By Carlos Young de San Felipe
On Saturday night May 1st at the MGM casino in Las Vegas was staged the highly anticipated Mega boxing challenge between Sugar Shane Mosley and Floyd “Money” Mayweather. The tension and emotion filled the arena and the nerves of fans, whom appeared to be a little pro Mosley noted by the vocal responses of the fans when the likeness of the combatants were displayed from the dressing rooms and entering the ring.
Tonight, Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. was to be tested by a bigger stronger fighter with equal quickness to answer the question of character, fighting character that seemed not to be a part of Floyd Mayweather’s makeup. Even Shane’s trainer Naazim Richardson hinted during an episode of HBO 24/7 that he doubted that Floyd was ever in any fist fights even as a kid, due to the legacies already put in place by his fighting father and uncles. Announcers, reporters and Non-Mayweather fans all but called him a coward for almost ten years now.
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Shane Mosley predicted the knockout and emphasized that speed and power would be the difference in this fight. His confidence was high and all were sure in his camp as well as his fans and that once Mosley landed a power right hand or a power hook that Floyd would fall apart and Shane would then begin to have his way with him in route to a knock out or easy win. And then the moment came, Shane landed a very powerful right hand square on Mayweather’s chin, and no doubt it hurt him, and then it came again only seconds later Mosley lands another full force very powerful right hook square on the side of Money Mayweather’s temple and his left leg buckled, no doubt he was hurt and it was only in the first part of the second round plenty of time for the knock out.
Out of character, Floyd Mayweather is standing toe to toe with Shane Mosley’s power and it appears that he’d just been schooled on why you have to move side to side when you’re up against Sugar Shane’s speed and punching power just as Shane explained the difference in the fight would be. The moment instantly reminded me of the face-off meeting the two fighters had and Money Mayweather told Shane that he was going to have to show him what he’s got to get some respect, and Shane said “I will”, and he did. Those two powerful right hands represented Shane’s opportunity for victory. If it were not for the tremendous physical conditioning Mayweather was in the fight would have ended in the second round no doubt. Although Mayweather was badly hurt he still had the where with all to hold long enough to clear his mind and before the second round ended he was fighting back toe to toe. It seemed like such a mistake he had just gotten badly shaken buy Sugar Shane and there’s 10 more rounds to go.
Well, if you saw the fight you know now that Shane’s moment only served to wake Money Mayweather up and with the additional minute afforded Floyd in between rounds he came out cleared headed, willing and began a toe to toe shut Shane Mosley’s offense down. The Master of the Sweet Science, Floyd Money Mayweather, started to answer the questions on the character test one at a time, elaborating with his answers and giving in depth detailed answers to the questions. It seemed in the end that the questions were worth 10 points apiece and Money had just run off ten straight round victories for a 100 point test score.
Who would have guessed that Floyd had the ability to fight toe to toe and retain the ability to shut down his opponents offense? Shane stood face to face with him and could not score anymore hard punches or soft punches. Everyone thought that is was Floyd’s running around that made his defense so good and if he stood there he would be risking injury and therefore running was necessary for his style. NOT!
We all learned that he is as good standing still defensively as he is moving around bobbing and weaving.
The statement was loud and clear for all to hear and all to see, that MONEY is SWEETER than SUGAR.
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