by T.K. Stewart
Ricardo "El Matador" Mayorga says when it comes to fighting Shane Mosley next month that the losses he has endured in the past mean nothing to him and it's only what happens when he is in the ring with Mosley that matters now.
"You can't dwell on the past," proclaimed the wild-man from the streets of Managua, Nicaragua. "You gotta' live in the present and what's going to come in the future. The way you measure a man's inner fortitude is by the times he gets himself up and dusts himself off, not by the amount of times he falls."
Mayorga has tasted the canvas on numerous occasions, especially in losses against Felix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya. The 33-year-old Nicaraguan has a record of 29-6-1 (23)KO and is the former WBC/WBA welterweight champion as well as a former WBC super welterweight titlist. He will meet Mosley on September 27th at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
"I demonstrated the night that I beat Fernando Vargas, fighting the fight at 170 pounds, that I'm able to do anything!" said Mayorga of his win over Vargas last November.
Mayorga, who can be outrageous with his comments, said that he is going to beat Mosley in such a vicious manner that he will permanently retire him. Mayorga also said he wants to fight Mosley's promotional partner whom he calls Mosley's "boss" - Oscar De La Hoya, again.
Mayorga then went on to make his most unbelievable claim when he said he has no idea who WBA welterweight champion Antonio Margarito even is.
"Who is he?" asked a mocking Mayorga when Margarito's name was brought up. "Who is he? A mariachi guy, a taxi driver? I don't know him."
Another name brought up was that of Vernon Forrest whom Mayorga knocked out in three rounds and beat in a twelve round decision in two fights back in 2003. Forrest was mentioned as a possible future opponent for Mayorga and Forrest told this reporter late last year that "Mayorga is on my radar" because he would like to avenge the two losses. Mayorga, though, was hearing nothing of a third fight against Forrest.
"I don't wanna' talk about guys that should be six feet under," he said with a pained expression as he waved his right hand in front of his face. "I've already beat him twice, I've nothing else to prove."
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