Does Ken's pinpoint jab and movement disrupt Shane enough to take a decision, or does Shane's speed and power prove too much for Ken?
Great matchup. My initial feeling is that Mosley might just be a shade too quick for Buchanan and, given that he won straps all the way up to 154 (albeit not without a whiff of controversy), maybe a shade too big, too. Mosley never moved his head that much, but it's hard to see how Buchanan keeps him on the outside long enough or regularly enough to make his jab and better distance boxing pay off. It's not necessarily a massive problem for Buchanan if the fight goes to the inside, as he was very handy there and was a great body puncher (that's how he turned the fight against Jim Watt on its head), but so was Mosley and he's going to be out-landing Buchanan 2:1 in those inside exchanges. Mosley could conceivably stop Buchanan, whereas I don't see any chance of Buchanan stopping Mosley barring cuts. Though he lost it, that first fight against Forrest (and subsequent ones, to be fair) showed that Mosley's chin and powers of recovery were outstanding...and that was up at 147 lb. I'm a great fan of Buchanan but think Mosley might just be wrong for him. But it would be competitive and Buchanan would give him plenty to think about. Mosley by decision.
Mosely was a weight bully and big LW. Buchanan smooth skills not enough to repel Mosely power and speed and is outpointed.
I agree. Just hung out with him the other morning at IBHOF weekend. I am 5'10", 185 pounds. And, he did not seem that much smaller than me. He still looked very fit.
Agreed. Decision bout all the way. But I think the Mosley habit of keeping that head of his way up in the air instead of that chin tucked, see's him eating stiff jabs. And Ken threw a nice stiff jab and some nice combos off it while not waiting for the receipt. Crucial here. I think getting caught clean by that jab gets Shane's respect and he plays defense too much instead of playing offense enough to win the fight. Hesitates just enough. Eating stiff jabs is sometimes tougher to deal with than big power shots. In this bout, it determines the pattern early and continues for the duration.
Shane always got by on handspeed/power ..if ken sticks his jab in mosleys face and bullys him like Forrest did Shane is in for a long night
Great match up, but Buchanan is to crafty for Mosley. Ken Takes the decision and confounds Shane all night. Ken will taste the power of Shane and then will just go to work on the outside. Ken does nothing but beat expert opinions. He was constantly overlooked in his day and is very underrated.
Very good hypothetical match-up and one not usually seen. I lean towards Mosley, he was very powerful at lightweight though very flawed. As another poster wrote Mosley's head movement was pretty much non existent even at lightweight , and a fighter as sharp with the jab as Buchanan was could possibly keep him at bay and squeak out a dec. But Mosley's superior physicality should see him win a dec. Albeit a close one.
