Story by Anthony Springer
Photos by Mary Ann Owen / BoxinginLasVegas.com
While the eyes of boxing’s casual fans will undoubtedly be on Mayweather and Cotto come fight night, boxing aficionados will be paying great attention to the evening’s co-main event.
The matchup between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and “Sugar” Shane Mosley is a tale of two fighters at the opposite ends of their careers.
For Mosley, he looks to recapture the magic of his glory days. For Alvarez, he looks to make his fourth successful WBC title defense and break into the upper echelon of the sport.
“Don’t be surprised if this fight steals the show,” Oscar De La Hoya stated with confidence at yesterday’s pre-fight press conference.
Alvarez vs. Mosley is the quintessential age vs. experience bout. Though Mosley has boasted of being faster than he was in previous outings, Mosley’s trainer, Nazim Richardson chose to highlight “Sugar’s” growing boxing knowledge.
“There’s no such thing as turning the clock back,” said Richardson. “What you can do is reinvent yourself.”
He continued, “None of us can be as young as we were, it’s foolish of us to think we can. Every time you enter the ring you either take punishment or experience. Those who take more experience than punishment, they learn and they grow.”
Mosley may not have taken much punishment over the course of his career in the ring, but several out of ring mishaps have left him the worse for wear. Prior to his bout with Manny Pacquiao fight, Mosley suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon—the result of a basketball game. Another injury hampered him in the run up to his bout with Floyd Mayweather.
Predictably—or perhaps, truthfully—Mosley says the injuries are behind him. But what fighter would admit to being hurt or less than 100 percent prior to what could be another career-defining bout?
“I’m ready to rock and roll,” Mosley said, Thursday. “I thank ‘Canelo’ for the opportunity to be able to fight for a title. He didn’t really have to accept the fight, he could’ve fought somebody else and maybe had an easier time but he wanted to test himself to see how he does against the elite fighters.”
If you closed your eyes, you’d think the roles were reversed. The 40-year-old Mosley, courtesy of his trademark smile looked like he was simply happy to be back on the big stage. The 21-year-old Alvarez on the other hand, sounded like he’s been fighting his entire life. There was anything other than the “I’m very happy to be here” vibe when he took the podium. Alvarez is good. And he knows it.
He’s out to show the rest of the world Saturday night.
“I’ve prepped very well for this fight,” said the champion. “Mosley’s a great champ and has accomplished so much. I’ve trained hard, I’m ready and I feel like I’m going to win this fight.
“It’s going to be a victory for Mexico.”
