Shane Mosley vacated the scene of 135 pound fighters and moved up to the 147 pound bracket . On paper, a great move, go where the money is, after all the welterweights feature Felix Trinidad, Ike Quartey and the Golden Boy Oscar De LaHoya. Should Sugar Shane Mosley be able to work his way into this trio, he certainly would be in for big fight purses. Only one thing, fighters don't fight on paper, they fight on canvas. If Mosley is to accomplish his goal and get into the money fights his entrance into the welterweight division must be extraordinary.
Last night, Mosley made his 147 pound debut against top contender and tough Wilfredo Rivera. A bold decision by the Mosley camp, after all Mosley made the jump from lightweight to welterweight and to take on such a tough opponent would not be testing the waters. Rivera known for a solid chin and experienced as a welterweight would be far from a tune up welterweight fight. However, if you are going for the Gold, a win here would certainly raise your stock as a welterweight contender.
Mosley started the fight with a barrage of combinations and quick hand speed that would dazzle Rivera. Still, Rivera unconvinced that Mosley would be able to hut him, continued to press forward. In round 4 Mosley caught Rivera with solid and powerful uppercuts that would have easily downed any lightweight. By the 7th round Mosley starting to show signs of exhaustion. With the fight even at this point and Rivera continuing to press and come forward, Mosley's welterweight debut seemed to be in jeopardy. The eighth round belonged to Mosley as he once again rocks Rivera with power punches. The edge going to Rivera in the ninth round. The tenth and final round proved to be one round too many for Rivera as he succumbs to a couple of body shots followed with a solid right hand giving Mosley a 10th round KO win. Mosley's record remains unblemished at 33-0 with 31 knock outs. If Mosley's introduction to the welterweights was not extraordinary he certainly made a damned good run at it.
In other pugs this week: Oliver McCall's come back to boxing bout against Samson Cohen fell short of a victory when Cohen injures his shoulder due to falling out of ring. Cohen losing the first round started the second round attacking but went through the ropes after being hit in the body by McCall. After 5 minutes Cohen could not continue and the fight was ruled a no contest. Alejandro Gonzalez, former WBC featherweight champion TKOs Eduardo Barrios in eight after a two year lay off. Cesar Bazan lifts himself off the canvas in the first round to score a unanimous decision over Joseph Charles. Vladimir Klitschko manhandles Axel Schulz as the fight is stopped in the eighth round to become the European heavyweight champion.
-Blackbull-