How to beat Sugar Shane Mosley

MANILA, Philippines - Sugar Shane Mosley was once the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, a recognition that Manny Pacquiao now enjoys. After Mosley beat Oscar de la Hoya in June 2000, The Ring Magazine bestowed on the classy California boxer-puncher the prestigious citation. Mosley was on top of the world for over a year – until he suffered his first career loss to Vernon Forrest in January 2002.

It’s been close to 10 years that Mosley was honored as the world’s best fighter. He’s now 39. Experts are wondering if he still has what it takes to be competitive at a high level in the ring. On May 7, Mosley will try to prove he’s not over the hill in a bold bid to dethrone WBO welterweight champion and the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

If somehow, Mosley is able to defy the oddsmakers who’ve installed Pacquiao a 9-1 favorite, he will have come full circle in his boxing career to regain recognition as the world’s best.

Before Mosley lost to Forrest, he had a 38-0 record, with 35 KOs. That was how unbeatable he was, drawing comparison with the legendary “Sugars” in the Sweet Science – Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard.

“It means a lot to me to be recognized as one of the pound-for-pound greats of all time,” said Mosley who has held the world lightweight, welterweight and superwelterweight titles. “This is what I wanted, for the ‘Sugar’ legacy to continue. I believe I’m up there. All the great Sugars won the welterweight title.”

Mosley’s defining moment came in the first De la Hoya fight which he won via a split 12-round decision. Mosley used his hand and foot-speed to confound the Golden Boy, countering with precision. “His quickness and slick defense took the brunt out of (De la Hoya’s) attack and allowed him to counter with accuracy,” wrote The Ring’s Nigel Collins. “He zapped De la Hoya with laser-like lefts and rights, darting in and out, shifting side to side, but never running. Even going backward, he frequently outpunched (De la Hoya).” Mosley even switch-hit to demonstrate his resiliency.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, watching the fight, commented that Mosley adjusted four or five times to keep on top of De la Hoya. That kind of flexibility may bother Pacquiao.

But Forrest proved that Mosley is far from invincible. In the second round of their fight at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Forrest dropped Mosley twice. A right uppercut staggered Mosley then Forrest landed a grazing left hook followed by a vicious right that sent Sugar to the canvas for the first time in his career. Mosley got up but Forrest unleashed a barrage of rights to deck him again. Mosley was saved by the bell. He has not been floored again in his next 15 bouts.

Mosley tried to fight back but Forrest wouldn’t let him establish control. A left hook to the side of the body nearly toppled Mosley in the 10th round. Mosley spat out his mouthpiece and referee Steve Smoger was forced to call a timeout to replace it. That bought Mosley a few precious seconds to recover from the hit. Forrest breezed to a wide win on points as the three judges scored it 115-110, 117-108 and 118-108. In a rematch six months later, Forrest repeated over Mosley.

Forrest showed that Mosley is vulnerable to a body assault. “Nobody ever went to Shane’s body before because they were intimidated by his hand-speed,” said Forrest’s trainer Ronnie Shields. Collins said Mosley lost because “he was flat-footed, instead of moving on the balls of his feet and seemed to be loading up, looking for a quick knockout, rather than going about the task of gradually breaking down his man. He seldom unleashed the body shots that have crippled so many of his past opponents. Mosley landed only 45 of the 204 jabs he threw and landed in single digits in nine of 12 rounds.”

Mosley, however, blamed a clash of heads as the reason why he went down twice in the second round. The fighters banged heads and were momentarily dazed by the collision, wrote Collins. Mosley emerged with blood trickling from a scalp cut. He said his head wasn’t cleared when Forrest stepped up his attack to score the knockdowns.

But to give credit to Mosley, he didn’t back down after nearly getting stopped. “Mosley showed heart, courage and spirit,” said TV analyst Larry Merchant. “We found out that he’s not just quick and flashy – he has inner toughness.”

On May 7, Mosley will no doubt use his 74-inch wingspan to keep Pacquiao away. He’ll go to the body like Roberto Duran, his idol, used to and set up Pacquiao for his killer right hand – the hook, straight or overhand. Pacquiao will employ movement to stay away from Mosley’s range. He’ll stick, slip out and throw again before Mosley is able to realign his defense. If Mosley shows a lack of foot-speed, he’ll be putty in Pacquiao’s hands. Forrest showed that a flat-footed Mosley is easy prey. Pacquiao will keep that in mind.