I didn’t have the guts to pick "Sugar" Shane Mosley to defeat Antonio Margarito this past Saturday, but I have a pretty clear idea why he 
did.
Here are the reasons why:
#10 Miguel Cotto. Did Margarito leave some of himself in the ring after his brutal victory over Cotto nearly a year ago?
#9 Bernard Hopkins. Is is just me, or did this fight, especially with the glove controversy and big city setting, remind you of Hopkins’s career-defining victory over the favored, younger and seemingly indestructible Felix Trinidad? Trust me, Hopkins’s presence in the Mosley camp had its impact.
#8 Naazim Richardson. Hopkins’s co-trainer on that fateful night in Madison Square Garden nearly seven years ago, the architect of Shane’s rousing upset, and the author of a new boxing quotable, "swim but don’t get wet." A training star is born.
#7 Game Plan. Both men had game plans and followed them. The problem for Margarito was that once his "I will walk through you" strategy did not work, he had no plan B.
#6 The Jab. This little-used Mosley weapon was unleashed on the unsuspecting Margarito as well as everyone watching.
#5 The Hold. Unlike many of Margarito’s victims, Mosley decided to strategically clinch, frustrating Margarito while conserving his own 37-year old legs.
#4 Punch Blocking. Also known as the martial art of self-defense. It was personified by Mosley and largely ignored by Margarito (as usual).
#3 Physical Strength. The greatest shock of all was the sight of Mosley brawling and mauling Margarito on the inside.
#2 Body Punching. Mosley hearkened back to his lightweight days when he would pound the body early to kill the head late – and boy did he ever!
#1 Hand Speed. We all knew that Shane was the faster man, but did anyone think that Margarito would play Glass Joe to Mosley’s Kid Quick? Those of you who played Punch-Out!!
I was there in awe of the great Mosley putting a beat down on Margarito and the thousands of fans that couldn’t believe what was happening. The only bad part of the fight was the high number of fights in the stands, it made for a very exciting night but also kept you on your toes. Congrats to Mosley, what an amazing fighter!
I was at home in front of a Sony Aquos in awe as well. lol I am sure that atmosphere was crazy though. Combine bitter fans, with bitter beer, and you get ringside brawls.
What a tough past several months for the boxing world! The passing of Arguello (great fights with ‘The Hawk’ but many others, also!) and Gatti (all heart, great action vs. Ward but not a great fighter…too easy to hit!) brings to mind the rugged nature of the boxing game. Many boxers have met an early end, and not necessarily ring-related.
James Schuler (motorcycle wreck), Sonny liston (O.D.), Salvador Sanchez (died wat too young in a car wreck)… the list goes on and on. But the nature of a prizefighter is to test the odds. The laymen does not face the possibility of death, in most cases, at their 9-5 job. The personality of a boxer must include an animal-like instinct to hurt, to pulverize, to hammer another human being. I would venture to say that if this character is not present in a fighter’s makeup, that individual is not long for the ring!
In the golden years (1940s, 50s) we would see wayward youngsters (Tyson-types) led to the gym and use boxing as a way out of a dismal live of crime, jail, and death. Once in a while, this scenario will appear and we will see a heartwarming story of some bad boy saved by the rewards of the fight game (Edison Miranda comes to mind!.)
Buy boxing, by nature, is a tough, gruelling profession. It takes a certain type of individual who chooses that path as a job, a lifestyle. You must be adventurous, willing to take numerous chances and give up normal life vices for long periods of time…smoking, drinking…if one is to be successful. Although ‘Two Ton ” Tony Galento trained on beer and cigars, he was an exception. Reducing title fights from 15 to 12 rounds saved a lot of lives through the years (and cut back on a lot of training, in my opinion!) Still, twelve (12) rounds is a hell of an obstacle, and one must be in tip-top shape to be effective for the full 36 minutes. Just try it for one three minute round and you’ll see what I’m talking about!
The demise of some of these great fighters at an early age does not surprise me. It’s their nature, and there are always questions about how they died, mysterious circumstances involved on may occasions.
I don’t think we’ll read about Mike Tyson dying giving communion in a church, do you??
You are a true fan Tom L, reminiscing over James Schuler…wasn’t he decapitated in that wreck? I do agree that something about the boxing lifestyle does seem to lend itself to great degrees of risk aversion outside the ring; often leading to perilous outcomes. May all of those who died to young, R.I.P…gone too soon indeed.