Boxing Preview: Shane Mosely vs. Ricardo Mayorga
© Gene Blevins – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions
In what should prove to be an interesting boxer vs. slugger matchup tonight from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA, former multi-weight world champions Shane Mosley and Ricardo Mayorga meet in a 12 round contest between aging warriors.
Mosley, 44-5 (37), is the more decorated of the two, having won titles at lightweight, welterweight and light middle and is coming off good performances over the last two years in a losing but hard fought effort against Miguel Cotto, a superb outboxing of Luis Collazo and two stoppage victories over Fernando Vargas.
Mayorga, 29-6-1 (23), is coming off a majority decision win over Vargas last year but the ex-WBC/WBA Welter titlist also was crushed by Oscar De La Hoya in 2006, losing the WBC Light Middle belt in the process.
Can the 37 year old Mosley or the 34 year old Mayorga turn back the clock and deliver a vintage performance to earn one last title shot? If both can pull it off, this could be a real barn burner, especially if Mosley decides to slug it out or is forced into the trenches by pressure artist Mayorga.
Newly minted WBC Welterweight Champion Andre Berto, 22-0 (19), will be put to the test when he meets former IBF Super Feather titlist Steve Forbes, 33-6 (9), in the Floridian’s first defense.
Forbes proved he still has razor sharp skills in a challenge of De La Hoya in May, marking up the much bigger five division world champion and displaying an iron chin in absorbing the big punching Oscar’s best shots in a valiant losing effort.
Ex-WBA Welter titlist Collazo, 28-3 (13), is also on the bill and will meet Russell Jordan, 15-5 (10), over eight rounds at light middleweight.
MAIN EVENT – JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 12 ROUNDS
Shane MOSLEY vs. Ricardo MAYORGA
Pomona, CA Managua, NIC
44-5 (37 KO’s) 28-6-1 (22 KO’s)
Weight: 153.5 lbs. Weight: 153.5 lbs.
TV CO-FEATURE – WBC WELTERWEIGHT TITLE – 12 ROUNDS
Andre BERTO vs. Steve FORBES
Winter Haven, FL Las Vegas, NV
22-0 (19 KO’s) 33-6 (9 KO’s)
Weight: 145.5 lbs. Weight: 147 lbs.
MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 8 ROUNDS
Craig McEWAN vs. Hilario LOPEZ
Edinburgh, SCO Parma, ID
11-0 (8 KO’s) 10-5 (7 KO’s)
Weight: 159 lbs. Weight: 159 lbs.
HEAVYWEIGHTS – 8 ROUNDS
Ray AUSTIN vs. Dominic JENKINS
Cleveland, OH Dallas, TX
24-4-4 (16 KO’s) 13-9-1 (6 KO’s)
Weight: 247 lbs. Weight: 216 lbs.
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 6 ROUNDS
Daniel JACOBS vs. Emmanuel GONZALEZ
Brooklyn, NY Rio Piedras, PR
9-0 (9 KO’s) 9-2 (4 KO’s)
Weight: 164 lbs. Weight: 163.4 lbs.
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 8 ROUNDS
Luis Collazo vs. Russell JORDAN
Brooklyn, NY Rochester, NY
28-3 (13 KO) 15-5 (10 KO’s)
Weight: 148.5 lbs. Weight: 152 lbs.
LIGHTWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS
Adrien BRONER vs. Ramon FLORES
Cincinnati, OH Guadalajara, MEX
2-0 (2 KO’s) 2-2-1 (2 KO’s)
Weight: 133.5 lbs. Weight: 134 lbs.
LIGHT HEAYWEIGHTS – 8 ROUNDS
Marcus JOHNSON vs. Julio Cesar DE LA CRUZ
Houston, TX Santiago, DR
15-0 (12 KO’S) 15-4-1 (14 KO’s)
Weight: 170 lbs. Weight: 170 lbs.
WELTERWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS
Michael Nyjohn ANDERSON vs. Carlos GARCIA
New York, NY Trujillo Alto, PR
2-0-1 (1 KO) 2-1-1 (2 KO’s)
Weight: 145.5 lbs. Weight: 146 lbs.