Yesterday, I predicted ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley would knock out Anthony ‘The Man’ Mundine in the sixth round. Well, I guess I can say I got the round right, but I picked the wrong fighter.
Anthony Mundine has his career potentially back on track with a TKO victory over Sugar Shane Mosley after Mosley couldn’t come out for the seventh round due to back spasms.
Mundine fought one of his better fights throughout his career tonight. He started out aggressive and kept going after Mosley. It paid handsome dividends in the fourth when he stung Mosley with a big right.
From that point on, Mundine went in for the kill, throwing combinations and looking for what would have been a famous KO.
He might have had it too, but Mosley began to complain of a tight back after the fifth round, and after giving it more one shot, couldn’t continue.
Let’s be clear about one thing. If Shane Mosley couldn’t fight on, he must have been in some serious pain. This isn’t some useless bum out for a payday. Mosley is a five-time, three weight division World Champion, who has been in the ring with some of the greatest fighters of all time. Sugar Shane is also a member of that club himself.
Mosley had designs to get back in the ring with Pacquiao and Mayweather, and a win over Mundine was supposed to be a stepping stone.
To not come back out, knowing his record of never being knocked out would be over, Mosley must have been in agony. The fact some booed him at the end of the fight was absolutely disgraceful.
Mosley is the biggest name to ever fight on these shores. He deserved the respect and benefit of the doubt from the fighting public.
However, Mosley has nowhere to go from here. This man has done it all and has nothing left to prove. It’s time for him to hang up the gloves and take the plaudits that his Hall of Fame career deserves with the grace and humility he always has.
Sugar Shane Mosley is one of the greatest and one of my top two favourite fighters ever (the other being Roy Jones Jr in his prime).
So thank you Sugar Shane for thrilling me as a fight fan and making me fall in love with Boxing. You are everything that is good in an athlete and you deserve everything that will come your way in retirement.
As for Mundine, it was an impressive performance. It is quite clear from this display that he has retained plenty of his power during his drop down the divisions, and that power can hurt these smaller guys. He also looked very sharp, controlled the ring well and most importantly, he looked hungry and aggressive.
So where to from here? Mundine would do much worse than to take the advice of his defeated adversary last night and go and fight an up-and comer in the States. Mosley knows what it takes, and Mundine should heed what he said.
The days of Anthony Mundine fighting guys who are over 40 years old must be over. Nobody in the States will give a damn if he beats another has-been. They have taken noticed that he stopped Mosley, because nobody else, including Mayweather, Wright, De La Hoya and Pacquiao, had ever done so. He needs to follow that up.
My advice is that Anthony Mundine should fight either Carlos Molina or undefeated WBO Light Middleweight World Champion Demetrius Andrade next.
Both guys are known in the States, and a victory over either would certainly make people in the States take notice. It would open the door to a fight with Cotto, Alvarez or Austin Trout. Beat one those? He may get his fight with Pretty Boy Floyd.
Mundine has made his goals clear. To achieve these goals at his age requires he take very risky fights. He can’t afford to take the safe option this time, but his win against Mosley suggests there may be life in Anthony Mundine’s career yet. Let’s hope he can get us genuinely excited this time.
Rick
Guest
“They have taken notice that he stopped Mosley, because nobody else, including Mayweather, Wright, De La Hoya and Pacquiao, had ever done so” What is this author talking about?? Mayweather, Pacquiao and Wright all stopped Mosley in his tracks.
LH
Guest
Wow. If any of you think that Mundine punching this stationary target is evidence of anything other than how truly shot Mosley is you've won a million dollars just pass me your bank account details and a small processing fee of $5000.
LH
Guest
Well done Steve! You caught two!
Chivasdude
Guest
It is way too late for Mundine to kick on from here. Fighting Mayweather? That is a ridiculous notion. Mundine is 38 and he has squandered his talent by not taking on better fighters while he was at his peak. Sure he beat Sugar Shane. But this was beating an old man well past his best who has no business being in the ring. How Mundine can brag about this win shows how delusional he is. He was all over Shane but was still rocked by a couple of overhand rights. A better, fitter fighter would drop him. Period. And to have Blake Ferguson in a 4 round bout (it was his first fight) as the preliminary fight? What a joke of an event. The night demeaned the sport of boxing. Say what you like about boxing, but at its best it is a great sport. When are we going to see well matched boxers fighting in their prime? We just don't seem to see the sport at its best much.
Don
Roar Rookie
I am late on this thread but for my money the fight still looked suss. Watch it again. In the first round Mosley landed a punch to Mundine and put AM on the ropes. Mosley had his right cocked for a follow up punch and just didn't throw it. He stopped punching and let Mundine back off the ropes. It just didn't look right...
Don
Roar Rookie
He is 38 and will likely be 39 by his next fight. That is not young enough to go to the States and build a reputation. No, time has passed him I think. Focusing too much on the easy coin in Australia against some palookas interspersed with a few real bouts has meant his chances of any world class recognition has passed. Anthony has acheived what he wanted - a success in Australian boxing and a small fortune earned.
Marty
Guest
Wow, Some good comments here. It was a shame that Mosely wasn't in peak condition. Back spasms are a sign of ill preparation and conditioning and of course AGE. There is always danger when your in the ring with a good fighter and both of these guys are/were good fighters/boxers. I wouldn't speculate who would have won had they both been in their prime that's something for a later argument over beer and nuts. But I do believe that Mundine has left his run too late. I think he's too old to take on the up and comers now and cop unnecessary punishment. I think his only chance would be a shot at those 'A' listers like Pacman, and Co. and go all out in a battle of heart. There is a good fight left in Mundine and like that old saying goes, "Beware of the old tiger who knows his time has come."
Steve
Guest
Well, Mundine is still young, so he's got bags of time to actually make a name for himself, go to the States and gradually build a reputation.
Jazz
Guest
Credit where credit is due. Mundine fought a great fight, sharp as all hell and strong. He would have troubled any junior middle in that form. And mosleys no slouch. Dont forget, sugar shane was the bookies tip.
PK
Guest
Yep, that's simple enough...go to the states and "smash Mayweather and Pacquiao". Do you really think Mundine is world class because he beat this version of Mosley? I would like to see Mundine come to the states and fight a top 10 opponent. I think a knockout against Shane warrants this, but he needs some more hair on his balls before he's ready for prime time.
The Grafter
Guest
Mmmmmmm, the biggest name?? You lost me there. Heres a couple of names off the top of my head without research. Peter Jackson (buried in Brisbane). Jack Johnson (world heavyweight champ) Bob Fitzsimmons ( first man to hold the middle, light heavy and heavyweight titles that stood until Jones Jr beat Ruiz for a spaghetti title) That takes us up to the 1920's of fighters that have fought in Australia that have superior records to Mosley. Ive had too many beers at present, but will continue Friday.
Steve
Guest
"They have taken notice that he stopped Mosley, because nobody else, including Mayweather, Wright, De La Hoya and Pacquiao" Exactly: proof, if it were needed that THE MAN is a better fighter than all of the above names put together. I mean, all the American commentary I've seen is treating it as the humiliation of a washed up ex-doper with financial issues who should have retired years and years ago, and talking about how sad it is he lost to a no-name nobody in a mid-week match in a boxing backwater. But all Choc needs to do to silence them is go to the states and smash Mayweather and maybe Pacquaio while he's at it.
Hughster
Guest
I admire anyone who is familiar enough with the sport nowadays to really judge quality and opportunity in boxing. Was reminiscing with a mate today about the good old days when you had 2 then 3 associations and in particular the great contests between Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and Duran. Without meaning any disrespect to Mundine or Moseley its just very hard to connect with the contest and ignore the circus. Both are great boxers - the question is trying to judge exactly how great. Agree though that booing is not cool on any front.
Pablo
Guest
"The fact some booed him at the end of the fight was absolutely disgraceful." I wouldn't be so harsh. Its a bit like the boy that cried wolf when it comes to Mundine and fights. Maybe it was wrong to boo Mosley but boxing in general and Mundine in particular has a lot to prove before fans can take it at face value. The sport is just reaping what it's sown.
paul
Guest
At last a real article about the fight. Thank you,