Revitalized Mosley ready for bigger fights
LAS VEGAS – The left hook epitomized everything that’s thrilling about Sugar Shane Mosley – speed, creativity and a dazzling flair for the dramatic.
That near-perfect punch dropped Fernando Vargas to the canvas in the sixth round of their rematch on Saturday night, and their 154-pound fight was over moments later.
The hook was a stinging reminder to anybody who had forgotten why the 34-year-old Mosley became a popular four-time champion idolized by fans, lionized by rappers and imitated by legions of young boxers.
For the second time in five months, Mosley had battered one of the world’s top 154-pound fighters – and kicked open every door that closed to him after back-to-back losses to Winky Wright in 2004.
Sugar Shane has his swagger back, but when will he use it? Not even Mosley knows for sure.
“I really have my eye set on taking the rest of the year off,” Mosley said. “I fought two good fights this year, and I need a break. I have a lot of money. It’s not like (promoters) Oscar (De La Hoya) and Bernard (Hopkins) and I are thirsting after extra money. We just want the best fights possible.”
There are plenty of fine possibilities, however. Mosley (43-4, 37 KOs) probably could meet Floyd Mayweather Jr. in November in arguably the biggest fight of his career, or several other welterweights would line up for a shot when Mosley moves back down to 147 pounds, as he plans. Cory Spinks also would love to fight him for the IBF 154-pound title: Don King, Spinks’ promoter, called De La Hoya’s cell phone while Mosley was still celebrating in the ring.
But Mosley sounds determined to relax and recharge after back-to-back brawls with Vargas, saying he won’t even start training again until November. After his latest performance, it’s hard to begrudge a little rest.
“You know (WBO welterweight champ) Antonio Margarito is out there waiting to fight Floyd,” Mosley said. “Those guys should fight each other (in November), and we can fight next year. The only thing I know is my tooth is a little loose, and I might have to go to the dentist.”
Mosley won each of the first five rounds on the scorecards of all three judges and The Associated Press, patiently landing punches while Vargas fought from an exaggerated crouch.
Mayweather attended the fight, still looking for his next opponent after his demolition of Zab Judah earlier in the year. Though Pretty Boy would welcome a fight with Mosley, he holds out hope De La Hoya will postpone retirement long enough for the matchup he covets.
“Oscar isn’t going to retire,” Mayweather said. “How is he going to retire when he never fought the best? He’s fought a lot of good guys, but I’m the truth.”