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Jerry Glick reporting: Shane Mosley need only look as far as the next office where he has a day job at Golden Boy Promotions to see two possible futures for an aging fighter. The guy in the big office upstairs, Oscar De La Hoya-the boss-is 35 years old and fought that way the last time he stepped into the public eye in a pair of boxing trunks. The company name sake, the Golden Boy himself, seemed to age over night against diminutive Manny Pacquiao getting stopped in eight rounds. But all Sugar Shane has to do is check out the office down the hall to see the current ageless wonder, Bernard Hopkins, who at the age of 44 remains at the top of his game and the light-heavyweight ratings.
“I’m taking it on a fight by fight basis,” Mosley said. “But I can see myself going for another four or five years. 2013, 2014, something like that.” That would put him in his forties. “I feel good. The way I feel, I could go a long way.”
Mosley, 45-5 (38), was involved in a teleconference on Thursday to talk to the media about his upcoming title fight against defending WBA Champion Antonio Margarito, 37-5 (27). Mosley, a former lightweight, welterweight, and junior-middleweight champion, was joined by new trainer ****m Richardson. If that name is familiar, but not as Mosley’s usual trainer, that’s because Richardson is better known as Bernard Hopkins’ trainer. Mosley has been trained by his father Jack for most of his career. He said that he needed a little change to freshen up his style.
“He’s not trying to change me,” explained Mosley. “Just recreating the stuff I already know. As a pro you forget certain things that got us to where we’re at as champions.”
Richardson knows that he isn’t there to teach boxing.
“It’s my job,” he acknowledged, “to point out flaws in Margarito. Shane knows how to fight.”
Shane said that Richardson and Papa Jack Mosley are most often on the same page. Even now at times he talks to his father and much of what Jack says is the same thing that Richardson told him. “They have the same philosophy,” he believes. “What ****m says, my father says pretty much the same thing.”
Mosley is 37 years old and so far so good. Problem is, in boxing there is that the old adage, “you are only as good as your last fight,” and it is very true. In his case the last one was a TKO in twelve over everybody’s “name” opponent, Ricardo Mayorga. Shane has been doing quite well, thank you, going 6-1, three by KO from 2005 until 2008. He collected wins over some pretty decent opponents; David Estrada, Jose Luis Cruz, two over Fernando Vargas, Luis Collazo, and the Mayorga win. The only loss was a credible performance against Miguel Cotto. This stuff has a way of raising the confidence level in a fighter. Mosley believes he can win.
“You have to be in great shape to fight (Margarito),” said Mosley. “You have to be on top of your game to fight him; but his is a style that my style can beat. I have good hand speed and good foot speed.”
Richardson agrees. “When you deal with Shane,” said the trainer, “speed is always going to be a factor.”
Shane claims to be the total package; he can box, he’s fast, and he can hit. He said, on the other hand, that Margarito is one dimensional. But he admits that his Mexican opponent is no soft touch. That he will have to raise his game from his sluggish performance against Mayorga.
“When you fight Margarito you have to work on everything,” said Shane about his preparation. “Not just the body.” He blames his sloppy showing against Mayorga on an ill-fitting shoe. “I was swishing around in my right shoe.”
He believes that the reason that Cotto lost to Margarito was that he was not really familiar with Magarito’s style.
“He wasn’t familiar with what he brings to the table but I am,” said Mosley.
He wanted an immediate rematch with Cotto after he lost to him back in November of 2007.
“When I fought him the first time I wanted a rematch but it didn’t happen, but maybe it will happen in the future.”
He said that 2009 will be a banner year for the Mosleys. There are many opportunities; Pacquiao, Hatton, Cotto, et al. And don’t forget he has four or five years to work with.
The show is promoted by Golden Boy and Main Events and will be shown on HBO on January 24th from the Staple Center in Los Angeles, CA. Margarito’s WBA Welterweight belt will be on the line.
Wonder if he will still say this if Margarito can put a beating on him?
“I’m taking it on a fight by fight basis,” Mosley said. “But I can see myself going for another four or five years. 2013, 2014, something like that.” That would put him in his forties. “I feel good. The way I feel, I could go a long way.”
Mosley, 45-5 (38), was involved in a teleconference on Thursday to talk to the media about his upcoming title fight against defending WBA Champion Antonio Margarito, 37-5 (27). Mosley, a former lightweight, welterweight, and junior-middleweight champion, was joined by new trainer ****m Richardson. If that name is familiar, but not as Mosley’s usual trainer, that’s because Richardson is better known as Bernard Hopkins’ trainer. Mosley has been trained by his father Jack for most of his career. He said that he needed a little change to freshen up his style.
“He’s not trying to change me,” explained Mosley. “Just recreating the stuff I already know. As a pro you forget certain things that got us to where we’re at as champions.”
Richardson knows that he isn’t there to teach boxing.
“It’s my job,” he acknowledged, “to point out flaws in Margarito. Shane knows how to fight.”
Shane said that Richardson and Papa Jack Mosley are most often on the same page. Even now at times he talks to his father and much of what Jack says is the same thing that Richardson told him. “They have the same philosophy,” he believes. “What ****m says, my father says pretty much the same thing.”
Mosley is 37 years old and so far so good. Problem is, in boxing there is that the old adage, “you are only as good as your last fight,” and it is very true. In his case the last one was a TKO in twelve over everybody’s “name” opponent, Ricardo Mayorga. Shane has been doing quite well, thank you, going 6-1, three by KO from 2005 until 2008. He collected wins over some pretty decent opponents; David Estrada, Jose Luis Cruz, two over Fernando Vargas, Luis Collazo, and the Mayorga win. The only loss was a credible performance against Miguel Cotto. This stuff has a way of raising the confidence level in a fighter. Mosley believes he can win.
“You have to be in great shape to fight (Margarito),” said Mosley. “You have to be on top of your game to fight him; but his is a style that my style can beat. I have good hand speed and good foot speed.”
Richardson agrees. “When you deal with Shane,” said the trainer, “speed is always going to be a factor.”
Shane claims to be the total package; he can box, he’s fast, and he can hit. He said, on the other hand, that Margarito is one dimensional. But he admits that his Mexican opponent is no soft touch. That he will have to raise his game from his sluggish performance against Mayorga.
“When you fight Margarito you have to work on everything,” said Shane about his preparation. “Not just the body.” He blames his sloppy showing against Mayorga on an ill-fitting shoe. “I was swishing around in my right shoe.”
He believes that the reason that Cotto lost to Margarito was that he was not really familiar with Magarito’s style.
“He wasn’t familiar with what he brings to the table but I am,” said Mosley.
He wanted an immediate rematch with Cotto after he lost to him back in November of 2007.
“When I fought him the first time I wanted a rematch but it didn’t happen, but maybe it will happen in the future.”
He said that 2009 will be a banner year for the Mosleys. There are many opportunities; Pacquiao, Hatton, Cotto, et al. And don’t forget he has four or five years to work with.
The show is promoted by Golden Boy and Main Events and will be shown on HBO on January 24th from the Staple Center in Los Angeles, CA. Margarito’s WBA Welterweight belt will be on the line.
Wonder if he will still say this if Margarito can put a beating on him?
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