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[Previous entry: "Kellerman on Mosley-Wright: "This is a tremendous risk for Shane""] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Winky Wright Schools Sugar Shane and a Battered Mesi Stumbles to the Finish"] 03/14/2004 Archived Entry: "Mosley Wronged by Wright, Mesi Escapes Tiger"
Mosley Wronged by Wright, Mesi Escapes Tiger When Shane Mosley was a lightweight, he would average 60 punches a round but in his big fights against Forrest and the second De La Hoya fight, he averaged half of that. Bulked up, Mosley depended upon power but his power game was only partly successful as he lost twice to Forrest and won a close decision over De La Hoya. Most who viewed the fight on television, including your writer, felt that since De La Hoya out-punched Mosley by a two to one margin and even connected on more power shots, he was on the wrong end of a losing decision. While Mosley came on strong in the end of the fight, he looked slower and sluggish against De La Hoya than he had in their first go.
In contrast, his opponent last night, Winky Wright had been a more active fighter averaging 70-80 punches a round and his opponents barely connected on 25% of their punches in recent fights. Wright may be awkward and not the prettiest fighter in the world but he was one of the top two three junior middleweights in the world. A Mosley victory over Wright would cement Mosley's claim as the best junior middleweight and it would set up a mega money with Trinidad. And in Wright's biggest fight against Vargas, he faded down the stretch. So the big question going into last night's unification bout at the Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas was whether Wright would step it up in the the biggest moment of his life. The key for Mosley was to perform as he had in the first De La Hoya fight, throw punches in bunches, while forcing the issue early. A fast pace would tire Wright down, making him vulnerable to the late round knock out. As for Wright, he needed to control the fight with his jab and make Mosley respect his power early. For both fighters, this was everything. A Mosley loss and a $10 million plus payday was down the toilet. For Wright, this was his last chance to reach the upper echelon of the junior middleweights. Win and Wright would have a chance at some paydays against the likes of Trinidad or even De La Hoya. Lose and it is back to boxing purgatory. Wright came out prepared as he jabbed and confused Mosley. Mosley did not box or show his superior boxing skills. Just as he did in previous fights, he stood up in front of Wright and threw one power punch at a time. Wright's awkward style and right hand jab from his southpaw stance puzzled Mosley. At the end of the fourth round, Mosley looked dejected and whispered something in his dad’s ear. Jack Mosley shouted back, “Don’t’ say that!” Mosley's performance said it all. In the fifth and sixth round, Mosley appeared to have found his weapon, the overhand right. Mosley took both rounds as he connected with ripping left hooks to the body and the overhand right found their target through Wright’s defense. Mosley found his confidence and now it appeared that Mosley would take control. It looked as if Wright would wilt just as he did against Vargas four years earlier. Wright, however did not wilt as he took control of the fight. He came out in the seventh and jabbed his way back into the lead. Wright jabs followed by his straight left hand pushed Mosley back and disrupted his rhythym. For the next few rounds, Mosley would box and move but was not able to penetrate Wright’s defense. Meanwhile Wright’s offense proved to be varied as he ripped hard punches to the body as well as right left combinations to Mosley’s head. Mosley could take a punch and only once has Mosley hit the canvas in his career - a knockdown in the second round to Forrest in his first loss. Mosley was taking Wright’s best shot but taking the other opponent's best was not the way to win fights. The clean punches that marked Mosley's early career failed to appear. While Mosley was more active in this fight than in his previous fight, the fluidity that marked his early career was not present. Going in the twelfth round, Mosley and his dad knew that only a knock out could salvage victory. Meanwhile, Wright’s corner told Winky, “They score the 12th round as if it counts for six rounds.” That was trainer Dan Birmingham way of saying, “don’t count on a decision.” End the show with a knock out. Mosley came out with all guns flaming and Wright stood his ground. There would be no running as Mosley nailed Wright with several solid shots to the head and body. Mosley threw close to 90 punches but it was too little, too late. Mosley went out on his shield, but tonight Wright reached the summit of his career. On a night when his promoter, Roy Jones, Jr., was supposedly taping a rap song, Wright became a superstar. Before this fight, many boxing pundits, including yours truly, felt that this was a fight that Wright could win. His awkward style and boxing skills would prove problematic for Mosley The biggest question for many of us, was whether would Mosley regain and use all of the skills that he had. This was Mosley's fight to lose and he lost it. Wright fought a smart fight and Mosley failed to use all of his repertoire. For Mosley, he is once again at crossroad of his career just as he was after his two defeats to Forrest. Mosley is a tough fighter and he will want a rematch against Wright. Emmanuel Steward questioned whether Mosley could beat Wright in a rematch but Mosley has very few options. His only option other than Wright is De La Hoya, who if he gets past Hopkins, could grant Mosley a third opportunity to resuscitate his career. That's is a big if. If De La Hoya beat Hopkins, then he will not need Mosley. As for Wright, he has options. He could fight a rematch with Mosley or he could take on Trinidad. Mosley may be the better fight from a style point of view for Wright but Trinidad has been out of boxing for two years and that is a big money fight. For Wright, it comes down to economics. Whichever fight produces the most bucks will be the fight he will take. Both Winky Wright and Shane Mosley are two classy guys in a sport of boxing. On March 13th, 2004, Winky Wright no longer was hiding in boxing's lower region. He stood on top of the world. This was an interesting night of boxing. Wright showed that for the moment, he is the best 154-pound fighter. As for "Baby" Joe Mesi, he proved to be little more of a pretender in escaping Vassiliy Jirov in last night's co-feature. Going into last night's bout, Vassiliy Jirov has been considered a punching machine as a cruiserweight but now he was fighting 22 pounds on his frame and would be sharing the ring with the biggest opponent of his career. As my friend Frank Lotierzo stated, if Mesi came out fast, this could be a quick night for Jirov. Jirov's only chance would be to outlast the Mesi attack. A very big if. In his war with James Toney, Jirov threw an average of 86 punches per round but only 24% of them found their target. Toney, in the meantime, landed 380 punches and in the end, proved the stronger puncher. Lets face it, if Team Mesi wanted a true test, they would have put their fighter against Monte Barrett for a second time or Dominick Guinn. The reason that Jirov was chosen was because he was expected to stand in front of Mesi. Jirov was name opponent who was the perfect match for Mesi. He would almost become the perfect disaster. Before the fight, Jirov showed up 22 pounds heavier over his cruiserweight days and Mesi came in at 227 pounds, which was ten pounds lighter than his last fight with Barrett. The scene was set, but what many had predicted, did not happen. Jirov, using his southpaw style and experience, confused Mesi as he outboxed the heavier Mesi. He did not stand and trade punches. Near the end of the round, Mesi's power showed up as he finally connected with solid shots. Jirov's boxing won him the first round but the next round, Mesi solved the Jirov's puzzle by throwing punches and moving the Tiger backwards. For the next eight and half rounds, Mesi dominated with solid rights and left hooks that came behind a quick jab. Jirov, whose reputation as a volume puncher, found himself on the defensive as he did more of the receiving than the delivering. According to CompuBox, Jirov averaged just 30 punches per round and Mesi was throwing punches in bunches, averaging close to 80 punches throughout the fight. Mesi appeared in shape and he was proving to be the better-conditioned fighter. It was conventional wisdom that if the fight went into the later rounds, it would be Mesi that would tire and Jirov's bodywork and resolve would take over. Jirov, however, was not throwing body punches and it was Mesi, who threw the greater number of punches. Jirov was not standing in front of Mesi but then he was not effective when boxing from the outside. For the first eight rounds, the only Jirov solid punch was a cracking right hook at the end of the fourth round that stunned and stopped Mesi in his track. Beyond that, he became a punching bag, absorbing what Mesi dished out. For the first 2 minutes and 45 seconds of the ninth round, Mesi was continuing to press as he had in the previous seven rounds. Then a right hook sent Mesi sprawling to the canvas. Jirov's moment had finally arrived and now it became survival time for Mesi. As the tenth opened up, Jirov gathered every ounce of strength and guile that came from his long professional and amateur career for one last push. Jirov went for broke and his right hook and left cross crashed into Mesi’s face. Mesi went down twice and after the second knockdown, Mesi found himself with little more than a minute left. It was the longest minute of Mesi's career as he was out on his feet and was one more punch away from losing the fight. Mesi held on for dear life as Jirov desperately needed one more punch but he could not find it. Mesi survived, barely. Just as he did against Barrett, Mesi walked away with a close one point decision but as far as Mesi's career goes, this was as much as a loss. Mesi made the statement afterwards that there was no need for a rematch but who was he kidding? Jirov was a strong fighter but this was still a cruiserweight who Mesi was fighting. While Mesi could throw and score anytime during the fight, he never appeared on the edge of knocking Jirov out but Jirov proved the stronger fighter in the end. Conventional wisdom was almost correct as Jirov ran out of rounds. Mesi not only failed to knock out Jirov but he almost failed to make it through a fight for a second fight in a row. Emmanuel Steward observed, “Mesi defense was leaky.” Mesi proved that he was vulnerable and he may not have the chin needed to be an upper elite fighter. His last two fights were not against top five heavyweights but solid fighters who are not yet heavyweight contenders. And he barely won either fight. Team Mesi now has a decision to make. At the age of 30, Mesi has to make his move. He has quick hands and decent boxing skills but you have to question his power when it comes to better fighters of the division and his defense is suspect along with his chin. And yet, Mesi has to push the envelope now for time is slipping away. He can’t keep being protected. Mesi's era will end before it begins. If Team Mesi puts their charge against a inferior opponent, they will merely confirm the popular belief: Mesi is not championship material. Put him against a ranked opponent and he may not survive. Mesi has lot to prove and learn but very little time to learn it.
Replies: 1 Comment made on this article I agree with you 1000%. The fight with Oscar was a disgrace as most fight fans always wants the winner of a fight to get noted for it.Now forever in history people will see that Oscar lost ot him when in reality Oscar displayed a very convincing win.What I will always want to know is why did all three judges score the fight the same.
Posted by riley @ 03/14/2004 07:10 PM EST
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