Sweet Pea ~vs~ Sugar Shane at 135

I'd be interested to hear those rooting for Shane, or at least those picking him to win. I think this one's pretty clear. Shane's opposition was B level at best in his LW days, and he was a better fighter at WW, not just due to his competition level either. I'd like to have seen him vs Sweet Pea-Lite in Stevie Johnston before facing him off with the real deal.

 

I really don't remember who was around for Mosley to prove himself against, other than Johnston. I was wanting a Mosley Tszyu match-up at 140 when Shane was at lightweight.

Shane was rather strong at that weight, couple that with his handspeed, and he would be Whitaker's toughest test at this weight. Most of us have seen how well Shane went on to perform in higher weight classes. The one thing Shane has yet to do is face an all time great, pound pound class fighter, like Pernell Whitaker. And he is being asked to do it in a division Whitaker excelled in, and he himself had yet to show his stuff.

Shane's athletic ability is so good, he normally looks like he is trying to out athlete his opponent. He is such a good athlete that it almost always works. This is one of the fights where he would need more than just his athletic talents. Whitaker would win the jab battle, and that's where you would begin to see Mosley's chances for victory begin to leave. Whitaker's defense will be more difficult than any Mosley has ever seen. Whitaker's offense, while it may appear to lack power, is one of the most complete ever. Whitaker was very active, put his combinations together very well, and was a good body puncher as well.

I think Shane would be able over power Whitaker at times, in terms of punch power that is. Whitaker isn't going to just get tossed around the ring. He always appeared surprisingly strong in a clinch. He'll win maybe 4 rounds like this.

I believe Whitaker would win a 8-4, 7-5 type fight in terms of rounds. I would hesitate to say 115-113, or 116-112, because I feel there would probably be some head clashing and some holding issues that may affect the scoring.

 

Styles make fights; so I take Mosley.

Mosley had that aura about him in at the end of his 135lbs reign; he looked and indeed was unbeatable at 135.

Merchant hyped him, but after Holiday it did not look good, but Mosley improved no end in his 2 year alphabet title reign, to point that by 99 I think he would speed and power to get the better of Whitaker is a close one.

Mosley got even better in 2000 and 2001, that Mosley dare I say it fairly easily beats a 147lbs Whitaker, but that is not the question.

My take at 135: Mosley WS15 (142/141) Mosley scoring a couple of flash knockdowns early, being the difference....

 

Whitaker met similar opposition at 135lbs as Mosley; it was just boxing being more popular in the 80s meant they were more known. Pendelton was the best followed by Haugen, the rest were old men (Ramirez) men who beat old men (Nazario); Good to Excellent 126lbers (Nelson/Paez) or alphabet trash (Lomeli/Diaz)

 

Whitaker wide UD, Mosley just isn't a good enough boxer, hes straight up without headmovement, his guard isnt that tight and he punches a little wide. Great jab and moving was always foil for Mosley - see Forrest/Winky who arent on Whitakers level. Sweet Pea peppers him with jabs, moves, makes Mosley miss allot and counters, resets starts again. Mosley would have his moment and may take a few rounds but Whitaker wins this all the way

 

Pea UD: something like 8-4 in rounds.

 

You forgot Roger Mayweather, a two weight champion who probably would have made it three if Whitaker wasn't around - only known becuase boxing was more popular in the 80's

Whitaker's 135 comp is by far superior to Mosley's. It's not even a point of contention.

Someone like Anthony Jones, who isn't even in Whitaker's top ten wins at the weight would probably make a top 4 or 5 in Mosley's 135 resume.

 

Whitaker's resume at 135 is superior to Mosley's, but this has to be made clear, Whitaker never beat any great 135ers at 135, not to take anything away from him at alll, one of the greatest 135s ever, along with the top tier guys in history there. But imo, his era was similar to what Castillo fought, Casamayor, Lazcano, Johnston (well he was a good one) etc. Very good fighters at the time, but these arent history's best, probably Ike Williams fought in the best time for liteweights, Montgommery, Beau Jack and the like.

Sweet Pea always fought everyone that was around though, and did pride himslf on proving he was the best in the division.

Anyway, i'll pick Whitaker, just because he always surprised people when they thought someone may e too aggressive/fast/or whatever.

 

It's true, Whitaker didn't face any great lightweights and his really high placing as a lightweight great is quite contentious given that he never tested himself against genuinely great comp at 135, but when you compare him to Mosley, come on now, he hardly faced a GOOD lightweight, let alone a great one.

 

Thats what im saying, though i do agree with Whitaker being ranked as high as he is at 135, i believe he was an elite there. I have him number 4 at the weight ATG, behind Duran, Leonard and Gans, the latter 2 have great resumes

 

I was talking title defences; Mayweather was a learning fight that first exposed Whitaker's softish chin, that Mosley most certainly could take advantage of with his speed.

Jones was a bit of engima, it helped him no end he was connected to Kronk, but he failed his major tests....

 

Pernell UD 7-5/9-6.

 

It's a tough one, especially since Whitaker is one of my favourite boxers, and while I'm not a super-Mosley-fan I feel he's probably the most admirable boxer (in character and attitude) of his generation. One big issue here I think is that I don't think Whitaker could stand and bully Mosley in the same way that Winky did; Winky was more impressive against Mosley than anyone else in my opinion. Nor can Whitaker be compared with Vernon Forrest.

I think Mosley would just edge it, with his athletic ability and workman-like attitude getting a better show of the scoring than Whitaker's skill and artistic flair. I also think Mosley could hurt Whitaker, which would also perhaps be the big factor in close rounds. I'd say, reluctantly, that Mosley would win by a 7-5 or 6-5-1 type decision.

 

Even if you are talking title defences, Whitaker's resume is still clearly better. Holiday, Molina, Leija, Gomez, Ceballos, Ruiz, Morales, Johnson and Brown is no where near as good as Ramirez x 2, Haugen, Pendleton, Nelson, Paez, Diaz, Nazario, Lomeli and Jones.

And Jones may have failed his major tests, but he still had some major tests, which is more than can be said for all but 3 or 4 of Mosley's lightweight opponents.