Mosley-Mayweather: The Strategy

[Bhopreign]

I was watching Teddy Atlas go over the strategy for Shane Mosley & Floyd Mayweather and noticed he said (as many have on here) that Mayweather will look to counter Mosley's jab with the right. I think everyone realizes this...including Mosley himself and ****m Richardson. I suspect that they will be looking to roll off the right and counter with their own. Extremely tough to do because Floyd's counter right is so quick and punishing.

Which leads to my second point. Shane Mosley's jab isn't as bad as it's made out to be. Folks, he's been using that jab throughout a career which, at point, was a glistening 38-0. You don't become the best fighter in the world using a bad jab. Maybe no jab, but not a bad one. He used the jab extremely well against De La Hoya in 2000. He used it well against Margarito as well. Shane has always flicked it out in a pawing manner but he is capable of mixing a hard jab in there which can totally throw off your timing. It confounded Oscar repeatedly. And sometimes he'll flick out a couple jabs then turn the third into a hook. Or a crunching right. of course, Floyd doesn't fight like an Oscar or Margarito. But if Mosley can make him just a bit hesitant to throw that straight right over the top, he could slow him down just enough to land his own. Or set him up for it with one of those "flick" jabs which is really a big right in hiding.

Finally, the theory that "Mosley can be outboxed" therefore Floyd will outbox doesn't work. Floyd isn't Vernon Forrest, nor is he Winky Wright, two big, rangy men who walked Shane down and kept him at the end of their punches. And while Miguel Cotto had success boxing (in the last few rounds, I guess?), all three of those guys had the strength to keep Mosley tentative at times and on his heels at others. Can Mayweather fight that kind of fight against a full-fledged welter? He couldn't against Baldomir. And he hasn't fought a true welter since. Floyd is deservedly the favorite. But those who think this will be a walkover need to think again.

Good writeup, I agree with everything except the last paragraph.

[Bhopreign]

mayweather will make Shane use his legs, which are no longer as responsive as they once were. Taking mosley in the pocket is a bad idea, and will not work, mayweather will use his feet, get on his bike a little, and will make mosley move around in the ring, which will leave him uncomfortable, and frustrated, which in turn will have mosley taking too many chances and leaving himself open to be countred on ruite to a wide decision loss.

Ding ding ding. Also remember Shane isnt good fighting backwards, I expect Floyd to hold his ground alot more in this fight than what people expect. I see Floyd making Shane hesitant to throw at some point, when this happens in his fights its all downhill for Floyd.

[Porter's Dad]

Im in the mood to talk strategy.

I see alot of posters saying Mosley will just pressure him and walk him down.

What about Floyds fast hands and the jab?

I'm not sure Floyd is going to commit to the jab to the head against Mosley. Doing it against JMM is one thing (and it worked beautifully in that fight) but I'm not sure he's going to leave it out there for Shane to counter over it with that overhand right. There's a reason why Floyd doesn't always commit to the jab, it's not like he just forgot to. Vernon and Winky were tall fighters who have always committed to their jab, and they managed to disillusion Shane with it, but I just don't see Floyd committing to it so much. And if he tries to, I think Team Mosley will be ready for it.

Floyd's fast hands and tremendous accuracy means he's going to land on Mosley but Shane's chin is tremendous. Not to the extent when he can walk through Floyd's punches in a Margarito-esque manner but I do believe Floyd needs to drop some combinations on Mosley, potting shotting is not something he can do for 12 rounds against a fighter like Shane who has great stamina and finishes well.

I think it's going to be a rough night for Floyd. I initially thought Floyd would UD Mosley (and there's alot to be said for going with your initial hunch) but the more I think about it, the more I think Shane is going to bring some serious heat tomorrow. Power, strength, speed, chin, ring savvy (Shane fought a very smart fight against Margs, maybe it's the ****m influence).....I don't think Floyd will have faced those kind of attributes in one fighter before. Added to the fact that Floyd hasn't been in a fight that really pushed him to his limits in a long time, and I just see something other than the usual Floyd boxing masterclass and comfortable UD.

[oldgringo]

Don't be mad at us if Floyd embarrasses him .

Seriously, Mosley is a good bet. How can he not be? Like Roger said, there isn't a single opponent on Floyd's record that Shane wouldn't have beat.

Phillip N'Dou






kidding of course

[Bhopreign]

People forget, Floyd could fight the exact same style he did against Corrales and what would Shane be able to do about it? Nothing.

[Porter's Dad]

People forget, Floyd could fight the exact same style he did against Corrales and what would Shane be able to do about it? Nothing.

C'mon, man. I love Chico but he wasn't exactly averse to getting outboxed by fighters with lateral movement, was he? Casamayor and Freitas outboxed him too. Shane is better than Corrales. And Floyd doesn't fight like that anymore, and I don't exepct him to against his first real elite WW opponent.

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

I see Floyd starting off with a jab to the body an head over and over because Shanes weakness is a goodjab and hes not skilled enouh to time them. Dont believe me watch the Cotto fight. Cottos jab owned Mosley and kept him at bay and uncomfortable. Floyd does not lead with his jab alot but against Shane as WE ALL KNOW Shane struggles with jabs and Mayweather has a good one.

I see Shane getting hit with that jab to the stomach and getting circled Constantly by Floyd who will not stop moving in this fight. Floyd has the footspeed to dart in and out on Shane and get off punches. I see shane having to sell out to get again and thats when I see him him tryng to bull rush Floyd on the insde during the clinches alot.

Mayweather Like I said will make himself a damn near immpossible target to hit by his constant circling and movement. After a few arounds Floyds lead right will start to connect and along with a jab that is the punch that Shane has no defense for. I think the handspeed edge goes to Mayweather IMO. Shane is fast but I believe in the Cotto fight...Cotto was as fast or faster.

Mayweather will be circling, pot shotting darting in and out and using the shoulder roll which basically gives righties a slim chance to land anything big. Shane will have his moments but they will be few and far between I see him throwing and the crowd cheering but they wont be landing effectively. Shane is a very wide puncher when he wants to be and after he realizes hes down on the cards he'll look for ONE shot and then my friends thats where this fight wil get UGLY for Shane, because Floyd will tag his ass non stop and might even drop Shane a few times. No not because of power but because Floyds accuracy, speed, shanes aggresiveness, his wild swinging and the fact that he punches with his eyes closed. The punches that hurt are the ones you dont see and they can put you on your ass.

Shane has a real dislike for Floyd but he respects him. In the ring I think Shane will be looking for that ONE punch that never happens as Floyd turns his face to a pinata.


Mayweather UD or late corner or ref stoppage.

Had to repost........

[Bhopreign]

C'mon, man. I love Chico but he wasn't exactly averse to getting outboxed by fighters with lateral movement, was he? Casamayor and Freitas outboxed him too. Shane is better than Corrales. And Floyd doesn't fight like that anymore, and I don't exepct him to against his first real elite WW opponent.

Im saying if he did, he fought like that somewhat against Baldomir, Floyd can still move like that. Shane doesnt have the legs to chase like that, he was frustrated even with the little movement Cotto gave him.

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

C'mon, man. I love Chico but he wasn't exactly averse to getting outboxed by fighters with lateral movement, was he? Casamayor and Freitas outboxed him too. Shane is better than Corrales. And Floyd doesn't fight like that anymore, and I don't exepct him to against his first real elite WW opponent.

Floyd is the best fighter Shane has ever fought at WW I think you forgetting that as well. The way he fought aginst Corralles wasnt like some wild man. He boxed Corralles he darted in and out and didnt get a glove laid on him.

[oldgringo]

Good original post ID.

It's hard for me to envision anything other than a 116-112 (Floyd) type of affair here. Small spurts of action but mainly a lot of posturing, which will suit Floyd just fine. ID, you say the results of May being forced to fight harder than normal could produce "shocking" results in the late rounds. That's what it will take for Shane to win this fight, he will have to shock Floyd. Be it Shane putting so much pressure on Floyd that he forces him to exchange and catches him in the process or be it one of the things you alluded to earlier, like success with the occasional counter-right hand (and one of them happens to hurt Floyd badly).

Shane will have to get it done some time within the distance. Certainly a difficult task.