RULED A NO DECISION – PERHAPS STILL A WIN FOR “SUGAR” SHANE
By Ron Brashear
Inside Boxing Writer/Columnist
LAS VEGAS, NV (IB – February 8. 2003) – As the crowd began to settle into
watching an intriguing match up of “Sugar” Shane Mosley (38-2, 35 KOs) against
Raul Marquez (34-2, 23 KOs) in a 12 round Jr. Middleweight fight live from the
Mandalay Bay Casino, Las Vegas, NV (HBO), the outcome was decided by something
other than a punch.
You guessed it, an accidental head butt is what prompted referee Kenny Bayless
(rightfully so) to call a halt to this bout at 2:41 of the 3rd round and the
fight was therefore ruled a NO DECISION. The head butts were merely a result of
a left-handed fighter and a right-handed fighter both attempting to come forward
with an attack. This style of fight yielded two head butts in the 3rd round. The
1st one opened a cut on the right eye of Marquez about 30 seconds into the
round, followed up by another one to the left eye which opened another cut that
led to the stoppage. Had the fight continued through 4 rounds, it would have had
to go to the scorecards. Based on my personal observation, I had Mosley winning
the fight 20-18 coming into the third round and appeared to have been winning
the third round as well.
Nevertheless, the end result is actually a win for “Sugar” Shane because it
keeps him firmly planted in the negotiation phase for a Mosley vs. De La Hoya
re-match in September 03. If you base the logic on Raul Marquez being a
Middleweight fighter and he came down to Jr. Middleweight to fight Mosley, yet
Mosley showed that he could back Marquez up and be the aggressor for most of the
fight. This may weigh favorably in keeping the Mosley vs. De La Hoya fight on
the table.
There were no knockdowns in the fight and neither fighter ever appeared to be in
any trouble. However, in regards to Mosley’s confidence, I thought it was
interesting that he came out and planted his heels on the canvas instead being
up on his toes and using lateral movement and foot speed. After all, he even
entered the ring to the tune of the Godfather of Soul, James Brown classic, “I
feel good!”
As for any additional answers to the open questions on Mosley as a Jr.
Middleweight, I guess we will have to tune in to his next bout. Maybe, just
maybe, it will be against none other than De La Hoya.
You have just gone InsideBoxing.com
Ron Brashear can be contacted at
brashear@insideboxing.com,
ron@brasheargear.com
| Home |