Once again me bwoyo's it's time for another installment of Wacko's Drunken Round by Round.

This next up & coming installment of Wacko's Drunken Round by Round features what is sure to be a battle of the ages...one that will be as taxing on the fans as it will be the fighters...& quite possibley another candidate for fight of the year.

Just ten days away...next Saturday night on November 10th, 2007 former three divisional world champion "Sugar" Shane Mosley (49 fights, 44 wins, 4 losses, & 37 ko's) squares off against one of boxing's fastest rising super stars & the current WBA champion Miguel Angel Cotto (30 fights with 25 ko's & no losses) live on HBO Pay-Per-View at Madison Square Garden.

As always...I like to do a little jaw jacking & get a little bit of hype built up amongst all me fellow forum goers prior to the bouts. This match up is a bit different. This bout here really needs no silly banter...nor does it need to be hyped, as most of us have been on pins & needles for the last few months at the mere mention of either fighters name concerning the outcome.

So let's just get right down to it.

The Wackster's Factors of the Fight

Factors in Mosley's favor:

Factor #1 : Size. One of the main factors of the match in Mosley's favor is that in all reality he is the more established at this weight. He's been here, there, & back again & in the end he will more than likely be the stronger & faster man on this night. In Wacko's opinion...Cotto will be fighting an up hill battle in many departments regarding Shane...size will be one of them. Factor to Mosley.

Factor #2 : Speed & Abilities. It's been noted that Mosley is one of the most graceful fighters of the last decade, that he's often a work of art within the ropes. Mosley can fight going forward or backwards. Some of his best work has emerged while being pressed. The main issue that will befuddle Cotto all night long will be Mosley's accuracy & speed. The fact that he's a speedster is really going to come into play in the late rounds. Yes, Cotto did look good against Judah, who is an accomplished speedster himself, but even though Judah was a fighting Welter...he was still the smaller man. Mosley's speed coupled with his natural size & power is going to plague Cotto all night long. Factor to Mosley.

Factor #3: Chin & Durability. While Mosley has shown a bit of vulnerability to the body...it hasn't been something many tip a hat to. Admittedly, it's hard for ole' Wacko to recall when & if Mosley has been dropped. Either way...Shane's one tuff cooky...factor to Mosley.

Factor #4: Age. As I have hammered out above...there is no doubt that Mosley relies on speed, slickness, & skillfully thrown combinations...it takes some bit of youth to manage the three. Many attribute the age difference between these two combatants as being in Cotto's favor...I gotta disagree with the scribes totally on this one...hell...I'll go on record & disagree with them on pretty much everything derogatory in regards to Shane. The question that most writers & fans are haggling over is : "Is Mosley past his age or is he coming into it?" Tuff question...right? Wrong. While many will say that Shane is getting old & this is just the right time for Cotto to catch the veteran...I will firmly disagree. Shane has fought & handled some pretty tuff customers in the last few years in Oscar, Vargas, Wright, Estrada, & most recently Collazo. Mosley went toe to toe with those few & more & never showed signs of aging. While Cotto is the youngest & strongest of that bunch...he's not the most experienced...which brings me to the last factor...quite simply...experience.

Factor #5: Experience. Hands down...this goes to Shane. As mentioned in the above name drop, Cotto has only a fraction of experienced when paired with names like Oscar, Vargas, & Wright. Cotto hasn't gone the distance with talent like that & those men can pull more cats out of hats than anyone on Cotto's record. Again...I lean towards Shane on this one. Factor to Mosley.


Factors in Cotto's favor:

Factor #1: Size. Most feel that Cotto has an advantage due to the fact that he is young, strong, & fast...& I will conceded that he's young...but not stronger & surely not faster than Shane. Cotto is generally a trencher...an in-fighter. Cotto likes to get in close, use his size & pressure & bust a fighter up on the inside (body) & then take out the head...he'll have some serious issues doing this with Mosley. Mosley has a longer reach, faster feet, & he's also two inches taller than Cotto. Physical advantages such as these & Mosley's speed will make a difference on fight night. Factor to Mosley.

Factor #2: Power . This is a tuff one for me. Cotto is strong...he's a devastating power puncher when the body shots reign in...but is he actually more powerful than Mosley? Not overall...atleast I don't think. Ah hell...I just don't know for sure...but I'm going to lean towards Cotto on body shots alone. Factor to Cotto...maybe.

Factor #3: Speed & Abilities. As I said before...I don't think that Cotto is as accomplished or nearly as fast as Mosley. While Cotto has had success against speedsters...he's really fought only two or three...Zab Judah, Carlos Quintana, and Paul Malignaggi...& those pale in comparison to Sugar Shane Mosley. Honestly I feel that if Cotto is going to have any shot against Mosley...he'll have to keep him on the back foot & stay on his ribs. I want to believe...no...I want to HOPE that Cotto can gain some type of momentum against Mosley...but I just feel that this is waaaaaaay to daunting of a task for young Cotto at this stage in his career. Factor to Mosley.

Factor #4: Chin & Durability. As a Cotto fan...one has to take note that Miguel has been in some serious nail biters. He's shown vulnerability at times when he never should have. Cotto often likes to scrap & go toe to toe...leaving himself exposed & often clocked into stumble mode. Most worrisome...the Corley & Torres bouts. Against someone of Mosley's caliber & power...this is definently a factor against Cotto. Factor to Mosley.

Factor #5: Age & Experience. While Cotto is younger & fresher than Mosley...he lacks the experience & know how to handle a fighter like Shane. There are times that Cotto has shown a lack in even the fundamentals of what to do when hurt or stunned. I've noticed that Cotto used to box a lot more in the past...now he seems to get caught up in pleasing the crowd & often leaves himself open to shots that a fighter of his caliber should see coming from a mile away. If Cotto fights smart he does well...when Cotto fights for Puerto...he seems to often get rocked & caught. Maybe it's due to the fact that he's young...maybe it's the fact that he now believes the hype...whatever it is...it better not show up against Mosley because it will get him stopped. Again...as I said earlier...this is to large a task for Cotto at this stage in his career & again...I lean towards Shane on this one. Factor to Mosley.

While I have never really been a true dyed in the wool fan of Mosley's...being a fan of boxing...I have to admire his skills & abilities. They are damned near second to none.

That being said...I'm a huge fan of Cotto's. Huge. Always have been...& win, lose, or draw...I always will be. In stating that...it might shock you to know that I'm picking Mosley to win this bout...maybe even shut Cotto out...but hopefully not down. I can't pull this RBR shift & be biased...or I can...but that just wouldn't be fair to the Mosley fans, now would it? Also...if Cotto were to win...it'd be that much sweeter for me to wrong!!!

PREDICTION: It pains me to make a prediction like this...but here it is : Mosley by UD or possible late TKO. While I don't see this as a total master class shut out...I do think that this will be the worst night of Cotto's young career...I truly, truly hope that I am wrong. Fingers are crossed.

Alright...well...that's my grim forecast...what's your's?

I am sure that many will disagree with me on this...but that's what makes the world go 'round. I don't need my loyalty to my favorite fighter questioned...I just want to know why you think I'm wrong...hell...maybe you can even skew my viewpoint for me...but I doubt it.

So...once again fellow forum goers I hope you’ll join me for another bout comin’ atcha live by HBO & the costly expenses of PPV.

The weekend's here...it's that time again. Toss aside all your troubles, break out the chips & salsa, put down the remote, crack open the caps, & pour up your beverage of choice as we settle in for some couch coverage…it’s time for yet another installment of Wacko’s Drunken Round by Round.

As always I say to you all...cheers...& koneecheewah bitches...it's fight night & there's no other place I'd rather be!!!