This weekend being the boxing fan that I am . I felt it’d be worthwhile watching Sugar Shane Mosley take on Antonio Margarito for his WBA world welterweight crown. Now based on what I’d previously witnessed when Margarito took care of Miguel Cotto and relinquishing him of the title. I was under the impression that this time Margarito would prove himself up to the task of defending his title adequately.
Margarito dazed and confused aseat on his stool in the corner having just lost his WBA world welterweight title to Shane Mosley in a ninth round with a TKO. picture appears courtesy of afp/ Mark Ralston ……………………
Now the two combatants are well respected in their field and with Mosley considered to be a fighter who’s considered to have reached the zenith of his career. It was thought that he was merely here as a stepping stone as to further the ambitions of Margarito. Of whom it can be said after his dethroning of Cotto was seen as a hero in his homeland of Mexico. Joining such heralded heroes as Marco Antonio Barrera and Julio Cesar Chavez.
Both fighters were ready to make put on a show that’d have the fans wanting more. And they pleased the fans with a very spirited display. The bout was held at the Staples Center , home to the Los Angeles Lakers and the less fortunate Clippers. Enough said on that score ! The bout was seen as a possible setup for the winner to take on the pound for pound champion Manny Pacquiao. Who himself accounted for the complete obliteration of an over the hill Oscar De La Hoya.
Mosley conncets to the head of Margarito during the eighth round of their WBA world welterweight title bout held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles,Ca. a .picture appears courtesy of afp /Mark Ralston …………………..
From the outset Margarito had problems dealing with his older opponent and Mosley put on a classic display of boxing with skills. Punching and counterpunching effectively, Mosley had Margarito constantly backpedaling. And if that were not enough the fans in attendance were ecstatic with what they were seeing. The Pomona born and based fighter in front of his home crowd had many of the fans on his side. But we’d be remiss in stating that Margarito didn’t have his own legion of fans. As there was also a large Hispanic crowd in attendance primarily made up for Mexicans.
Mosley makes his way to a neutral corner as referee Raul Caiz Sr stops the fight in the ninth round of their WBA world welterweigh title bout. picture appears courtesy of afp/ Mark Ralston ………………
Now as the fight proceeded it was becoming clear for all to see that we were going to be in for what many might deem a stunning upset. The more Mosley dictated the pace of the bout the more problems could be foreseen ahead for Margarito. He would succumb to a ninth round TKO at the hands of the 37 year old ageless wonder. With this win Mosley cements his own legacy as one of the premiere fighters in the sport. And over the last decade one can decidedly say that his name can be placed alongside that of De La Hoya , Hopkins , Pacquiao and Barrera as some the elite fighters of the decade.
Boxing as we know comes in cycles and the great fighters are the one who have a lasting legacy on the sport. Mosley for his part has shown us all now that he ought to be really considered one of the great fighters of this era. And even if there’s been some controversy and allegations of steroid use. The fighter himself having paid the price has shown us that when asked to step up to the plate he’s done so with great aplomb.
Now it shouldn’t come to you all that I’m also a big MMA fan. And with that being said the idiocy of what we see going on within UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) only leads me to believe that CEO Dana White clearly thinks of himself as some sort of modern day PT Barnum. His brazen attempt to sell the fact that in Brock Lesnar as the world heavyweight champion is the best that the sport has to offer. In many ways it’s suggesting that the acting pedigree of Lindsay Lohan is equal to that of Meryl Streep. Whilst Lesnar beat an aging and over the hill Randy Couture to win the crown. There is the belief that the best fighter within the genre is Fedor Ermialanenko.
Fedor is not a member of the UFC stable. And any envisaged wish to see him take on Lesnar won’t be forthcoming. Especially if White has any say in the matter. He’s derided the fact that Ermialanenko fights for an opposing organization in Affliction. And being the consummate showman that he is , we know that White’ll do anything that will make UFC a viable commodity and product.
Fedor Ermialanenko walks away as referee referee John McCarthy declares the bout over between Fedor and Andrei Orlovski. The bout was over in 1:46 (minute/seconds) in a devastating show of power. picture appears courtesy of combatzone.com/ Maggie Thomas ………………..
Fedor tonight fought Andrei Orlovski in what was deemed Day of Reckoning on one of their major fight cards of the season thus far. Such was the prowess of the Russian that it took him all but 1:46 of the first round of the bout to dispatch the fighter. One can assume that were Lesnar the opponent in that bout the outcome would be the same ? Lesnar for all of his experience within the WWE and now the UFC can’t be taken seriously as a viable titlist and competitor within the genre. But such is the inflated ego of White that he may well be using the fighter merely as a promotional tool , if nothing else. Once Lesnar has outlived his usefulness in terms of publicizing the sport he may well fall by the wayside.
As to the aspirations of White it’s completely obvious that he’s out for global domination as to the supremacy of the sport under his leadership of UFC. Affliction for what’s deemed its flaws of being the new kid on the block can’t seem to get any respect. But in my mind as long as they possess the best fighter within genre. That’s all the publicity that they’ll need in order to gain the legitimacy that they require. For White I feel that he ought to be building bridges rather than choosing to deride and ignore an opponent. Who knows when he might be in need of some assistance from the likes of Affliction ?
