Shane Mosley vs Ricardo Mayorga 2

Shane Mosley returned from nearly two years of retirement to knock out Ricardo Mayorga with a left hook to the body at 2 minutes 59 seconds of the sixth round at the Forum in Inglewood, California, on August 29, 2015. The non-title contest, scheduled for 12 rounds, brought together two former champions whose best years had passed but whose names still retained sufficient value to attract an enthusiastic crowd and a pay-per-view audience. Mosley was 43 and Mayorga 41. Referee Raul Caiz Jr. completed the count while the Nicaraguan remained on his knees, protesting that the decisive blow had landed low.

It was their second meeting, seven years after Mosley had stopped Mayorga at 2:59 of the twelfth round at the Home Depot Center. The rematch was promoted by Mosley’s GoBox Promotions and was nearly prevented by legal action from Don King, who maintained that Mayorga remained under contract to him. A judge rejected King’s attempt to obtain an injunction only days before the contest. Mosley, returning after his stoppage defeat by Anthony Mundine in November 2013, was guaranteed $500,000. Mayorga received $250,000.

The disparity in preparation was evident at the weigh-in. Mosley came in at 159¾ pounds and appeared trim. Mayorga weighed 165½, almost six pounds heavier, and carried the softer condition. Whatever competitive value remained in the match rested upon Mayorga’s strength, awkwardness and capacity for making an orderly contest untidy. Mosley retained the quicker hands, straighter punches and better understanding of distance.

Mosley established his advantage during the opening round. A hard right hand inside the first two minutes caught Mayorga’s attention and drew the first substantial response from the crowd. Mayorga pressed forward in his familiar square stance, relying upon irregular movement and wide punches, but Mosley could see the attacks coming and beat him to the target. The American was no longer the swift combination puncher who had defeated Oscar De La Hoya, nor did he possess the sustained pace of his lightweight years, but against this opponent the remaining difference in speed was sufficient.

The pattern continued through the next three rounds. Mosley worked behind the jab, stepped within range to release the right hand and moved before Mayorga could organise a reply. Mayorga attempted to provoke him by shouting, dropping his hands and making gestures, behaviour which had long formed part of his method. Mosley declined the invitation to abandon his boxing and continued landing the cleaner punches. Mayorga occasionally absorbed a right hand with his gloves low and beckoned for another, but the performance contained more defiance than effective offence.

By the fifth round, Mosley’s pace had diminished. His periods of work became shorter, and Mayorga found more time to advance without being intercepted. The Nicaraguan remained crude but physically strong, and his greater weight made the exchanges uncomfortable whenever he got close. Mosley was still controlling the contest, though his legs were less active and the age of both men had become more apparent than it had been during the opening rounds.

Mayorga enjoyed his best passage in the sixth. He landed a combination which caused Mosley to stumble and, for a brief period, suggested that the older contest might be changing direction. Mosley recovered quickly and resumed punching with greater accuracy. As the final seconds approached, he stepped close and drove a short left hook into Mayorga’s right side, beneath the elbow. Mayorga dropped to both knees and immediately appealed to Caiz, pointing towards his groin rather than attempting to rise.

The referee continued the count and reached ten one second before the bell. Mayorga maintained that the punch had been low, but slow-motion replays showed the glove landing on the belt line and into the liver area. The blow was legal, and the knockout stood. It was an unusual repetition of the first fight, with Mosley again stopping Mayorga at precisely 2:59, although this time six rounds rather than twelve had been required.

Mosley improved his record to 48 wins, nine defeats and one draw, with 40 victories inside the distance. Mayorga fell to 31-9-1. The result established little beyond Mosley’s continuing superiority over a familiar opponent. He had shown commendable conditioning and enough speed to control a diminished Mayorga, but the slowing witnessed before the finish offered a more reliable measure of his position than the knockout itself. Mayorga brought his customary noise and resistance, yet too little disciplined boxing. The contest was entertaining in passages, though it remained principally a meeting between two celebrated fighters attempting to extend careers which had already provided their best years.

I found this more sad than satisfying. Mosley and Mayorga had been terrific fighters, but by 2015 both were trading on names earned years earlier. Mayorga arrived nearly six pounds heavier and looked poorly prepared, while Mosley had at least done the roadwork.

The difference in class remained obvious. Even at 43, Mosley had quicker hands, straighter punches, and better balance. Mayorga offered his usual shouting, gestures, and hands-down bravado, but very little else. Mosley slowed badly in the fifth and was briefly caught in the sixth, which showed how far he had declined.

The finishing left hook was legal. Mayorga claimed it was low, but the replay showed a clean liver shot. He stayed down and accepted the count at 2:59, remarkably the same official time as their first fight’s knockout. Mosley deserved the victory, but beating this version of Mayorga proved nothing about his remaining place in serious boxing.