Anthony Mundine vs Shane Mosley: Veteran's day in Sydney

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingsaddler):

Mundine (Left) & Mosley (Right) enjoy some laughs before fight night

 

With 80 years of life experience between the two fighters it's hard to make a case for this being a fight that will have any serious implications on the Light Middleweight scene. Saul Alvarez, Austin Trout, Miguel Cotto and others will not be losing any sleep on Wednesday night after the clash that takes place in Australia for the vacant WBA International Light Middleweight title.

 

So when Shane Mosley 47-8-1(39) and Anthony Mundine 44-5(26) make their final stands, both boxers will be aware that the bout may well be a last chance saloon, a chance to revive their careers for a little longer or a chance to walk away on a high.

 

'Sugar' Shane Mosley knows the experience well enough. In his last outing he came in off the back of 3 defeats and a draw and in those defeats he didn't win more than a couple rounds in each. His opponent that night, Pablo Cesar Cano was heading off the back of a close decision defeat to then WBA Welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi, but it was Mosley who applied all his veteran knowledge to produce a fine performance, winning via a tight unanimous decision. Hanging up the gloves their and then would have been a wise choice, but the thrill of victory gave Mosley a new lease of life, a renewed urge to continue in the fight game.

Mosley turned back the clock against the feared Margarito

 

So while Mosley feels 25 again, Anthony Mundine may well be feeling his age after a unanimous decision loss at the hands of his fellow countryman and rival Daniel Geale. After a characteristically slow start from Geale he took control of the contest, leaving Mundine with a dilemma every fighter dreads facing.

 

 Prior to that defeat Mundine hadn't lost since 2010 when he was stopped in 5 rounds by Gareth Wood. Mundine then avenged that defeat 4 months later, dropping Wood twice on the way to a close points win.

 

In their primes and as far as Mosley is concerned past his prime, they have both mixed with some of the premiere fighters of their era. Mundine's only other defeats came to world champions, Sven Ottke (L KO 10), Mikkel Kessler (L UD) and Manny Siaca (L SD). He also has wins over Daniel Geale (W SD) and decent fringe contenders including, Sam Soliman (W UD, W KO 9 & W UD), Antwun Echols (W UD), Danny Green (W UD) and Nader Hamdan (W UD).

 

Mundine (right) always had Sam Soliman's number, winning all 3 fights

While Mosley has faced a whole host of fighters that will ensure 'Sugar' Shane's place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Names include Floyd Mayweather (L UD), Manny Pacquiao (L UD), Antonio Margarito (W TKO 9), Ricardo Mayorga (KO 12), Miguel Cotto (L UD), Fernando Vargas (W TKO 10 & W TKO 6), Oscar De La Hoya (W SD & W UD), the late Vernon Forrest (L UD & L UD), Jesse James Leija (W RTD 9), Winky Wright (L UD & L MD) and the list goes on.

 

Those glory days may be behind them both but for one fighter they can add one last high profile name to their record. For Mundine to do that he must box smartly, Mosley can still punish mistakes, Cano found that out. Being naturally bigger - Mundine last fought at Middleweight while Mosley is moving up from Welterweight - closing the gap and wearing Mosley down with body shots and good, intelligent work in close will be key to ensuring a chance at victory.

 

As for Mosley he has many advantages, most notably his speed and intelligence. That combined could be enough to make Mundine miss and make him pay but only if his legs are still in tune with the rest of his body. Becoming flat footed will make it too easy for Mundine to impose his size upon him.

 

So while I don't expect a fight that will last long in the memory I do envision Mosley finding enough openings to punish Mundine on the way in. Controversy aside I pick Mosley to sneak a close decision, with the hope that Californian fighter sees fit to draw a close on his magnificent career. Mosley may not be able to close out on top but he can at least finish it with a win.