15 years ago yesterday (in an AU) - "Sugar" Shane Donte Mosley Sr. vs. Joshua "Grandmaster" Clottey

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by IntentionalButt, Dec 27, 2024.


Azucar or Grandmaster? (12/2009 versions)

  1. Mosley on points

    3 vote(s)
    75.0%

  2. Mosley by stoppage

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  3. Draw

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  4. Clottey on points

    1 vote(s)
    25.0%

  5. Clottey by stoppage

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

    401,539
    83,357
    Nov 30, 2006
    This was scheduled for December twenty-sixth of 2009 - a Saturday, the day after Christmas - to headline a card on HBO from Staples Center in Los Angeles. On the line would have been the lineal/super WBA championship at 147lbs, in Mosley's first defense.

    Clottey was coming off a June loss to Miguel Cotto, and Mosley off his TKO9 victory over Antonio Margarito in January. They were the #5 and #2 rated welterweights in the world per Ring Magazine as of December of 2009, and the Ghanaian was the WBA's number four ranked contender for the American's crown.

    Some network shenanigans led to not only this date getting scuppered (having already been delayed a few weeks to accommodate Paul Williams vs. Sergio Martínez I, bumping it from its original December 5th slot) but SSM rusting away on the shelf for more than 15 months between the Margarito and Mayweather bouts. As it happens, Clottey also benefited from the pivot in plans with his own career payday - although his effort in Dallas the next March versus Manny Pacquiao was a bit more ignominious than Shane's college try against PBF a short while later that May.

    How would this have gone? Let's give them each the benefit of the doubt and generously assume Clottey in the same form as when he fought Cotto (not the emasculatingly gun-shy version that showed up at Cowboys Stadium), and more or less the Mosley of the Margarito fight (so, less shot than he looked after just a few rounds with Mayweather).

    A big edge in athleticism, footwork, speed, combination punching, killer instinct and power to even a fading 38 year old Mosley campaigning two full divisions above his peak. Clottey had that iron chin, terrific jab, good workrate - at least when not fighting Pacquiao - and some passing similarities defensively to Winky (a man that gave Mosley fits on two separate occasions).

    Think it would've been good. :thumbsup:

    It also would have satisfyingly closed the loop on this:
    https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...ve-all-fought-each-other.169185/#post-4942414

     
    IntentionalButt, Dec 27, 2024
    IntentionalButt, Dec 27, 2024
    #1
    kirk, robert ungurean and Mastrangelo like this.
  2. Mastrangelo

    Mastrangelo Active Member Full Member

    1,197
    1,812
    Feb 19, 2019
    Did not hear about that one, Thank You.
    Mosley lost quite a few dates in that period - between facing Cotto and Mayweather. He was also scheduled to fight Zab Judah in 2008 and then Andre Berto in 2010. Looks like noone of those fights fell through because of Shae, either.

    As for the fight - I think Clottey would have an advantage at the time. Mosley was still tough, still smart and still dangerous - but He was nowhere near his peak, regardless of how Margarito made him look. He didn't have the output of Margarito, Pacquiao or Cotto - and I think it would be hard for him to win rounds with single power punches against someone as defensively good as Clottey.
    Wish it happend!
     
    Mastrangelo, Dec 27, 2024
    Mastrangelo, Dec 27, 2024
    #2
    kirk and IntentionalButt like this.
  3. kirk

    kirk l l l Staff Member

    71,036
    27,681
    Jul 26, 2004
    Nice post, and nice find on that thread too lol.

    This is an interesting matchup to me, because on the surface I lean towards Clottey for some reason, but does he really present the style and attributes to trouble Mosley enough to win? Im not sure. Hes nkt very active. Hes not very quick. Hes not a superb outside boxer. Hes large but not overly so.

    So in that sense Im just not sure how this plays out.

    Think it would have been a very interesting matchup.
     
    kirk, Dec 28, 2024
    kirk, Dec 28, 2024
    #3
    IntentionalButt and Mastrangelo like this.
  4. Thread Stealer

    Thread Stealer Loyal Member Full Member

    41,963
    3,442
    Jun 30, 2005
    Clottey could give Mosley issues, but I have this feeling he would blow it and drop a close decision.
     
    Thread Stealer, Dec 28, 2024
    Thread Stealer, Dec 28, 2024
    #4
  5. wutang

    wutang Active Member Full Member

    1,273
    650
    Mar 10, 2012
    I would have loved to have seen this one. It's interesting that Mosley isn't even close to my favourite fighter, but the fights you mentioned were ones that I was really looking forward to when they were announced. Stylistically, he's really fun to put into fantasy fights as well. He's athletic and strong enough to beat almost anyone, but his eagerness to slug it out, and mediocre boxing iq make him vulnerable enough to make for really entertaining fights. For example, he had such a long reach, but never really used his jab as a weapon, it was more of a flicking range finder for his right hand. I could never figure out why he chose to do that.
    I think Clottey takes this as well. I can see shane hitting a lot of elbows and mid section, but Clottey would take him apart with sharp punches and win a ud imo.
     
    wutang, Dec 28, 2024
    wutang, Dec 28, 2024
    #5