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AllHipHop.com: Since you’re having such a long layoff, have you had any problems remaining motivated and keeping your training on point?
Mosley: Even now with the layoff, which is about a year, I’ve been training my son and getting him ready for the amateur division. Hopefully he can make an impact and that’s helped me stay focused as well.
AllHipHop.com: A few months back you stated you only wanted big fights going forward, which contributed to the layoff. Who do you classify as big fights opponent-wise in your division?
Mosley: You know, the so-called big fighters don’t want to fight me right now, and that’s Mayweather and Pacquiao. So I’m looking to fight anyone else in the welterweight division like Joshua Clottey, and I have [Andre] Berto on January 30th. Cotto if he beats Pacquiao I can fight him. Any of these guys are good. I just want to clean up the welterweight division and let everybody know I’m the best. I want people to recognize me as the best of my era. After facing these guys I can look back 4 years from now and say I fought the best, and let my son take over from there.
AllHipHop.com: With Mayweather and Pacquiao, do you think that they’re ignoring you due to the fact they can make more money facing each other despite you being the champion?
Mosley: Not true. I’ve been making money for a long time. I fought Oscar De La Hoya way back in 2000 and in 2003. People around the world know Sugar Shane Mosley. Even right now after the big fight with Margarito I’m still avoided. I even kind of criticize Pacquiao for that. I know him and he called me the other day to discuss some things. So I’m not bashing him, he’s my friend. Pacquiao will fight me, but his promoter Bob Arum and the other people in his camp won’t let him fight me. It’s not really money for Pacquiao, because if it was he would have fought me because I’m a bigger draw than Cotto around the world.
As far as Mayweather’s concerned, everyone wants to see him fight a real welterweight. He’s in the welterweight division. Why won’t you fight a real welterweight? That’s what Pacquiao is going to have a problem with on Saturday (November 14) because now he’s fighting a true welterweight contender who will show up in that fight.
I’m more of a threat to Mayweather than anybody. And that’s what people want to see, him in a real fight. But he doesn’t want to do that. He wants to steal money like he said on ESPN: from the fans and the people, and tell lies. I really don’t trust anything that comes out of his mouth because he exaggerates and he lies! He’s all hype!
AllHipHop.com: I was at the Marquez-Mayweather postfight media press, and you guys seemed to be cordial with each other. Mayweather even hugged you. Is your relationship good enough with him that maybe there can be some progress made behind closed doors?
Mosley: I have a cool relationship with him and his whole family. It’s nothing personal against any of these fighters. But the ring is my office. Inside that ring, I want to be the best and win. Outside the ring, we’re cool. I’ve talked with him; we’ve played basketball and talked business here and there. I talk to his mother and father. Even in the ring when I told him the best fighters should fight each other, it got crazy because he was a little intimidated and scared of me. It got drawn out like it was a major thing when it really wasn’t.
He called me over and I thought ok now we’re going to fight and got excited. Boxing is supposed to be great fighters getting in there in fighting real fights. Even when he was fighting Marquez I was like you can’t be happy with yourself. By beating up this little guy? Marquez is a great boxer, but he’s really a great lightweight. He tried, but whatever. Now you’ve had your tuneup Mayweather, now fight a real fight. He’s ready to go fight Ricky Hatton again.
AllHipHop.com: If you had to stake a bet, do you think his next fight will be against Hatton if he could get away with it?
Mosley: I’m speculating, but HBO is trying to push Mayweather-Pacquiao. They’ve been trying to push it forever. But there’s going to be a problem, because Cotto didn’t get that memo. It’s going to be Cotto. Will Mayweather fight Cotto? I think so; he has a good chance of beating Cotto. He boxes and moves and Cotto will have problems because Mayweather’s faster and with his technical skills probably beats Cotto.
I get frustrated because I know I’m the best fighter out there. I want to prove it with my hands.
AllHipHop.com: You’re in a catch-22 with fans and media. Before people said you were too nice and needed to be more vocal, and now when you do that people are saying you look desperate and disrespectful. Do you feel that hypocrisy?
Mosley: Yeah, the media will say what they say, but it’s just me being me. I won’t change up for anyone. I’m frustrated about this situation. I don’t like how they’re maneuvering the fans and pulling the wool over their eyes. If you continue to do this, I’m going to put the truth out there. I’m not going to allow lies to be put out there.
AllHipHop.com: How has Mayweather been when you’ve brought up the fight to him away from cameras?
Mosley: Well we all know him. Mayweather has always been the one talking down on me and then when I’m around we’re cool. I’m cool with everyone. I’m cool with Winky Wright, I was cool with Vernon [Forrest], I’m cool with everyone I’ve fought. I don’t hold grudges. There’s one thing I want to clear up. Mayweather talks about he wanted to fight me back in 1999, 2000. But he didn’t want to fight me when he was at 130 pounds. I was at 135 and was forced to move up because I couldn’t make the weight anymore. I was starving myself to make the weight. That’s why I moved right up to welterweight to fight Oscar. He didn’t want to fight me back then.
The next time he claimed he wanted to fight me was when I had just fought Vargas twice and someone else. And after the fight I had a headbutt that had loosened my tooth. I said give me a month and I’ll fight you. He didn’t want to do that and chose to fight Oscar De La Hoya. I said ok, that’s cool. If you beat Oscar I’ll be your next opponent, right? Riiight. That didn’t happen. He ran off and fought Hatton. He didn’t want to fight me.
He knows what the fans and public doesn’t know. I’m the only person that can hit him. We have pretty much that same style except I hit harder. I can hit him, the other guys can’t. When I touch him, just like I did to Margarito, he’s going to sleep. Why fight Sugar Shane when I can fight Pacquiao who can’t hit me? Why fight Sugar Shane when I can fight Marquez, Hatton, or Oscar De La Hoya? It’s unfortunate. It’s his last resort. After I retire and am done with boxing then he’ll fight me. If he fights me, that’ll be his first loss.
AllHipHop.com: Strategy-wise, how do you beat him?
Mosley: We both match up in speed. Like I said I have more power than him. I’m more aggressive but I can box, too. I can make him try to come at me as well. I have so many different ways of fighting the guy that makes it so appealing. I’m a complete fighter and he’s knows it.
To be honest, all the guys I’ve lost to have been bigger than me. The only one who was the same size as me was Cotto, and really I don’t think I lost to him. And that’s why he doesn’t want to fight me again. Margarito got the inspiration to walk him down like I did.
AllHipHop.com: The Andre Berto fight is official, right?
Mosley: The Andre Berto fight is a done deal. He signed the contract, so he’s got his wish. People know I’ll fight anyone. I didn’t have to fight Vernon Forrest or Winky Wright. But I wanted to challenge myself. I didn’t want small guys moving up. If I believe I’m pound for pound, I have to fight anyone. That’s the difference between a real fighter and someone just talking.
AllHipHop.com: Did Berto’s Twitter rant calling you out surprise you?
Mosley: A little bit. But he’s younger so he’s letting his emotions get in the way. I’ve talked to Berto and shook his hand, and I’ll continue to do the same thing. It’s just words. Say what’s on your mind. We’ll just settle it in the ring.
AllHipHop.com: You see a knockout in that one?
Mosley: This is how I got into it with Fernando Vargas. Larry Merchant asked if I was going to know him out and I said I believe I’ll knock everyone out. That’s how I got in that $100,000 bet with Vargas, which he paid me for, by the way. [Vargas is] a real man. Yes, I believe I’ll knock Berto out. I fight to knock everyone out. That’s probably why when I fought Cotto he got the decision because I fought to knock him out, not outpoint him like I could have done. He was thrown off when I started boxing. Maybe I lost because of that.
Mosley: Even now with the layoff, which is about a year, I’ve been training my son and getting him ready for the amateur division. Hopefully he can make an impact and that’s helped me stay focused as well.
AllHipHop.com: A few months back you stated you only wanted big fights going forward, which contributed to the layoff. Who do you classify as big fights opponent-wise in your division?
Mosley: You know, the so-called big fighters don’t want to fight me right now, and that’s Mayweather and Pacquiao. So I’m looking to fight anyone else in the welterweight division like Joshua Clottey, and I have [Andre] Berto on January 30th. Cotto if he beats Pacquiao I can fight him. Any of these guys are good. I just want to clean up the welterweight division and let everybody know I’m the best. I want people to recognize me as the best of my era. After facing these guys I can look back 4 years from now and say I fought the best, and let my son take over from there.
AllHipHop.com: With Mayweather and Pacquiao, do you think that they’re ignoring you due to the fact they can make more money facing each other despite you being the champion?
Mosley: Not true. I’ve been making money for a long time. I fought Oscar De La Hoya way back in 2000 and in 2003. People around the world know Sugar Shane Mosley. Even right now after the big fight with Margarito I’m still avoided. I even kind of criticize Pacquiao for that. I know him and he called me the other day to discuss some things. So I’m not bashing him, he’s my friend. Pacquiao will fight me, but his promoter Bob Arum and the other people in his camp won’t let him fight me. It’s not really money for Pacquiao, because if it was he would have fought me because I’m a bigger draw than Cotto around the world.
As far as Mayweather’s concerned, everyone wants to see him fight a real welterweight. He’s in the welterweight division. Why won’t you fight a real welterweight? That’s what Pacquiao is going to have a problem with on Saturday (November 14) because now he’s fighting a true welterweight contender who will show up in that fight.
I’m more of a threat to Mayweather than anybody. And that’s what people want to see, him in a real fight. But he doesn’t want to do that. He wants to steal money like he said on ESPN: from the fans and the people, and tell lies. I really don’t trust anything that comes out of his mouth because he exaggerates and he lies! He’s all hype!
AllHipHop.com: I was at the Marquez-Mayweather postfight media press, and you guys seemed to be cordial with each other. Mayweather even hugged you. Is your relationship good enough with him that maybe there can be some progress made behind closed doors?
Mosley: I have a cool relationship with him and his whole family. It’s nothing personal against any of these fighters. But the ring is my office. Inside that ring, I want to be the best and win. Outside the ring, we’re cool. I’ve talked with him; we’ve played basketball and talked business here and there. I talk to his mother and father. Even in the ring when I told him the best fighters should fight each other, it got crazy because he was a little intimidated and scared of me. It got drawn out like it was a major thing when it really wasn’t.
He called me over and I thought ok now we’re going to fight and got excited. Boxing is supposed to be great fighters getting in there in fighting real fights. Even when he was fighting Marquez I was like you can’t be happy with yourself. By beating up this little guy? Marquez is a great boxer, but he’s really a great lightweight. He tried, but whatever. Now you’ve had your tuneup Mayweather, now fight a real fight. He’s ready to go fight Ricky Hatton again.
AllHipHop.com: If you had to stake a bet, do you think his next fight will be against Hatton if he could get away with it?
Mosley: I’m speculating, but HBO is trying to push Mayweather-Pacquiao. They’ve been trying to push it forever. But there’s going to be a problem, because Cotto didn’t get that memo. It’s going to be Cotto. Will Mayweather fight Cotto? I think so; he has a good chance of beating Cotto. He boxes and moves and Cotto will have problems because Mayweather’s faster and with his technical skills probably beats Cotto.
I get frustrated because I know I’m the best fighter out there. I want to prove it with my hands.
AllHipHop.com: You’re in a catch-22 with fans and media. Before people said you were too nice and needed to be more vocal, and now when you do that people are saying you look desperate and disrespectful. Do you feel that hypocrisy?
Mosley: Yeah, the media will say what they say, but it’s just me being me. I won’t change up for anyone. I’m frustrated about this situation. I don’t like how they’re maneuvering the fans and pulling the wool over their eyes. If you continue to do this, I’m going to put the truth out there. I’m not going to allow lies to be put out there.
AllHipHop.com: How has Mayweather been when you’ve brought up the fight to him away from cameras?
Mosley: Well we all know him. Mayweather has always been the one talking down on me and then when I’m around we’re cool. I’m cool with everyone. I’m cool with Winky Wright, I was cool with Vernon [Forrest], I’m cool with everyone I’ve fought. I don’t hold grudges. There’s one thing I want to clear up. Mayweather talks about he wanted to fight me back in 1999, 2000. But he didn’t want to fight me when he was at 130 pounds. I was at 135 and was forced to move up because I couldn’t make the weight anymore. I was starving myself to make the weight. That’s why I moved right up to welterweight to fight Oscar. He didn’t want to fight me back then.
The next time he claimed he wanted to fight me was when I had just fought Vargas twice and someone else. And after the fight I had a headbutt that had loosened my tooth. I said give me a month and I’ll fight you. He didn’t want to do that and chose to fight Oscar De La Hoya. I said ok, that’s cool. If you beat Oscar I’ll be your next opponent, right? Riiight. That didn’t happen. He ran off and fought Hatton. He didn’t want to fight me.
He knows what the fans and public doesn’t know. I’m the only person that can hit him. We have pretty much that same style except I hit harder. I can hit him, the other guys can’t. When I touch him, just like I did to Margarito, he’s going to sleep. Why fight Sugar Shane when I can fight Pacquiao who can’t hit me? Why fight Sugar Shane when I can fight Marquez, Hatton, or Oscar De La Hoya? It’s unfortunate. It’s his last resort. After I retire and am done with boxing then he’ll fight me. If he fights me, that’ll be his first loss.
AllHipHop.com: Strategy-wise, how do you beat him?
Mosley: We both match up in speed. Like I said I have more power than him. I’m more aggressive but I can box, too. I can make him try to come at me as well. I have so many different ways of fighting the guy that makes it so appealing. I’m a complete fighter and he’s knows it.
To be honest, all the guys I’ve lost to have been bigger than me. The only one who was the same size as me was Cotto, and really I don’t think I lost to him. And that’s why he doesn’t want to fight me again. Margarito got the inspiration to walk him down like I did.
AllHipHop.com: The Andre Berto fight is official, right?
Mosley: The Andre Berto fight is a done deal. He signed the contract, so he’s got his wish. People know I’ll fight anyone. I didn’t have to fight Vernon Forrest or Winky Wright. But I wanted to challenge myself. I didn’t want small guys moving up. If I believe I’m pound for pound, I have to fight anyone. That’s the difference between a real fighter and someone just talking.
AllHipHop.com: Did Berto’s Twitter rant calling you out surprise you?
Mosley: A little bit. But he’s younger so he’s letting his emotions get in the way. I’ve talked to Berto and shook his hand, and I’ll continue to do the same thing. It’s just words. Say what’s on your mind. We’ll just settle it in the ring.
AllHipHop.com: You see a knockout in that one?
Mosley: This is how I got into it with Fernando Vargas. Larry Merchant asked if I was going to know him out and I said I believe I’ll knock everyone out. That’s how I got in that $100,000 bet with Vargas, which he paid me for, by the way. [Vargas is] a real man. Yes, I believe I’ll knock Berto out. I fight to knock everyone out. That’s probably why when I fought Cotto he got the decision because I fought to knock him out, not outpoint him like I could have done. He was thrown off when I started boxing. Maybe I lost because of that.
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