Alexis Arguello vs. Shane Mosley at LW

This is a tough call for me. This is one where I think 15 or 12 makes a difference. Ultimately, I think experience plays a factor. Mosley really hadn't met anyone close to Arguello's level yet. I'll say Arguello could stop him over 15. Over 12, maybe a tossup.

 

It isn't a case of having a "hard on" for classic fighters shithead..and admittedly maybe Shane WOULD have been able to defeat Arguello, but what I'm saying is that if a lapse in Shane;s armor occured as in the 1ST Forrest bout, Arguello would have capitalized on it to a far more lethal extent..consider all possibilities and scenarios and quit acting like a general forum poster.

 

1. Mosley was knocked down after a bad headbutt, Mosley recovered and has never been hurt against Delahoya, Mayorga, Margarito, Cotto, Wright, Vargas, Forrest 2. After seeing Mosleys chin proven time and again against much bigger men, its pretty obvious he has a steller chin

2. Forrest was twice as quick as Arguello, far slicker, bigger, rangier, better footwork

 

Mosley was hurt post headbutt and still came back vs a bigger faster stronger fighter in Forrest. He has also faced De La Hoya, Vargas, Margarito, Winky Wright and Cotto, amongst others, who hit far harder than a 135lb AA.

Shane Mosley getting done in 3 rounds by a guy who showed nothing at the weight to suggest that he could stop a fighter like Mosley at any point, is a prospect I am not willing to entertain, ever, frankly for it to be posted by a guy who is not a troll is downright disrespectful.

 

Alexis was past his prime at 135 and it was not his best weight. Shane was a monster at 135 and would have cleanly decisioned Alexis at this weight. Shane was way too fast, extremely strong, had a hell of a punch and an iron chin.

 

Ok..I'll call myself on this one...Shane would have had many advantages at this weight considering the time line of the two guy's careers...but one thing is certain..Arguello NEVER lost his one punch power, even at the end of his career at welterweight..and that would have been his threat for anyone at that weight..even Shane to consider.

 

You overstate things as you typically do in favor of "certain" fighters. If this is all true then go ahead and explain why Forrest wasn't nearly as accomplished as Arguello?

Bigger?? Yeah, Mosley was bigger too when he fought Forrest. Mosley matured into his more natural weight. It could be argued that Mosley would be more vunerable to a punch at a sucked down 135.
Was Mosley's punch resistence that much better at 135 than 147/154? We'll never really know unless you consider Holiday, Molina, and Leija worldbeaters at 135. Was Forest a bigger puncher at his weight than Arguello at 135? Hell no.

 

I agree that Red Cobra went a little overboard uncharacteristically, but some of you guys are overboard in the opposite direction. You act like Mosley fought these guys who were so much bigger than him and took their punches. De La Hoya didn't punch harder than Arguello at any weight. Winky Wright??? Seriously? Mosley was fully grown into the weight and was at least as strong as these guys (not to mention possibly juiced up). Mosley was a monster at 135?? I think he was potentially a monster. But sorry, he didn't really beat anybody close to Arguello's abillity at 135.

 

1. I didnt say Mosely was a monster or even make a case that he would win. My issue was saying Shane Mosely would get stopped in 3 rounds by Arguello.

Arguello was a big puncher but not huge puncher at LW or above. He just wasnt as powerful as he was at FW or SFW. De La Hoya at LW was not some powderpuff puncher and he would not have been far away from hitting as hard as AA, at WW forget about it.

Likewise could be said about Arguello, Shane Mosely is several levels above Watt or Mancini.

Personally I think Mosley would get to Arguello late, after a cagey start. With his huge advantages in size, stength and handspeed coming into play.

 

Forrest could have been a great fighter, he just didnt get the opportunity, did you know DLH avoided a Forrest fight? If Forrest got his shot ahead of Mosley he likely dethrones Oscar. Forrest slipped up fighting the wrong fight against Mayorga, deserved the Mayorga rematch too but the judges did him no favours, after that he got a career threatening injury and was out for a few years

Did you know Forrest was also a top contender from 97 onwards and it took 5years for him to get his shot at 1 of the big boys? He was also WBC champ when he died as a 38yo and who knows may have had another big fight, Delahoya certainly preffered going after the smaller Pacquaio than Forrest, Forrest found the fight a joke asking if he could have Marquez

Mosley was bigger at 147, but his skeleton couldnt grow and Forrest was taller and he used his reach really really well. Forrest really resembled Hearns in many ways, he was raptor like, trying to compare Arguello to Forrest is laughable he just didnt have those abilities Forrest used against Mosley even if he accomplished more.

Arguello was a massive puncher, P4P better than Forrest probably but he'd land less than Forrest because he was much slower and nowhere near as slick and Mosley had that great chin

 

Forrest had no snap in his jab though.

 

Vernon Forrest probably wouldnt have been a great even if he had better opportunities.

He shouldnt have lost to Mayorga...Fought scared in the rematch and may have been a bit unlucky but far from dominated Ricardo. The injury happened and it probably was always going to happen..and certainly that hampered his career and would have hampered his ability to be a dominant champ anyway.
He shouldnt have lost to Mora...that was a very disappointing effort from Vernon and he should have been unifying or getting a bigger fight instead of having to regain his title in his next outing. He also got a gift over Quartey.

Forrest was a very good champ...I really enjoyed watching him and he was one of the more likable characters outside of the ring IMO. But he was a man with flaws and limitations just like any other and I dont see the makings of a great fighter when I see him.

 

mosley was not as impressive at lightweight, having watched pretty much every mosley fight its clear he made the most of his ability when he moved to welter. hes never been a truly mobile fighter, and despite his awe-inspiring handspeed, him being primarily an aggressive fighter and alexis being more experienced, you have to go with arguello landing the better shots throughout. mosleys granite chin and inherent toughness keep him in it to the end but arguello was still very good at 135. i'm not convinced the shane of lightweight could do as well as pryor did against an older alexis at 140

 

Mosley would stop him. Arguello was not at his best at 135. He struggled with Mancini, a boxer Mosley would probably demolish in 5 rounds.

 

I have great respect for Forrest both in and outside the ring. He was a very good fighter. I'd stop short of great. Why? I can't think of a great Welterweight (Leonard, Hearns, Gavilan, Robinson, etc.) who loses twice to a Mayorga in his prime. Forrest was a very good fighter. His death was tragic but I don't think at 38 he was going to propel himself into an all-time great category. He may have been denied a shot for awhile but he was certainly in his prime when he defeated Mosley.
Honestly, I think comparing Forrest with Hearns is more laughable than comparing Arguello to Forrest. I think Tommy would've gotten Shane outta there. Forrest has SIMILAR attributes to Tommy but he didn't have the jab that Tommy did, nor the right hand, nor the left hook to the body.
Anyway, I don't really have a problem with a suggestion that Mosley could decision Arguello. Breaking Arguello down and stopping him is a bit of a reach in my opinion. Arguello always came on late and Mosley had limited experience at 135. He'd be the one hanging on at the end if anybody was.
I just don't buy the analogy that Mosley took bigger punches from Welterweights/JM's. It's all relative to Mosely's weight at the time. This isn't a Mayweather - Marquez situation. Mosley just pummeled a huge Welterweight, so he's grown nicely into the weight (by whatever means necessary).