I have Mosley's career set and have since all his fights since he first won a lightweight title against Phillip Holiday. Mosley has never really relied on his jab, yet in his last few fights he flickers it out there all the time. I wonder if its because he never really relied on it in his youth because he was so fast and now because he has too he uses it just as a measuring tool. Whats so strange is that he won't throw the right, even when Canelo was covering up. He should do what he did in his second fight against Vargas (and Mayweather did in the main event) and throw a left in Alvarez's face and loop a overhand right behind it. Even if it didn't land clean it would look better than what he was doing. I give him a lot of credit for standing and staying with a obviously hard puncher, at a weightclass he is undersized for. He showed a huge heart but terrible defense and gameplan. I think he was hoping on catching Alvarez and holding him, only he often missed and Alvarez was too strong for that. Another flaw was when he stepped inside and didn't tie Alvarez up, yet Mosley clearly has no inside game at all. Such a sad fight to watch, in his prime Mosley would have smashed Alvarez. Still I hope he leaves the sport after such a brave performance. He doesen't have it anymore at all and to be honest there are a number of 147-154 opponents who could beat him now and he should leave now. Thanks for the great memories Sugar Shane.
Mosley was able to use his jab strategically in his youth. Most of his WW knockouts were either right hands countering an opponent's jab, or set up by his own. He stuck DLH with the jab consistently in their first fight as well, which was unexpected. It has been sad watching Shane deteriorate in terms of athletic ability, but this was his final test, and I think he's finally getting the message. In his prime he was a beast, an impressive physical specimen with underrated skills and craft. I hope to remember sugar Shane in that light.
I personally don't think his skills are overated. People constantly claim he is the greatest lightweight since Duran, yet despite the impressive winning streak at lightweight his only really impressive win was beating Holiday, and he wasen't that great in that fight.
It was frustrating being able to spot moments where a prime Mosley would probably have landed something big, only for this version of Mosley to just let it slip by. At one point Alvarez was open for a left-hook that a Shane of 10 years ago would have ended the fight with.
I dont think anyone would disagree that even a 35 or 36 year old Mosley would have handed Canelo his ass the other night.
He's beat him but not sure to what extent. I've never rated Mosley at 154 too highly, his strength at 147 is much more noticable.
The overhand right followed by the left hook to the body wasn't thrown once in the Alvarez fight, that was like his special move in his heyday.
shane's style used to be extremely fun to watch, the way he would overpower guys with head on athleticism and punching power, but his lack of fundamentals were bound to betray him as he aged, and we see it today. the man is completely devoid of reflexes. I think his new flickering jab is a nazim richardson development.
Good way to put it. I just don't see the purpose of the flicker jab. I understand (I've sparred before) how its off-putting and a cause for concern when flickering punches are thrown at you, but if there's no threat behind it then whats the point?
I think you answered your own question to an extent, the fact that it's off putting, and I think the flickering jab affects one fighter more than the next fighter, depending on their level of skill. margarito was affected by the flickering jab tremendously, whereas it had no affect on mayweather, pacquiao, and especially alvarez, who also had that tremendous natural weight advantage. in short, shane has no more tricks up his sleeve and it would be a shame for him to be relegated to gatekeeper status. saturday's fight was his last chance at the big time. hang'em up, shane.
Shane's been such a credit to the sport. It's been sad watching his athletic ability and skills erode so much over the last couple years. Hate to say it, but I think he'll stick around for a bit longer. He'll probably bow out with 10+ losses.
