At last, after all the hoo-hah, we are here! It’s fight night and Sugar Shane Mosley is still in Australia, for starters. After all the talk, the disputes and the hype, it’s time for the bell to ring
That leaves the burning question: Who will win? And will the fight live up to the hype?
Let’s get one thing clear, tonight’s fight will not win Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year.
This is a fight between a 38 year old past his prime (Choc Mundine) and a 42 year old past his prime (Sugar Shane).
Mosley did look good in his win over Pablo Cesar Cano. Beating a ranked Mexican fighter in Mexico with a Unanimous Decision is something I’m not sure the Australian media have taken enough notice of.
Secondly, Mosley lost the early rounds of that fight and came back to take control of the fight in the middle and later rounds.
Mosley has claimed several times that he feels like he is in better shape than he has been for a long time. The fight against Cano points to it being no mere boast of an ageing, struggling fighter trying to wring one last great fight out of his body.
Many point to Mosley having a size disadvantage, yet not many have pointed out that he actually has the reach advantage, which is often the more important measure when looking at two fights.
The key for Mosley will be ensuring that he is always coming forward throughout the forward. Mundine has demonstrated in the past that he has trouble with pressure fighters, and should Mosley continue to put him under the pump, the opportunity to use his famed power and ask big questions of Mundine’s chin will present itself.
If Mosley lands a few big shots, the fight will end shortly after.
Sugar Shane is not finished, nor is he washed up. He is fighting fit, hungry to get back to the top and ready to rumble.
For his part, Mundine is coming off an extremely disappointing loss to Daniel Geale. Mundine still thinks the fight was closer than it actually was, but he is correct that he wasn’t busy enough throughout that fight. Against a guy like Mosley, that has to change.
The key for Mundine has to be all systems go from the start of the fight. He must impose his strategy from the outset of the fight, sticking and moving, establishing the jab and making full use of his defensive skills, undoubtedly his biggest strength as a fighter.
Mundine has it all the prove. His decision to take a top fighter with something to prove is an admirable one, but I can’t help but wonder if this is too little too late.
Mundine should have taken this route 10 years ago, when his speed and athleticism could have troubled the top fighters of the day. Unfortunately we will never know how good Mundine could have been.
The prediction
Mundine is going to come out of the gates looking to get behind his jab and circling Mosley from the outside.
In turn, Mosley will be looking to pressure Mundine from the inside. I think Mundine may land a shot or two early on, but Mosley has an outstanding chin and will withstand Mundine, who isn’t noted for outstanding power.
During the middle rounds, Mosley’s pressure will pay dividends. He is going to land a right hook, rattle Mundine, and Sugar Shane Mosley knows how to finish off a fight.
Tip: Mosley by KO in the 6th
paul
Guest
What is wrong with fight fans?without Mundine boxing would be dead in Australia,most aussie males are way to comfy and lacking the desire to enjoy a truly physical combat sport,much easier to belittle a legend like Mundine from behind your computers.
FlameThrower
Guest
Well, now this so called fight is over and it has turned out to be just another CON on the Australian Sport Fan by the Australian Boxing Fraternity. Mundine wanted to break into the American market so that he could achieve big money bouts before he got too old. What Mundine forgot was the fact that he is already too old and the sooner he disappears from our screens the better. Then and only then will his father be able to hold his head up based on his own achievement's.