Shane Mosley

Biography

Shane Mosley (born September 7, 1971) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2016. He held multiple world championships in three weight classes, including the IBF lightweight title, the WBA (Super) and WBC welterweight titles, and the WBA (Super), WBC, and The Ring magazine light middleweight titles. He was also a lineal champion at welterweight (twice) and light middleweight.

Mosley had an outstanding amateur career, compiling a record of 250-16 and winning various titles, including the 1989 and 1990 United States Amateur Championships at lightweight and the 1992 United States Amateur Championship at light welterweight.

Turning professional in 1993, Mosley embarked on a journey of resilience and determination. He won his first world title, the IBF lightweight championship, in 1997 against Philip Holiday. Despite the challenges, he defended the title eight times before moving up to welterweight in 1999.

In 2000, Mosley achieved a significant milestone in his career by defeating Oscar De La Hoya to win the WBC welterweight title. His triumph was not a one-time event, as he would later win the unified WBC, WBA (Super), and The Ring light middleweight titles against De La Hoya in a 2003 rematch.

Throughout his career, Mosley faced many notable opponents, including Vernon Forrest, Winky Wright, Fernando Vargas, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao, Saul "Canelo" Álvarez, and Anthony Mundine.

Mosley was named Fighter of the Year by the BWAA in 1998 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2000 and 2001, The Ring also ranked him as the world's best active boxer, pound for pound.

In 2003, Mosley admitted to unknowingly using performance-enhancing drugs provided by BALCO before his rematch with De La Hoya.

Mosley announced his retirement in 2017 after a professional career spanning 24 years. He retired with a record of 49 wins (41 by knockout), ten losses, one draw, and one no-contest.