Did Shane Mosley duck Kostya Tszyu ????

[Jerry Rice]

This has always been a rumor, just wanted to know if people think its true.

[FinitoElDinamita]

He just had bigger fishes to fry like Oscar.

[Jerry Rice]

He just had bigger fishes to fry like Oscar.

You have to remember that he fought twice at 147 before he fought Oscar, he could have easily had a pit stop at 140, however I guess De La Hoya was the much bigger payday.

[bradlee180]

I know that Shane Mosley and Kostya Tszyu had great respect for each other and have been friends for a long time.

[bradlee180]

The following interview was in the boxing news a few years back. It was very good, and this interview's what I thought about immediately when I saw the thread-title.

EXCERPT:__________________



It was as amateur boxers that Tszyu and Mosley first met in 1990 at the Goodwill Games held in Seattle, USA.

Tszyu won the Gold medal for the Soviet Union team at 140lbs at that tournament. Mosley was an 18 year-old Bronze medallist for the American team at 132lbs.

Even back then, Mosley says 20 year-old Tszyu stood out from the other boxers on the Soviet team and it wasn’t just his unique hair style that distinguished him.

“I remember his hair plait was longer than what he has it now,” said Mosley. “He stood out in a number of ways. He was a real boxer back then. He would slip and slide and duck. I’ve always believed that the fight starts from right here inside your head. He had that. We used to say he was like an American. He moves around and he boxes. He counters real good. He was real slick and fast.

“We liked him even back then before anybody even knew about him. He just stood out. He was very determined. You could see the determination in his eyes. He went on to have good power, but as an amateur it was weird, he wasn’t knocking anyone out. He was a fantastic boxer, then he turned pro and was knocking everybody out.”

Asked about his early memories of a young Shane Mosley, Tszyu replied with one word, “Speed!”

As professionals they have been equally successful. Tszyu won four world titles at junior welterweight and was undisputed world champion from 2001 to 2005, with a record of 31 wins, 2 losses, 25 knockouts and 1 no contest.

Mosley has won four world titles in three weight classes and is the only boxer to date to have beaten the great Oscar De La Hoya twice. His record currently stands at 44 wins, 5 losses and 37 wins by knockout.
SecondsOut Boxing News - World Boxing News - Shane Mosley & Kostya Tszyu: Boxing’s Smiling Assassins
END OF EXCERPT_________________________________

[Spicoli]

I don't think so. Tszyu hadn't even solidified his interim trinket with Gonzalez when Mosley had jumped to welter comfortably. Mitchell also would have been nice but pretty sure he and Kostya were Don King owned and a date with Hbo and its massive plans wasn't about to happen.

[THE THIRD MAN]

I would say that both Mosley and DLH would've been on the radar if Tszyu had not lost to Phillips. It set Tszyu back a couple of years, by which time Mosley and DLH had sights on each other. Tszyu V DLH very nearly happened in 97 when both fighters fought on the same bill in January that year. Tszyu lost to Phillips 1 month after Oscar beat Whitaker, i have no doubt that DLH V Tszyu was scheduled but that loss put Mosley ahead whenever he decided to move up. It wasn't until 1999 when Tszyu beat Gonzalez was his status restored, by then Mosley was ready for DLH.

[Jerry Rice]

De La Hoya did not fight Mosley until late 2000, he did not jump to WW until early 2000.

[jehoshaphat]

De La Hoya did not fight Mosley until late 2000, he did not jump to WW until early 2000.

June is in the first half of the year so DLH/Mosley was clearly not late 2000. And Mosley moved to welter in '99. You're using the wrong word in saying ducked. He bypassed everyone at 140 because he was big enough and there was no money. Mosley went for the money and got it. Besides after Tsyzu got TKO'd it took him until 2000 to get his claim back as the 140 king. Even Tsyzu never said Mosley ducked him so why are you insinuating that? What did fighting Tsyzu at that point have to offer? DLH was bigger, faster, more notable, a surefire path of super stardom, and probably worth 5X the pay day. Judah said that Mosley skipped his division because he knew Judah was coming. Of course that was false as well. When has Mosley ever ducked anyone Heck, he took short money to fight a tougher Winky Wright then to fight DLH again. Not to mention that after being demolished by Forrest he went right at him again for seconds.

[Master]

Shane and Floyd both avoided him but only to fight the more lucrative ODH.

[jacksonmann]

I know that Shane Mosley and Kostya Tszyu had great respect for each other and have been friends for a long time.

Dont think Shane ducked Kostya. Kostya probably wishes he'd ducked more against Ricky Hatton lol.

[johnsebastianmiran]

I don't think he ducked Kostya Tszyu but I have a theory that sometimes when a boxer moves up he eats his way past a division. A good meal is much less painful than a fight unless you have a wife that can't cook.

[Nameless]

Unfortunately, boxing is nowaway much more about business than legacy. I think that the Kosta-Mosley didn't happen because moneywise, the timing between the two has never been there.

[bradlee180]

Shane's last defense at 135, dude looked ready to pass out at the weigh-in from severe dehydration.
Young fighters fill out and naturally outgrow a division.
Shane made 135 that night, but was 153 lbs the next night at the fight. Shane's people had already said this was their last one at 135.
The HUGE money was at 147 against De La Hoya, he was the Brass Ring, and at the time, Mosley earned a lot of respect for going up a full old-school division from lightweight 135 to welter 147, none of those junior half-jumps.


I don't know who would've won between Mosley and Tszyu. Top flight fighters and Champions.

[Jerry Rice]

Shane's last defense at 135, dude looked ready to pass out at the weigh-in from severe dehydration.
Young fighters fill out and naturally outgrow a division.
Shane made 135 that night, but was 153 lbs the next night at the fight. Shane's people had already said this was their last one at 135.
The HUGE money was at 147 against De La Hoya, he was the Brass Ring, and at the time, Mosley earned a lot of respect for going up a full old-school division from lightweight 135 to welter 147, none of those junior half-jumps.


I don't know who would've won between Mosley and Tszyu. Top flight fighters and Champions.

Agreed.