By Cliff Rold
It was breathtaking.
Not to overstate, but no one saw this coming. Sure, there might have been the random fan here or there who picked Shane Mosley by knockout, but amongst them how many were serious versus smart ass? There seemed to be two picks heading into Saturday’s Staples Center showdown and they were Margarito big or Mosley by a little.
Margarito never got more than a little ways into the fight. Even when it looked like he might through the seventh round in the first half of the eighth, it turned out Mosley was just measuring his end. In the pre-fight report card, it noted it would less than shocking if Mosley swept the first six rounds of the fight.
He did.
And then some.
Let’s go to report card.
Grades
Pre-Fight: Speed - Mosley A-; Margarito B/Post-Fight: A; C+
Pre-Fight: Power - Mosley A; Margarito A/Post-Fight: A; B
Pre-Fight: Defense - Mosley B; Margarito B/Post-Fight: B/C
Pre-Fight: Intangibles - Mosley A; Margarito A+/Post-Fight: A; B
Unlike so many previous Margarito foes, Mosley refused to let Margarito inflict damage early on, pinning his left hand in clinches and muscling him backwards after working his way close with blazing rights and lead lefts. If speed kills, it was the epitaph for Margarito on this night. Losing early rounds for Margarito has always been okay because he’s been able to bank on foes slowing under his steady attack.
The problem Saturday is there never really was a steady attack. In the three fights he’d had since a competitive decision loss to Paul Williams in 2007, Margarito had increased his early efforts at inflicting damage. He showed less intensity from the onset Saturday. Perhaps he read his press clippings or too many of the pre-fight predictions, or was distracted by the controversy over how he’d planned to wrap his hands (facts still outstanding on that one), but Margarito seemed almost like the bulk of the audience in being shocked at what was in front of him.
Mosley wasn’t surprised at all. As noted in the pre-fight report card, those who picked Margarito strongly based in part on Mosley’s performance in 2008 against Ricardo Mayorga were making much ado about not much. A review of Mosley-Mayorga and Margarito-Cotto the night before Mosley-Mayorga revealed something of note. Mayorga remains a faster fighter than Margarito with a similar over commitment to offense and physicality.
In other words, while Mayorga may have been a bad set-up foe for Tito Trinidad’s losing conquest of Winky Wright, and for Oscar De La Hoya’s losing conquest of Floyd Mayweather, he might have been the perfect foil to get Mosley ready for Margarito. That he stopped the iron chinned Margarito earlier then he did Mayorga says a lot about Mosley’s sometimes underrated power. While it was an accumulation of leather which brought Margarito’s end, those were heavy blows collecting on his frame.
As expected, neither man showed off great defense. Because of it, Margarito had one solid surge in round seven, his best of the night. A long right hand seemed to stun Mosley and a follow-up assault was enough to put any viewer on the edge of their seat to wonder if a two-way war was arriving. Instead, Mosley did what he’s done so many times in his career. Whether it was in his bouts with De La Hoya, Wilfredo Rivera, or even Miguel Cotto, Mosley merely found a new pace when victory was threatened.
Margarito couldn’t keep up. He gets credit for insisting on returning after being dropped in the eighth round, but unlike the bout with Williams or victory over Cotto, Margarito never seemed to let it all hang out. There was no frenzy of violence or fierce stand. He was overmatched and accepted it by going out on his shield. Mosley gets more credit for sending him there.
Accolades can’t be understated and typical cries to come of ‘exposed’ are not good enough here. They detract from the reality witnessed and the credit earned. Margarito has shown a Tex Cobb like ability to take shots over the years and been the most consistent presence in the Welterweight top ten this decade. Mosley’s performance was revelatory; the sort of win which could force a new evaluation of his career.
It may ultimately be table setting.
Going Forward
While he seems new to many, Margarito’s loss on Saturday was the most devastating night of a violent and abusing sixteen year career. Considering the type of fighter he’s been, and the toughness he’s shown, the Mosley beating could well be the sort which brings up questions of retirement.
Mosley won’t have to answer any such questions. Instead, he’ll be asked about a rematch with Cotto and maybe even something better.
On May 2, Manny Pacquiao will challenge Ricky Hatton for the World Championship at Jr. Welterweight. The winner of that is assumed to be the primary target if and when Floyd Mayweather returns from his vacat…retirement. Boxing can do better than waiting. Mayweather-Mosley has long been a dream fight and, given the latest proof in a packed Staples Center of Mosley’s ability to play a strong B-side draw, finally could be a serious Superfight. It would create a logical sort of informal final four situation the likes of which the sport hasn’t seen in awhile and create the potential for three events of the mainstream attraction variety.
Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com