On Saturday, February 25th, "Ferocious" Fernando Vargas (27-2, 23 KO's) and "Sugar" Shane Mosley (41-4, 35 KO's) will clash at the junior middleweight limit at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. At 34-years of age, Mosley needs the win more badly than the 27-year-old Vargas. Fernando, even with another loss, is still young enough to bring his career back from the dungeon.

On the other hand, Mosley is 3-4-1 in his last eight bouts, has appeared to have slowed down in the reflex department and would need a serious comeback in order to recover from suffering what would be his third loss in his last five bouts. Both men have lost step or two in their game, and most experts wonder if either man will suck it up and deliver the type of performance that made them multi-million dollars superstars in the business.

The staff of BoxingScene comes together to voice their opinions, predictions and analysis on the big fight.


Tim Smith - I believe Mosley, though he will be the smaller man, can use his quickness and boxing skills to frustrate Vargas and win a decision.

Ron Borges - Speed usually beats power, but Vargas is the significantly bigger man going against a guy who has slipped enough that he's no longer considered "Sweet and Lo'' let alone "Sugar.'' Vargas by 11th round TKO. [details (http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=3194)]

vargas will be stronger and tougher for sugar shane

Vargas looks to be in great shape. I think Vargas by KO. Vernon Forrest isn't really a KO artist but he put Mosley on his ass. Vargas is as heavy-handed as they come at 154. Mosley was a better fighter at 147 and he should have stayed there.

Shane Mosley split decision.

Mosely by KO or TKO in the 5th.

i pick SSM by ud

Dammit....I forgot these two are good friends.

They may NOT want to KO each other. It better not be like Rahman and his friend he recently fought. He's not important enough for me to remember.

i picked mosley by ud

Vargas by UD but would love to see him stop Mosley.

Vargas's chin has been cracked too often. He's shot and he's not even 27 yet (I think).

Vargas's chin has been cracked too often. He's shot and he's not even 27 yet (I think).
i just feel mosleys speed will get to vargas . If mosley is smart he will hit and move 1/2 get out of the way . I can't see Mosley trying to brawl in this fight :cool: if he does he's in trouble if vernon forrest can hurt mosley so can vargas

i just feel mosleys speed will get to vargas . If mosley is smart he will hit and move 1/2 get out of the way . I can't see Mosley trying to brawl in this fight :cool: if he does he's in trouble if vernon forrest can hurt mosley so can vargas

Forrest hits very hard, Mosely by UD

Forrest hits very hard, Mosely by UD
yeah but i would say vargas hits harder :cool:

I'll take Shane in a great action packed fight, I don't think Vargas will be able to cope with Shanes speed and if Mosely is able to work his absent combinations he may be able to send Vargas home late in the fight.

Shane UD or late stoppage.

It's interesting how Mosely was such a different fighter after what happened with Forrest. He went from being a guy who threw quick combinations to a much more cautious version of himself. I think this change had alot to do with him having an easy upbringing. Shane was middle class. He had everything a poor kid from the ghetto hoped to get, so I think that hurt him mentally later in his career when he got rocked by Vernon. He should've ducked Vernon in the professional ranks to begin with. Sometimes you just need to duck a fighter, forget all the machismo stuff, Boxing is a business, and styles make fights. If you're a pure boxer with a glass jaw, who's movement isn't as good as it once was, and a guy is coming up through the ranks with an aggressive, swarmer style, is in his prime, undefeated and is in great shape with a big KO streak; and he offers you to fight in his backyard, as the Boxer, it would be a good business decision to duck that guy and go find a slugger to fight you in your hometown, something you have more of a chance at. I think that's what Maulignaggi should've done with Cotto because Cotto's style and signature abilities are tailor made to beat Pauly.

Having said all that, I chose Mosely by unanimous decision. I think he'll win the opening rounds, then he'll either catch a decent punch or just barely dodge a huge shot, then become very cautious, courtesy of Vernon. A cautious Mosely should have no problem with Vargas in the late rounds, Shane did very well vs Estrada, and that was a quality contender. Estrada has a better chin than Vargas.

The majority of the nation also chose Mosely by unanimous decision, except for Louisiana, who chose Vargas by KO.. :) check out the bottom right hand vote, place your vote to see the rest of the nation's opinion.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/index




(MOSELY UD)

vargas ud.
how can anyone have vargas stopping mosley?!?!

....Kind of surprised the staff cared enough about this fight to actually bother giving predictions.

Mosley by UD.

It is a damn tough fight to predict but let me say this...Im shocked at how many of the staff believe that Vargas will stop Sugar Shane...if I was certain about anything in this fight it would be Shane making it the distance.

Im more sure of Shane going 12 then commando Nando going 12!

I like Vargas over the first half of the fight to turn back the clock and pressure Mosley with great succes however as the rounds go on Vargas will tire and be much more hitabblew then say Shane found Winky Wright to be.

Vargas will either be stopped in the 12 or hold on for dear life making iot the full 12...Sugar Shane will be charging comes the championship rounds!