Margarito Makes Weight; Mosley Gets It Right On 2nd Try

By Jake Donovan

Shane Mosley was lean and shredded, but his official weight was initially two-tenths of a pound over the official welterweight limit. Though three inches taller, Margarito was actually the lighter of the two, easily making weight at 145.8 lb.

Mosley had up to two hours to come back and make weight; ever the professional, he returned less than five minutes later, coming in at exactly 147 lb.

The 12-round welterweight main event takes place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California (Saturday, HBO, 10PM ET/7PM PT).

Margarito (37-5, 27KO) was born in and trains out of the Southern California area. Most of his pro career has been spent on the West Coast, but this will be his first bout at the Staples Center and his first bout in the Los Angeles area in well over a decade.

Though only 30 years old, Margarito is now 15-years deep into his pro career. The past several years have been spent facing (and for the most part, defeating) a who’s who of the welterweight division. Saturday’s bout will be the first since his July ’08 11th round knockout of previously undefeated Miguel Cotto, easily the biggest of his career.

For Mosley (45-5, 38KO), the biggest win of his career came in this very arena, scoring a well-deserved 12-round split decision over Oscar de la Hoya in June 2000 for the lineal welterweight crown.

The Pomona-based future Hall of Famer has collected belts in three separate weight classes (including lineal titles at 147 and 154) and was once upon a time regarded as pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world. He enters this fight coming off of a highlight reel 12th round knockout of Ricardo Mayorga last September.

Mosley’s last fight at the welterweight limit was his close but clear unanimous decision loss to Cotto in November 2007. Cotto is one of three common opponents shared by the two fighters; the others are Manuel Gomez and Golden Johnson. A comparison is unfair - Mosley fought (and stopped) both fighters at lightweight; Margarito faced (and knocked out) both in a single round, but at welterweight and nearly a decade later.

A sold-out crowd of more than 20,000 is expected, which is being announced as a new attendance record for any boxing event held in that venue.