I first saw Sugar Shane Mosley fight on USA Tuesday Night Fights. I followed his career all the way, I cheered him when he beat Philip Holiday and won his first title, I was ecstatic when he beat De La Hoya for the first time, and I was crushed when Vernon Forrest not just beat him, but beat him up. When Shane lost to Cotto and then looked so far below his form against Mayorga, I believed he was done. The ride was over. Shane had pulled off one last great moment, I thought, but he had lost the magic somewhere along the way. He'd fallen too in love with brawling, he'd underused his skills, he'd taken steroids, he simply wasn't the fighter I'd followed anymore. It was time for him to call it a career, move on to the hall of fame and try to curb his love affair with fighting before he became a shell of himself still trying to insist he was a great fighter ala Roy Jones. I was wrong. Shane, what you pulled off tonight was historic and incredible. I couldn't believe my eyes as you outclassed, outtoughed, and outboxed one of the toughest guys in the sport. Tonight was historic. Shane beat Father Time, he beat the odds, he cracked Margarito's seemingly unbreakable chin, and performed at a level that this long time fan didn't think was possible. Hell, I was afraid Shane would end the night looking like Cotto. Thanks for proving me wrong Shane. That was incredible, and even if you do one night come tumbling off a cliff like Jones did, my heart will always be rooting you on. Kick ass man! :bbb
