“I want to fight mega-fights,” said 37-year-old three-division world champ Sugar Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) after dethroning reigning welterweight king Antonio Margarito (37-6, 27 KOs) with a barrage of right hands in the ninth round of a scheduled twelve. Mosley controlled most of the rounds with a picture perfect game plan of boxing from the outside and clinching in the inside to slow down the much bigger Margarito, who never looked to be in the fight. Mosley, the local boy from Pomona, California, was very respectful toward Margarito. “Just because he lost you shouldn’t see him any different. I tip my hat to Margarito. He stepped in the ring with a veteran such as myself. We worked very hard in Big Bear and it showed tonight.”
Sugar Shane also described his game plan.
“Margarito is a big welterweight,” Mosley explained. “Many people go for the head and forget about everything else, but I worked the body and I knew working the body will slowly break the ice. Margarito has great power, there were times he got me good, but I kept with the game plan.”
Mosley’s trainer Naazim Richardson added, “I knew Margarito was a special guy…so we planned a special game plan and it worked. Mosley is an excellent student. I am a hard teacher, you could ask Bernard Hopkins. Mosley stayed with the game plan and it paid off.” Richardson joined the Mosley camp for this fight as head trainer replacing Mosley’s father Jack Mosley.
There was some controversy about Margarito’s hand wraps prior to the fight. Apparently Richardson observed some type of illegal substance being used during the wrapping of Margarito’s hands and the California State Athletic Commission forced the “Tijuana Tornado” to re-wrap his hands several times. The Commission has reportedly seized two pads used by Margarito and is investigating.
“That didn’t bother me,” stated Mosley in regard to the hand wrap incident. “I don’t think Margarito was trying to do something illegal. I am sure it was a misunderstanding.”
Margarito was not in attendance during the post fight press conference. “He was taken to the hospital for observation and precaution,” explained Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “It can happen to anyone,” he continued, “all the great fighters lose in their careers.”
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer stated, “This is what the sport needs, great fights like this. Bob Arum and I have both agreed that we will continue to provide you with these types of fights.”
With the recent rash of startling upsets such as Bernard Hopkins-Kelly Pavlik and Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Pacquiao, Mosley-Margarito proves once again that anything can happen in boxing…and often does.
Photos by Chris Cozzone