally and
physically then they were before the first time they
fought. The intangibles before this fight favor Oscar
as opposed to when they favored Shane before the first
fight. I think that it is a 50-50 fight. Oscar seems
to be a little more uncomfortable with the Mayweather
style, a little tight. That obviously will work to Shanes
advantage. To me, it comes down to Shane and his mental
state. If the losses to Vernon have not gotten him down
to much then I think he can use his speed again and
outmaneuver and kind of overwhelm Oscar. If Shane is
tentative and unfocused and if he fights with less than
his usual TENACITY, then I have Oscar picking his shots
and looking a little too strong for Sugar.
Wayne McCullough Former WBC
Bantamweight Champion:
I pick De La Hoya either on a late stoppage or points.
He has learned a lot from Floyd Mayweather Sr. over
the last couple of years and has stayed on the winning
track. Mosley on the other hand, has had two losses
and one no contest over the last two years so he hasnt
tasted success. The bigger guy would be De La Hoya,
fighting at a heavier weight class then their last meeting
so the higher weight class should suit him. De La Hoyas
key to victory would be to use his jab and not get into
a toe to toe war with Mosley. Mosleys key to victory
would be to use his hand speed like he did last time
and get in and get out. But well see if he is
as quick as he used to be. All in all it is a toss up
fight and I favor De La Hoya.
Ishe Smith Welterweight Contender:
I believe that this is going to be a very interesting
and competitive fight, however I for see Shane Mosley
winning a decision over Oscar De La Hoya. The reason
is because of my lack of confidence in Oscar De La Hoyas
new defensive strategy with new trainer Floyd Mayweather
Sr. This strategy never seems to fit well with a fighter
like Shane Mosley. In the Fernando Vargas fight, Oscar
took a lot of punches and the much quicker Shane will
have more advantages than Vargas did. In closing, Shane
Mosley beat Oscar De La Hoya once and I believe that
he can beat him again with a decision.
Kevin Barry Trainer for David
Tua:
De La Hoya has proven himself at 154. He is a smart
thinking fighter and after the close first fight will
have the fight plan down for this one. The two Vernon
Forrest battles I believe have chipped away at Mosley
and have taken a toll on him physically and mentally.
Oscar is the man for the big occasion and his mental
toughness, confidence and boxing skills will get him
through here.
Bronco McKart Former WBO Jr.
Middleweight Champion:
I am going with De La Hoya by unanimous decision. I
feel that Oscar is too big and strong and more comfortable
at this weight. I feel that Oscar will outbox and out
think Mosley. Shanes confidence has really been
hurt from the two Forrest fights. Shane wont get
knocked out because if he gets hurt he will grab, hold
and run like he did with Forrest. If Shane doesnt
win it will be over for him because you cant go
from pound for pound best and then have three losses
and a no decision in four fights. But the way the rating
organizations are, if he loses, hell probably
go to number one across the board.
Steve Trellert Eastside Boxing
Feature Writer:
The truth is that both fighters have declined in ability
since their first meeting. Since the first fight was
relatively close, this would entail that he that has
declined the most would likely be the loser. Presumably
this would be Sugar Shane Mosley after two
straight losses to Vernon Forrest and a no-contest against
Raul Marquez. Ever since the second round against Vernon
Forrest in their first fight, Mosley seems to have slowed
just a slight step and has also developed a certain
uncharacteristic amount of timidity. Add to this a complete
lack of momentum of which Mosley possesses and Oscar
would seem to be a shoe in.
But hold on a minute, Oscars momentum is really
based on his recent victory over Fernando Vargas and
that may not be quite as impressive as most assume.
Not only did he struggle more than expected in that
fight, but in that, and the few preceding it, De La
Hoya clearly has lost some speed as well, relatively
more so than Sugar Shane. Add to this a
lower activity rate and things do not seem quite so
certain.
Now some may claim that Oscar should win due to the
motivation of revenge, but Sugar Shane is
no less motivated by the very survival of his career.
To go winless in four consecutive fights would be more
devastating to Shane than a loss by Oscar. Additionally,
Mosley would leave himself open to the claims that his
first victory was an anomaly and that he was never very
good to begin with. For Shane there is much more on
the line especially considering the fact that we all
know he would not get a shot at revenge against De La
Hoya after a loss in this fight, while the contrary
could easily occur due to Oscars huge market power
and ability to make an offer that Mosley could never
refuse.
What things come down to is the ever present fact of
styles make fights. Sugar Shane
may have a power disadvantage but his speed and mobility
more than makes up for that deficiency. Add to this
fact that De La Hoya is becoming an ever greater stationary
target and one would have to tip his hat to Mosley.
Considering these facts and the addition that he already
owns a De La Hoya blueprint would seem to indicate that
the betting underdog may still know exactly how to bite
the Golden Boy. Sugar Shane
Mosley by decision in a fight that starts out surprisingly
tentative then finishes wildly in an action packed second
half of the fight.
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