Shane Mosley's career = Somewhat of a Disappointment

[USAalltheway]

Now I know I may get bashed for saying this so I just wanna say first that I'm not bashing Sugar Shane Mosley. I think that he has always been one of the best P4P fighters in the world and one of the true sportsmen in boxing. He's always been willing to take on everyone and he always gives the fan a good fight.

But I was thinking about it now that we're reaching almost month 8 of his inactivity, Shane Mosley's career IMO is a disappointment. I mean after his MONUMENTAL win against Oscar De La Hoya, I thought "this guy right here could be as big as Oscar." I mean Shane was young, undefeated, a champion, a good looking dude, had p4p skills, American, exciting, fast, had a chin, and was great to watch. I thought the guy could have a profile as big as Oscar's. And now I'm sitting back and I'm wondering why the hell this dude never amounted to any of that. I mean after the second Oscar fight (after the Forrest losses), he was back in the limelight again, and he could have made a huge double digit payday for the third fight with Oscar, and used that platform to crossover even more. But instead he chose a fight with Winky Wright. Now I really wanted to see that fight but I knew that fight would do nothing for Shane; if he won, he wasn't gonna look great, he was already a P4Per, and there wasn't a ton of money on the table, and if he lost then he would lose a lot because Winky really had no following yet (I love Shane for taking the fight but in terms of his career and financially, it made no sense). So he lost and then he lost again. Then came the Vargas fights. I thought they were decent business moves because they put Shane back on an HBO PPV stage and gave him some good checks. Plus, the first win actually added to Shane boxing legacy. Great, it looks like his career is back on track. So he fights a couple fights and now he lands a big fight with Cotto. Honestly, I thought Shane was gonna steamroll Cotto but Cotto was TOUGH. Long night. Fast forward to the late rounds, Cotto was obviously done, and Shane didn't finish him off or pick up on the fact that Cotto was hurt with something. We were screaming at the screen wondering why Shane was letting Cotto go. It was yet again another frustrating moment in Mosley's career. Cotto barely won the fight but deserved to win. So Shane jumps in there with Ricardo Mayorga next, everyone is thinking WHAT IN THE HELL is Shane Mosley doing? This dude has said he's never been about the money but now he's taking this fight? If that was the case then YOU SHOULD HAVE MANAGED YOUR WHOLE CAREER THAT WAY!!! But whatever, Shane was gonna blast through Mayorga. WRONG!!! And the thing about that fight that won't show up on Boxrec is that Shane looked horrible and was in a LIFE AND DEATH battle with Mayorga. He just sucked it up and pushed it to another level in the 12th (honestly, he really deserves credit for that). Then comes the Margarito fight, and FINALLY...FINALLY, Shane Mosley comes through on a big stage and pulverizes Tony, I mean he beat the dog shit outta Tony. He's the undisputed welterweight champ, the fight sold out Staples Center, he did a great rating on free HBO, he's on top of the world. But Shane Mosley once again finds a way to disappoint, HE'S BEEN INACTIVE FOR CLOSE TO 8 MONTHS!!! There's really no fight scheduled yet so he could be inactive for 11 months or even longer before it's all said and done. He's chasing around Manny Pacquiao, begging and pleading for a fight like Manny Pacquiao is giving out handouts and food stamps. It's disgraceful. For a champion like Shane Mosley not to capitalize on his reclaimed glory after the Margo fight, by at least staying busy with rescheduled Judah fight, or take a risk and fight Paul Williams, or give Berto a bigger cut and take him on in a fight that HBO would love to get behind, or move up take a Sergio Martinez fight or SOMETHING...ANYTHING!!! It's just ridiculous to me. I started thinking about this and realized I have to rant on this. Once again, I'm not making any type of statement on Shane Mosley's heart, I'm just saying I'm really disappointed with how his career has turned out because I expected GREATNESS and STARDOM from him.

Does anybody see what I'm saying or am I way off base?

I'm sorry, but since when does an 8 month stretch define a SIXTEEN YEAR CAREER Further, as far as his capitalizing on the De la Hoya win, I seem to remember him being on The Tonight Show and David Letterman immediately after he won. It's really not his, nor his management's fault he didn't rocket to superstardom ALA Oscar. There was really nothing more they could have done. Mosley's alot like Tim Duncan. He's never been as popular as Kobe or Lebron, mainly because he's just too nice of a human being and that doesn't always draw in the public. That's hardly a reason to detract from someone.

[jdonaher1]

I'm sure he'll get in but until he beat Magaritto I didn't think he was Hall of Fame Worthy

- His best run was 2 years at lightweight champ with 8 defenses against good but not great opponents. There was no unifying or signature wins (a fight vs. WBC Champ Johnson seemed like a natural).

- Welter had one shining moment (a close decision vs. de la Hoya) but 2 non-competitive loses to Vernon Forest (never showed any ability to change styles during either fight). Killed all his momentum by turning down a re-match with ODLH

- Jr. Middle was again highlighted by a razor close fight with de la Hoya (which I thought he lost), two uncompetitive fights with the excellent Wright and a pair of fights with the spent Vargas. A win of Mayorga isn't going to help either.

I just don't see if myself.

[match]

I'm sure he'll get in but until he beat Magaritto I didn't think he was Hall of Fame Worthy

- His best run was 2 years at lightweight champ with 8 defenses against good but not great opponents. There was no unifying or signature wins (a fight vs. WBC Champ Johnson seemed like a natural).

- Welter had one shining moment (a close decision vs. de la Hoya) but 2 non-competitive loses to Vernon Forest (never showed any ability to change styles during either fight). Killed all his momentum by turning down a re-match with ODLH

- Jr. Middle was again highlighted by a razor close fight with de la Hoya (which I thought he lost), two uncompetitive fights with the excellent Wright and a pair of fights with the spent Vargas. A win of Mayorga isn't going to help either.

I just don't see if myself.

That's a compelling argument (although I strongly disagree that he only recently became hall of fame worthy), but it needs to be pointed out that Shane's greatest asset was his speed, and he lost it more and more the more he moved up, so he was forced to reinvent himself as a fighter, I think he deserves credit for that. And moreso, styles make fights. He could have fought Forrest and Winky 10 times and he would have lost all 10 because that's a stylistic nightmare of a matchup for him, no matter what adjustments he could have made. A win over Mayorga at 154 (especially a KO win) doesn't do anything to hurt him either. Many people (myself included) figured him for dead after his second loss to Winky and everything he's done since then is worthy of admiration. Lastly, the man is trying to fight the 3 people boxing fans most want to see him face (Mayweather, Pacqiaou, and Cotto). He's entitled to alittle break to see how things shape up with them to better his chances at landing one of those fights. Boxing would be in better shape if there were more fighters like Shane Mosley.

[DaxxKahn]

Mosley's been champion in 3 weight classes. He's made millions. And he's going to the Hall of Fame when retires. I want a disappointing career like that.

Isn't that the truth

[Mr140]

I would say Mosley is close or the same legacy wise with Pac, Mayweather, Benard and Jones when comes to resume and talent. But he is not the Robinson, or even the Leonard people thought he would be. But i mena those are the number one and top ten fighters ever though.

[ICB]

I'm sure he'll get in but until he beat Magaritto I didn't think he was Hall of Fame Worthy

- His best run was 2 years at lightweight champ with 8 defenses against good but not great opponents. There was no unifying or signature wins (a fight vs. WBC Champ Johnson seemed like a natural).

- Welter had one shining moment (a close decision vs. de la Hoya) but 2 non-competitive loses to Vernon Forest (never showed any ability to change styles during either fight). Killed all his momentum by turning down a re-match with ODLH

- Jr. Middle was again highlighted by a razor close fight with de la Hoya (which I thought he lost), two uncompetitive fights with the excellent Wright and a pair of fights with the spent Vargas. A win of Mayorga isn't going to help either.

I just don't see if myself.

I personally thought Vernon Forrest vs Shane Mosley 2, was very close although it was a messy boring fight.

[JonesJrMayweather]

I'm sure he'll get in but until he beat Magaritto I didn't think he was Hall of Fame Worthy

- His best run was 2 years at lightweight champ with 8 defenses against good but not great opponents. There was no unifying or signature wins (a fight vs. WBC Champ Johnson seemed like a natural).

- Welter had one shining moment (a close decision vs. de la Hoya) but 2 non-competitive loses to Vernon Forest (never showed any ability to change styles during either fight). Killed all his momentum by turning down a re-match with ODLH

- Jr. Middle was again highlighted by a razor close fight with de la Hoya (which I thought he lost), two uncompetitive fights with the excellent Wright and a pair of fights with the spent Vargas. A win of Mayorga isn't going to help either.

I just don't see if myself.

I personally thought Vernon Forrest vs Shane Mosley 2, was very close although it was a messy boring fight.

1st...the second fight with wright was extremely close...And i agree totally agree with ICB on the second vernon fight.

And lastly i don't see how Shane needed a win over Margarito who's only win at that point was over cotto..earned him HOF votes...that's just asking too much. I mean who had oscar beaten that was a prime A+ fighter? In fact oscar has never beaten a prime A rated fighter ever...

[JazMerkin]

The guy's never been stopped (proving one of the best chin's in boxing history), stamped his legacy as arguably the greatest lightweight in history along side Roberto Duran, gave Oscar his first true loss when he was in his prime, and went after every fighter the boxing public wanted to see him in the ring with. The words 'Mosley' and 'Disappointment' do not belong in the same sentence.

Who did Mosley beat at lightweight to deserve recognition alongside the original Leonard, Duran, etc.?

His list of opponents does not equal Duran's (don't know why you said Leonard as he fought virtually his entire career at welterweight and above), but Mosely essentially never lost a single round as a lightweight and is universally considered as the only 135 lber who could have possibly beaten Duran.

Pernell Whitaker

In fact additionally there's Benny Leonard, Hank Armstrong, Ike Williams, Joe Gans, Alexis Arguello & Floyd Mayweather who I think were all capable of beating Duran at 135. Mosley was a hell of a LW, but he's not the best or 2nd best ever by any means

[jdonaher1]

Shanes 2 fights with ODLH were close. I seen both live. Shane clearly won the first fight 7-5 but I thought the 2nd fight was no better than a draw. True both rematches with Winky & Forrest were closer (probably both 7-5) but I never got the impression he was going to win those fights.

I think beating Margarito is a huge accomplishment. He was the best Welterweight in the world (I'm not counting Williams or Pretty Boy since neither was fighting at Welterweight at the time). Shane was 37 and Margarito had just destroyed Cotto. Revisionist history clouds the win now becasue of the hand wrap controversy.

[Taeth]

Shanes 2 fights with ODLH were close. I seen both live. Shane clearly won the first fight 7-5 but I thought the 2nd fight was no better than a draw. True both rematches with Winky & Forrest were closer (probably both 7-5) but I never got the impression he was going to win those fights.

I think beating Margarito is a huge accomplishment. He was the best Welterweight in the world (I'm not counting Williams or Pretty Boy since neither was fighting at Welterweight at the time). Shane was 37 and Margarito had just destroyed Cotto. Revisionist history clouds the win now becasue of the hand wrap controversy.

I didn't see the second Wright fihgt as being closer, I think Mosley threw more meaningless combinations, but IMO Wright was landing much more effectively in the second fight than he was in the first one.

[Taeth]

The guy's never been stopped (proving one of the best chin's in boxing history), stamped his legacy as arguably the greatest lightweight in history along side Roberto Duran, gave Oscar his first true loss when he was in his prime, and went after every fighter the boxing public wanted to see him in the ring with. The words 'Mosley' and 'Disappointment' do not belong in the same sentence.

Who did Mosley beat at lightweight to deserve recognition alongside the original Leonard, Duran, etc.?

His list of opponents does not equal Duran's (don't know why you said Leonard as he fought virtually his entire career at welterweight and above), but Mosely essentially never lost a single round as a lightweight and is universally considered as the only 135 lber who could have possibly beaten Duran.

Your thinking of the wrong Leonard. IMO Floyd would have beaten Duran at lightweight more often than Mosley, same with Whitaker.

[Spicoli]

Many a fighter would kill to have such a disappointing career.The only regrets Ive had with him is that while he was a blazing lightweight,he had a couple of fellow champs in Stevie Johnston & Gussie Nazarov that would have allowed him to put his stamp on the division.

And rematching Winky.I have never understood that one and honestly think they could have fought 10 times with similar results with that Winky Wright.Shane is a hall of famer and a great fighter who to this day remains at the top of his chosen division.I think he has always been very reserved,almost a lack of charisma outside of the ring.Very humble

[Violent Demise]

Many a fighter would kill to have such a disappointing career.The only regrets Ive had with him is that while he was a blazing lightweight,he had a couple of fellow champs in Stevie Johnston & Gussie Nazarov that would have allowed him to put his stamp on the division.

And rematching Winky.I have never understood that one and honestly think they could have fought 10 times with similar results with that Winky Wright.Shane is a hall of famer and a great fighter who to this day remains at the top of his chosen division.I think he has always been very reserved,almost a lack of charisma outside of the ring.Very humble

Johnson never wanted anything to do with Mosley

[Spicoli]

Many a fighter would kill to have such a disappointing career.The only regrets Ive had with him is that while he was a blazing lightweight,he had a couple of fellow champs in Stevie Johnston & Gussie Nazarov that would have allowed him to put his stamp on the division.

And rematching Winky.I have never understood that one and honestly think they could have fought 10 times with similar results with that Winky Wright.Shane is a hall of famer and a great fighter who to this day remains at the top of his chosen division.I think he has always been very reserved,almost a lack of charisma outside of the ring.Very humble

Johnson never wanted anything to do with Mosley

I don't know.I think he would of financially loved a piece of him after he regained his strap,and I think he believed he could beat him.It would have been a definite up hill struggle for Johnston but a fight that should have happened I believe.But he had all of the disadvantages but was smooth capable when he used his skills and not get sucked into,or unnecessarily trying to brawl one out.That loss to Bazan erased any thought of it. They had a history,huge network exposure but in hindsight I think Shane was looking to a mega clash with Oscar loooooong before that.

[Taeth]

I think people are focusing to much on what Mosley accomplished and aren't thinking about what he could ahve accomplished, sure he had an amazing career, but IMO if he had learned the right technical skills, Wright, Oscar the second time, Vernon Forrest, Miguel Cotto would have been no problem for him. He never learned how to effectively fight off the back foot or at range which is why IMO we saw such radical differences between his first and second fight with OScar where the range was always changing the second time. Taller guys(even if only a couple of inches) were able to keep Mosley totally at bay because he comes in predictably, but usually he is too overwhelming physically(like Manny Pacquiao) for the opponent to handle it, but Forest and Wright were able to stop Mosley from getting his offensive gears going and he couldn't adapt.