Shane Mosley interview, speaks on Pac. De la Hoya, Moyorga and more

Exclusive Interview: Shane Mosley


Article By
Brad Cooney


The superstar speaks on Pacquiao-De La Hoya, Mayorga, and more. ONLY ON BOXINGHERALD.COM!



“SUGAR” SHANE MOSLEY STOPS BY THE BOXING HERALD!
By Brad Cooney


BoxingHerald.com sat down with a true legend in the sport, future hall of famer “Sugar” Shane Mosley. Shane talks about his big upcoming fight against the bad boy of boxing, Ricardo Mayorga. This fight is scheduled to take place on September 27th, 2008 on FREE HBO!

Shane also talks about wanting a crack at Antonio Margarito and the recent performance of the US Olympic team. Of course, we also touched on the recent Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Pacquiao negotiations.


BH – Shane thanks for joining Boxing Herald.

SM – Thanks for having me.

BH – How's camp going for the Ricardo Mayorga fight?

SM – Camp is going very well. I have been sparring almost every day with some real good sparring partners. My father is up here with me, and my son is up here training as well. I have my whole family up here.

BH – Mayorga is a guy that you will not have to chase around. He also throws those clubbing types of punches. Talk about this match up a little bit.

SM – Mayorga is an orthodox fighter; he's wild with his shots. You don't always know where his punches are coming from so I will have to be careful. He'll be tough in the first couple of rounds, but than I anticipate him slowing down later. He's tough, and he's rugged, and I believe we'll give the fans a great and action packed fight.

BH – He's notorious for being straight up rude, and a nasty type guy. Has the pre-fight dirty work started from him yet?

SM – Well, he does what he does. He's the bad boy of boxing, so whatever comes with that is what he does. That's what makes this fun, especially for me. I am coming out there 100 percent, and I know he will too. I think the fans are getting a great deal with this fight being on free HBO. They better cash in now because this is the best deal that they are going to get [laughs].

BH – I agree with that it's a nice deal seeing this fight on free HBO.

SM – This is definitely a pay per view fight, it has all the makings of one. This time it's on free HBO, so it's a treat for the fans. After this fight I am looking to fight Margarito. I was going to fight Sergio Mora, but it looks like Sergio will fight Oscar now. We'll see what happens, I am just looking to fight the best out there. Whoever is the best, then that's who I want. If Mayweather wants to come back to town, we can do that fight too.

BH – Have you heard if the Pacquiao vs De La Hoya fight is dead yet?

SM – Well, I have been in camp and haven't been in their discussions, but it seems like it's over. Pacquiao wants 60/40 and Oscar wants 70/30. We'll see what happens.

BH – 30 percent of an Oscar De La Hoya fight is a lot of money.

SM – Yes, that's true and that fight has a lot of demand in the Philippines. That fight would be a mega, mega, mega fight for both guys, that's for sure.

BH – Let's talk about your last fight against Cotto. I thought that you won that fight by one round. What do you take from that fight that you can apply to your fight against Mayorga -- anything?

SM – Probably nothing because they fight so different. Mayorga is a type of fighter that will come at me throwing bombs. Cotto against me was a boxer, and he continued to be boxer against Margarito. In his other fights, he was a puncher so he shows that he can be diverse, both boxing and brawling. I have seen Mayorga box a little bit, but he would rather mix it up and throw bombs. I just have to make sure that these fights end in knockouts for me and not decisions [laughs].

BH – Do you think that if you put forth just a little bit more effort in a few of those rounds against Cotto that you could have gotten the nod in the decision?

SM – I think in a few of those rounds towards the end of the rounds, when Cotto would land a jab at the end of the round, that could have been the difference in the round. It was a real pro Puerto Rican crowd there, so with each punch he hit me with the crowd went crazy. I think I could have done better getting the last shot in at the end of the rounds. He landed more jabs, and I landed more power shots. It was a great fight, and he did a great job fighting me. He showed me that he has boxing skills, and he showed me that he was a true champion that night.

BH – Without giving up your game plan, what is the key to your victory against Mayorga?

SM – I think just making sure my defense is tight and I show good movement. I need to stay moving and stay consistent. I should be able to wear down and knockout Mayorga.

BH – Off of your career for a minute, give me your thoughts on the performance thus far of our Olympic boxing team. Also, what do you think we need to do to better represent in future Olympics?

SM – Well, I think we need to address the whole Olympic committee as a whole. We need to change up the judging; the judging is horrific. If we can change that we'll be off to a good start. It seems that the better fighters are losing and the fighters that are not that good are winning. It's hard to get a good read on any of it. You can't say that the best man has won with the way the scoring is now.

BH – Ironically, the last man standing right now for the USA team is Wilder from Alabama, and he has no amateur experience.

SM – Just like I said, it's the guys with the least experience that are winning the gold medal, and the one who looks the best is losing. It doesn't matter if they are from USA, or another country, they just aren't getting scored right. I have watched the fights, and it's really disappointing to see how they are being judged.

BH – Recently, Golden Boy Promotions (which you are a part of) announced that they will hook up with USA Boxing. What is it that Golden Boy will do to assist the USA Boxing amateur program?

SM – For one, I would love to become an advisor to some of the boxing teams that are part of USA Boxing. Me and Bernard Hopkins have traveled around the world and have been to a lot of duel meets. I am not sure our teams are getting the same type of treatment at these duel meets. Our fighters need to see more of how the international fighters style of fighting is. They fight differently, so we need to master that style of fighting. The American style and Mexican and Canada style is sort of the same. Over seas, they do things different. I guess it's working because they are winning all of the gold medals, and we are not. It will be very beneficial for USA Boxing and Golden Boy to give our kids more opportunities to fight in the international meets.

BH – I am guessing that with Golden Boy being a part of USA Boxing, it will give the kids a lot more inspiration. They will see legends like yourself, Bernard Hopkins, and Oscar De La Hoya, and it will inspire the kids more.

SM – Definitely, it will be a big inspiration for the kids. They will also get knowledge from us, the older fighters. They will also experience new things and learn about nutrition and techniques, and they will be able to use our experience to make them better fighters.

BH – I don't want to put you into the Hall of Fame yet, but when your career is over with, how do you want to be best remembered?
SM – I want the fans to remember that I was the type of guy that fights anybody. I will go in there with King Kong if I have to, and I think that I have done that in my career. I want to be remembered as a guy that was willing to give his best and to give the fans their monies worth.

BH – What else do you want to accomplish with your career before it's all over with?

SM – I want to be pound for pound the best fighter in the world. I want to leave my mark, so I want to fight the fights that I need to in order to leave that mark. I am 36 now, so if I am 38 or 40 I don't care -- I just want to leave that mark. After that I can set up my son to come after me.

BH – A lot of people might not know that you have a son who's an undefeated amateur boxer. Talk about his career a little bit. What kind of potential does he have?

SM – He has a lot of potential, and he's hungry and he has drive. I want to make sure he has that hunger that he will need. I want him hungry, and keep him working hard. I don't spar with him a lot because he's my son, and he clams up with me some. He's looking good, his technique is good, and he has good hands, and he's got a good chin. He's a strong young man. I think he needs to work on his foot speed a little bit, get some more bounce, and a little bit more of determination, but other than that it's good stuff.

BH – Shane do you have any closing thoughts?

SM – Make sure you watch this fight on September 27th; there's going to be a lot of fireworks shooting off in this fight. You're going to see the start of something great, this will be the start of 3, 4, maybe 5 big fights coming up for me.










Got to love Shane he is always so classey and respectful in and out the ring!!

Thanks for sharing, Shane is a very classy and honest fella.

Most under appreciated fighter of our time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Most under appreciated fighter of our time.

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Thanks for the rep I will return but I need to spread some first. Would def agree though definetly under appreciated, Shane was the don at lightweight noone could touch him. Fast hands and feet, power and a granite chin. Most of my mates have never heard of Shane Mosley let alone see him fight, I mean his first fight will De Le Hoya is won of my all time fav fights.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boxerharvey

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Most under appreciated fighter of our time.

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Thanks for the rep I will return but I need to spread some first. Would def agree though definetly under appreciated, Shane was the don at lightweight noone could touch him. Fast hands and feet, power and a granite chin. Most of my mates have never heard of Shane Mosley let alone see him fight, I mean his first fight will De Le Hoya is won of my all time fav fights.

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I just watched the De la Hoya fight again the night before last!
Shane was unbelievable that night.

Its a true pity, Shane never really was allowed reach his full potential in terms of popularity.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boxerharvey

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Most under appreciated fighter of our time.

---

Thanks for the rep I will return but I need to spread some first. Would def agree though definetly under appreciated, Shane was the don at lightweight noone could touch him. Fast hands and feet, power and a granite chin. Most of my mates have never heard of Shane Mosley let alone see him fight, I mean his first fight will De Le Hoya is won of my all time fav fights.

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I just watched the De la Hoya fight again the night before last!
Shane was unbelievable that night.

Its a true pity, Shane never really was allowed reach his full potential in terms of popularity.

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Yup at that time I had him over taking Roy Jones as teh best fighter around.

He took the wrong fights IMO but if close decisions went his way he could say that he beat every guy he ever fought . . . pretty impressive at his level .

Kinda hard to say anything negative about Shane he is a phenomenal gentleman and would be a great ambassador for the sport. I did find it
a bit unsettling the GBP is getting involved in USA boxing, I mean it makes sense business wise, but look at ODLH go:

GBP: One of the biggest promotions companies in boxing history.

The Ring: The most respected magazine and news resource and rating system for boxing.

USA Boxing: The amateurs that are the future of boxing.

bit of a monopoly eh?

Anyway back to shane I hope he does an impressive number on Mayorga, more so than ODLH did.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by killersheep

Kinda hard to say anything negative about Shane he is a phenomenal gentleman and would be a great ambassador for the sport. I did find it
a bit unsettling the GBP is getting involved in USA boxing, I mean it makes sense business wise, but look at ODLH go:

GBP: One of the biggest promotions companies in boxing history.

The Ring: The most respected magazine and news resource and rating system for boxing.

USA Boxing: The amateurs that are the future of boxing.

bit of a monopoly eh?

Anyway back to shane I hope he does an impressive number on Mayorga, more so than ODLH did.

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To the contrary, I think it's a good thing. I think Oscar's getting ready to start a league. If he has future boxers firmly in hand and with due influence he can pull it off and clean up some of the things we have so many complaints about.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Killface

Quote:

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Originally Posted by killersheep

Kinda hard to say anything negative about Shane he is a phenomenal gentleman and would be a great ambassador for the sport. I did find it
a bit unsettling the GBP is getting involved in USA boxing, I mean it makes sense business wise, but look at ODLH go:

GBP: One of the biggest promotions companies in boxing history.

The Ring: The most respected magazine and news resource and rating system for boxing.

USA Boxing: The amateurs that are the future of boxing.

bit of a monopoly eh?

Anyway back to shane I hope he does an impressive number on Mayorga, more so than ODLH did.

---

To the contrary, I think it's a good thing. I think Oscar's getting ready to start a league. If he has future boxers firmly in hand and with due influence he can pull it off and clean up some of the things we have so many complaints about.

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Interesting with the league concept, I will reserve judgement until I see how it's laid out. But in theory a league could have positive elements to be sure, ultimately it all depends on how many big name boxers play ball. To be sure Oscar holds a hand that can have great influence.

I've never really understood why people always say Mosley is so classy and honest.

From what people tell me, he's a likeable guy outside the ring, and rarely talks trash, but it doesn't make him classy and honest.

He was part of the Balco thing, and it seems as if he gets more of a pass because of his reputation as a nice guy, or people just want to believe that he took the steroids unknowingly. I give him as much of the benefit of the doubt as I do most athletes (I am very skeptical). Who flies across the state and spends $1,500 on vitamins and supplements? I've even read that he admitted to injecting what he thought were legal supplements. Who injects legal supplements?

Also, it took him 5 losses to finally be gracious in defeat. It's perfectly understandable for a world class athlete to want to look for excuses as to why he's still the best despite losing, but it doesn't exactly show the most class either.

Terrific talent? Of course. Nice guy outside the ring? Apparently.

Honest and classy? Not so sure about that.

He is classy because even in a controversial loss he gives credit to the other fighter, and doesnt make a scene like most boxers would. He is a nice, classy guy and a great boxer.. would add more but gotta get to class ... psyc :-\ later

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Thread Stealer

I've never really understood why people always say Mosley is so classy and honest.

From what people tell me, he's a likeable guy outside the ring, and rarely talks trash, but it doesn't make him classy and honest.

He was part of the Balco thing, and it seems as if he gets more of a pass because of his reputation as a nice guy, or people just want to believe that he took the steroids unknowingly. I give him as much of the benefit of the doubt as I do most athletes (I am very skeptical). Who flies across the state and spends $1,500 on vitamins and supplements? I've even read that he admitted to injecting what he thought were legal supplements. Who injects legal supplements?

Also, it took him 5 losses to finally be gracious in defeat. It's perfectly understandable for a world class athlete to want to look for excuses as to why he's still the best despite losing, but it doesn't exactly show the most class either.

Terrific talent? Of course. Nice guy outside the ring? Apparently.

Honest and classy? Not so sure about that.

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Hey Slow down there...

Shane has always been an incredibly friendly and generous guy outside of the ring.Before most of his fights he has a competition.
He awards the winner with a visit to the last week of his training, tickets to the fight, a hotel room near the fight and a dinner with Shane and his family.

He became affiliated with Balco when they were viewed as a supplement company. He genuinely belived that he was taking legal supplements.
Several athletes invest similar money in supplementation believe it or not.
Shane was always open to testing and was honest about what he did and didn't do.

As for classy, just look before the Cotto fight...They just couldn't dislike one another. Shane was all smiles and Cotto and himself shared many words. He is definitely a classy guy.

If you check his first losses he always gave credit to his opponents.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by purtyboy

He is classy because even in a controversial loss he gives credit to the other fighter, and doesnt make a scene like most boxers would. He is a nice, classy guy and a great boxer.. would add more but gotta get to class ... psyc :-\ later

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What about his other four losses?

What about when he lost to Forrest the first time and said Forrest learned to headbutt him in Georgia gyms with Evander Holyfield?

What about when he claimed he won the Forrest and Wright rematches and said "I had Winky holding on for dear life" after the rematch?

Why is it he gets so much credit for finally being very gracious after losing a close decision?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Thread Stealer

I've never really understood why people always say Mosley is so classy and honest.

From what people tell me, he's a likeable guy outside the ring, and rarely talks trash, but it doesn't make him classy and honest.

He was part of the Balco thing, and it seems as if he gets more of a pass because of his reputation as a nice guy, or people just want to believe that he took the steroids unknowingly. I give him as much of the benefit of the doubt as I do most athletes (I am very skeptical). Who flies across the state and spends $1,500 on vitamins and supplements? I've even read that he admitted to injecting what he thought were legal supplements. Who injects legal supplements?

Also, it took him 5 losses to finally be gracious in defeat. It's perfectly understandable for a world class athlete to want to look for excuses as to why he's still the best despite losing, but it doesn't exactly show the most class either.

Terrific talent? Of course. Nice guy outside the ring? Apparently.

Honest and classy? Not so sure about that.

---

Hey Slow down there...

Shane has always been an incredibly friendly and generous guy outside of the ring.Before most of his fights he has a competition.
He awards the winner with a visit to the last week of his training, tickets to the fight, a hotel room near the fight and a dinner with Shane and his family.

He became affiliated with Balco when they were viewed as a supplement company. He genuinely belived that he was taking legal supplements.
Several athletes invest similar money in supplementation believe it or not.
Shane was always open to testing and was honest about what he did and didn't do.

As for classy, just look before the Cotto fight...They just couldn't dislike one another. Shane was all smiles and Cotto and himself shared many words. He is definitely a classy guy.

If you check his first losses he always gave credit to his opponents.

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Being a nice guy doesn't mean he's not a cheater.

I don't know him personally, people tell me he's a likeable person. That's good, but it doesn't mean he's necessarily an honest competitor. Hell, people have told me that Luis Resto is a nice person in real life. He is one of the most disgraceful cheaters in the history of sports. I detest Resto and Panama Lewis with a passion, but that's another story.

Most athletes use the "I don't know what I was taking" excuse, and they are laughed at. Mosley often gets a pass, seemingly because he has a friendly looking smile and a reputation as a nice person. I approach him with the same amount of doubt as I do any athlete that gets caught, nice guy or jerk.

I'm not saying he's classless, but it's not true that he always gave credit after he lost and didn't make excuses or claimed he won fights he lost. He has had his negative moments where he was somewhat of a sore loser, in addition to the good moments.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Thread Stealer

Being a nice guy doesn't mean he's not a cheater.

I don't know him personally, people tell me he's a likeable person. That's good, but it doesn't mean he's necessarily an honest competitor. Hell, people have told me that Luis Resto is a nice person in real life. He is one of the most disgraceful cheaters in the history of sports. I detest Resto and Panama Lewis with a passion, but that's another story.

Most athletes use the "I don't know what I was taking" excuse, and they are laughed at. Mosley often gets a pass, seemingly because he has a friendly looking smile and a reputation as a nice person. I approach him with the same amount of doubt as I do any athlete that gets caught, nice guy or jerk.

I'm not saying he's classless, but it's not true that he always gave credit after he lost and didn't make excuses or claimed he won fights he lost. He has had his negative moments where he was somewhat of a sore loser, in addition to the good moments.

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Shane craves success, but always the honest way.
Thats why he shelled out so much for what Balco led him to believe was a 100% legal substance.
I do believe the steroid that my man Shane, did have in his system would aid muscle growth only, so really it just aided him in bulking for the Oscar fight. A fight he won with skill alone, so although I'm a fanb, I do believe that he can be somewhat pardoned.


After the second Forrest loss Mosley stated "I guess he's got my umber."
He's a classy guy, honestly the type of guy you could meet on the street and get along with.
I know you're not hating on him, you're expressing a valid view, but check Shane out, you'll understand.