In truth-is-stranger-than-fiction news, Roberto Durán is now Shane Mosley's coach

Yep. :conf

One legendary h2h beast of a lightweight who fought on for years past his prime and well above his peak weight is now the head trainer of another legendary h2h beast of a lightweight who's fighting on for years past his prime and well above his peak weight.

Apparently, while in Panama City (where he fought Patrick López in December), "Azucar" befriended "Manos de Piedra" and convinced him to work his corner for his upcoming world title shot in May.

Oh yeah, did I mention that SHANE MOSLEY IS BEING GIVEN A SHOT AT SOME VERSION OF A WORLD TITLE AT WELTERWEIGHT BY THE WBA IN MAY? :blood

Now, here's the deal. The last real WBA champion at 147lbs was the "super" WBA champion, Floyd Mayweather Jr., who retired in September. The "regular" WBA champion was (and still is, heading into his twice-rescheduled defense against Shawn Porter in June) Keith Thurman, previously the "interim" WBA champion until he was promoted in January 2015. Now the "interim" WBA champion is David Avanesyan.

So either of two scenarios is going to play out here. Either they are going to have Mosley vs. Avanesyan for the "interim" WBA title, or they are going to have Mosley vs. TBA for the "super" WBA championship, meaning he will, on paper anyway, rank above the regular champ (be it Thurman or Porter, come June). :-(

 

...or, I suppose they could elevate the winner of Thurman vs. Porter to "super champ" status, have Mosley vs. TBA be for the "regular" title, and keep Avanesyan interim. (or promote Avenesyan to "regular", and have Mosley vs. TBA for the now-vacant "interim" belt :nut)

WHO FREAKING KNOWS WITH THE WBA!?!?!

 

...has Durán ever trained anybody? I just don't understand this.

 

No, this is happening, apparently. Mosley at 44 years old for a slice of the WBA pie, some version of their world title at 147lb, in June, with Durán as his chief 2nd.

Shane is spouting off about it on social media, and posted a pic of him with Durán & Gilberto Mendoza (the son of the previous WBA president of the same name, who served for 34 years - similar to how, recently, the WBC remained a family dynasty, passed down to Mauricio Sulaimán when José passed away)

 

Dude, he was slotted to face Chudinov for some MW trinket within the last couple of years!

(http://www.boxingforum24.com/showthread.php?t=514330)

Mosley's career has been a weird trip for pretty much this entire decade so far.

 

I literally can't think of a single reason this would be legitimately beneficial.

Being a fellow boxer and friend doesn't seem like a good enough reason to be someone's trainer.

It sure didn't work out for Gatti when Micky Ward cornered him against Gómez. :!:

 

Hiding out down at welter, yeah. :yep

I actually wouldn't trust current old brittle-backed Mosley not to lose to Páez, Jr. @ 154lbs.

He better hope young Gilberto can pull off some of his late father's magic and pull a rabbit from the hat. TBA will need to be a complete pushover if team Mosley/Durán is to achieve their world title ambitions.

I'm not sure Avanesyan is weak enough, in all honesty (and he's pretty much the definition of a paper champ).