Boxing Preview: Shane Mosley vs. Sergio Mora

© Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions

Shane Mosley returns to the squared circle for the first time since losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr, taking on Sergio Mora in a light middleweight 12 rounder at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA.

Mora is really a middleweight, as evidenced by his 157 pound showing at yesterday’s weigh-in, and while he’s much taller, younger and possibly stronger than Mosley, this one is only competitive because “Sugar Shane” is now 39 years of age.

Mosley, 46-6 (39), has fought so many top level opponents in the course of his career, highlighted by 20 world title bouts at lightweight, welter and light middle, that his experience advantage over Mora is sizable to say the least.

The Pomona Flash gave Mayweather the biggest scare of Floyd’s career in May and it’s likely that Mosley still has enough left to outpoint Mora over the 12 round distance.

But, without a doubt Mosley isn’t the fighter he was in his prime and Mora, 22-1-1 (6), did upset the odds and experts two years ago when he got down to 154 and shocked Vernon Forrest for the WBC light middle crown although he lost the rematch by a wide points margin three months later.

Mora has only been in the ring once since that pair of bouts, a seventh round stoppage of Calvin Green at middleweight in April and he’ll have to pull off a letter perfect performance to upset Mosley tonight.

On the undercard, top up and coming welterweight Saul Alvarez, 33-0-1 (25), who only recently turned 20 years of age, tangles with former 39 year old ex-WBC welter titlist Carlos Baldomir, 45-12-6 (14), for the WBC silver light middle belt.

Baldomir lost a close majority decision during a WBC welter title eliminator to Jackson Osei Bonsu almost two years ago and hasn’t been in a high level bout since but the granite jawed Argentine should give his young Mexican opponent some tough moments on the way to a points loss.

In a WBO featherweight title eliminator, former WBO super bantam ruler Daniel Ponce De Leon, 39-2 (32), puts his five bout win streak on the line against hard nosed spoiler Antonio Escalante, 24-2 (15).

Southpaw Ponce De Leon has faced much better competition, losing only to world champions Cellestino Caballero and Juan Manuel Lopez, than his opponent but Escalante has been put in tough during his career, losing only to Mauricio Pastrana since 2004 and has won 10 in a row.

If Escalante can take the heavy handed Ponce De Leon’s shots, this could be a very competitive contest.

Ex-WBA light welter boss “Vicious” Vivian Harris, 29-4-1 (19), comes off a stoppage loss to Lucas Matthysse in February to face off with “Vicious” Victor Ortiz, 27-2-1 (21), in a ten rounder.

Ortiz is coming off a points victory over former lightweight champion Nate Campbell and this is last chance saloon for Harris, who is the underdog in this one.

The vacant Women’s WBO bantam title is up for grabs between Kaliesha West, 12-1-2 (3), and Angel Gladney, 6-2-1 (5).

West has been in with the better opponents and Gladney is coming off two losses. Advantage West.