Mayweather/Mosley

Mayweather/Mosley is a fight that has topped my dream list for years! Nothing could cloud the anticipation for such a match up...and then it happened: Mayweather vs. Pacquiao was all but a done deal before being tragically scratched. I hated everyone in both camps for botching negotiations for the biggest fight in decades, therefore scarring my Mosley/Mayweather hype by making it our fall back, our contingency.

That being said, I'm starting to come to terms with everything, thus getting pretty excited because of the same reasons I was hyped about it for so many years: Mosley is going to make Mayweather fight. Zab Judah and Ricky Hatton could not make the Pretty Boy fight the way Mosley will because Mosley is not afraid of anybody, he never has been. A man not afraid of anybody or anything including losing, is a very dangerous man. He stood toe to toe with a prime De La Hoya for 24 rounds and took the fights to him. He gave rematches to both boxers who beat him convincingly the first time around: Winky Wright and Vernon Forest. He took on Miguel Cotto when he was still undefeated, at the peak of his prime. And though he ended up losing a close decision in a solid styles match up, he then went on to brutalize the man who beat the man who beat him in Antonio Margarito. He's also knocked out Fernando Vargas twice, Ricardo Mayorga, and schooled a young, tricky southpaw in Luis Collazo. Shane Mosley is not intimidated by Floyd Mayweather because even though Floyd might be his most skilled opponent, Mosley has seen too much in his career to be afraid. The only other guy in all of boxing who could realistically make that claim is Manny Pacquiao.

On the other hand, Mayweather is afraid to lose. He's proven it year after year: he could have faced Antonio Margarito but instead chose Carlos Baldomir. He could have had Miguel Cotto, but instead chose a washed up Oscar De La Hoya. He could have faced Shane Mosley at any point in the last five years, but instead chose Arturo Gatti, Sharmba Mitchell, and Henry Bruseles. The only reason he's "choosing" to face him now is because he would not have gotten away with blowing a fight with Pacquiao only to fight Paulie Malignaggi.

Mayweather will have his hands full, as he will be up against his most talented, most experienced opponent ever. What happens in the middle of the fight when Mayweather realizes he can't have his way like he's used to? What happens when Mosley's ghosts of past opponents are haunting Floyd right there before our eyes? He will be faced with a choice: run around the ring and hope for a 12 round decision? No. Mosley won't be on his heels, waiting to be picked apart; he's too quick and rangy for that. Mayweather's other option: stand and fight like an animal cornered by a rabid predator.

And considering the winner will (he better!) make the fight with Pacquiao should he get by Clottey, I think it's safe to say my anticipation for this fight couldn't get much higher.