By Sammy Rozenberg

 

In what most will call the best performance of Shane Mosley's career in the last few years, Mosley (43-4, 37 KOs) stopped Fernando Vargas (26-4, 22 KOs) in the sixth round of a dominating performance at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

The fight started slow with Mosley and Vargas feeling each other out in the first round. By the second round, Mosley began to outbox Vargas by using his speed, movement and right hands. Vargas, who came to ring weighing 168 pounds, appeared to be slow and very uncoordinated with his punches.

 

In the fifth round, the right eye of Vargas began to swell up and a small cut had opened up above the eye. Mosley ended the fifth round by landing a voluminous amount of punches in combinations.

 

As the fight entered the sixth, Mosley began to let his hands go even more on Vargas who was unable to move away from the faster punches. A perfect left hand from Mosley put Vargas flat on his back. Vargas was barely able to beat the count and the end appeared to near. As the referee Kenny Bayless restarted the action, Mosley jumped on a helpless Vargas with power punches and the referee stopped the fight immediately.

 

The biggest fight Mosley could make at the moment is against Floyd Mayweather, Jr.  Mayweather, recognized by most as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport has called out Mosley on more than one occasion and many insider in the business feel Mosley has one of the best shots at beating Mayweather.

 

Mosley said after the fight there would be a slight possibility for a Mayweather meeting in November, but he seriously doubted it. He suggested to Mayweather that he should fight Antonio Margarito in November, and he will face the winner of that fight in 2007.

 

The problem Mosley may encounter is having a conflict with his Golden Boy Promotions partner, Oscar De La Hoya, also wanting to fight Mayweather in 2007 for the final bout of his career.

 

It is likely that Mayweather will not risk a payday against De La Hoya by facing Mosley, who is a very tough opponent and has a better chance in the eyes of many to beat Mayweather. Unless De La Hoya officially says that he is not going to fight anymore, Mosley getting a crack at Mayweather is on hold.

 

Prior to tonight's fight, Fernando Vargas was looking to move up to the middleweight limit of 160 pounds. The fact that Javier Castillejo recently became the WBA middleweight champion by stopping Felix Sturm in Germany, and Vargas already holds a relatively easy victory over Castillejo, makes him a legit middleweight as he moves up in weight.

 

But, after being stopped in dominating fashion by Mosley, who never stopped any of his past opponents at 154 pounds, it would be very hard to believe that the chin of Vargas is able to stand up to the punches of most hard punching middleweights.

 

Vargas was very easy for Mosley to hit, he appeared to be slower than in any of his previous fights and it appears that it would be better for him to retire, than sustain further punishment in the ring.

 

On the undercard

 

WBO junior featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon (29-1, 27 KOs) blew away Sod Looknongyangtoy (27-2, 10 KOs) in 52 seconds of the first round. A left hand bomb put Looknongyangtoy on floor as the Thai fighter was laying completely unconscious on the canvas in a face first position.

 

WBA lightweight champion Juan Diaz (29-0, 14 KOs) pounded Randy Suico (24-2, 21 KOs) for nine rounds on route to a stoppage win.

 

Undefeated welterweight Rock Allen (9-0, 6 KOs) scored a four round decision over Henry Mitchell (6-6-1, 1 KO). He won every round on all three cards.