I use to be one of those who thought the 135 pound version of Mosley was better than the welterweight version of the very late 90s and 2000s. Now that I have watched every Mosley fight I actually think the welterweight Mosley was more fluid, sharper, faster, and just a better fighter than the lightweight version who for the longest was draining himself.
I most definitely think his better performances were at welter. I think the extra weight suited him, he got stronger..I remember him in an interview boasting that he could lift a lot more once he moved up in weight. Of course we all know why that was. Lightweight Mosley gets a bit romanticized..He was a monster but his opposition there was only so-so compared to his welter campaign.
His performance against Shannon Taylor was a classic and Taylor ain't no scrub but Mosley whooped him like he was one. That fight right there is what makes me believe that he was better at welterweight rather than lightweight. Yeah lightweight Mosley does get a bit romanticized but I do believe still that he is a big time head to head fighter at that weight due to speed and strength he had there despite just fighting "B" level fighters there.
In the past Ive defended Shane's lightweight resume far more then Ive attacked it. But its get a bit silly people say he is a top 10 lightweight all time or ridiculous stuff like that. The Taylor performance was very solid...Shannan was a mental case but I will tell ya he was one of the best prospects we have produced down here in the last 20 years. Really had the makings of a titlist...he was never ever going to match it against the guys like Mosley or Hoya but Ive seen guys about on his level pick up trinkets since. To be honest though, he was never going to fullfill his potential anyway. Just wasnt mentally strong enough.
Shane definitely had a solid lightweight resume but the era of the lightweight division he was in was not that good and on top of that the other two titlists at lightweight Cesar Bezan and Stevie Johnston didn't seem in a rush to wanna fight Mosley.
he fought more at welterweight, but at lightweight he was probably better. Now he is at a disadvantage more in size as Forrest showed us, and has become a strong inside fighter with good speed, but not great speed. Mayweather should be able to use his speed and control Mosley and win an easy enough decision. Mosley is going to have to take chances and try to bully Mayweather and maybe open himself up to counters. I know people say Mayweather cannot punch, but a fast guy like Mayweather with a good counter could hurt Mosley if he is not careful. If it was so easy to bull Mayweather, more guys would do it. Mosley has to take chances and bull Mayweather around. That is his chance. Then use his faster speed than most guys Mayweather has fought to land clean body punches and punches to the head if he has Floyd hurt. But first he has to bull him around and make it into a brawl. It will not be easy at all. I pick Floyd.
135 pound Mosley no question about it. He was a more complete boxer at 135 than at 147. He was a great body puncher blinding speed and great power. It seems as he moved up he fell in love with that power boxing style he developed and hasn't been the same since. The lone question mark is his level of comp at 135 vs 147 and higher.
