Mosley and Mora box to a draw.

 

Photo by Ray Flores

Los Angeles- In a very ugly twelve round super welterweight fight, in front of thirteen thousand five hundred ninety one  fans at the Staples Center in downtown, Los Angeles, legendary Sugar Shane Mosley and Sergio Mora fought to a draw. Judge Kermit Bayless scored the fight: 115-113 for Mora, David Denkin scored it116-112 for Mosley and Lou Moret had it 114-114 making it draw. Despite the draw fans will not be clamoring for a rematch. Despite out throwing and out landing Mora by a bit, Mosley had to settle for a draw.

In a cautious feeler out first round Mosley landed a flush left hook and rights cross to the body while Mora landed a few jabs. Nothing much happened in the second stanza which prompted the crowd to boo.  Every time shorter Mosley tried to get inside, Sergio Mora grabbed and clinched. The no action continued in the third as Latin Snake moved around trying to avoid contact and clinching in close while Shane seemed to have problems with the size and jerky movement of his adversary. Couple of big right hands allowed Shane to get closer on the in side in the fourth where he did have some success, but Mora who got hit by a head butt and started to bleed from the right eye, had his moments fighting inside. Sugar Shane continued to press the action, but the fifth frame featured more posing and fainting than fighting, which prompted fans to boo until they saw the face of Magic Johnson on the giant screen in between rounds five and six.

Mora landed a crushing right hook flush on Shane’s chin in the six that electrified the crowd for a split second, but had no effect on the legendary veteran. Mosley continued to press the action without being very effective. Latin Snake got a bit more aggressive early in the seventh thus giving some openings to his opponent. Tasting several right hands from Mosley, Mora went back on the retreat displeasing the fans once again. “These guys should get a room,” exclaimed a fan frustrated by continuous grabbing and clinching inside the ring in the eighth stanza. Mosley trapped his younger foe against the ropes and unleashed the best fire of the night in the ninth, but the Latin Snake weaseled out of the ropes and fought back landing a sharp right hand to close round number nine at which time  Mosley looked gassed. Inside brawl broke out in the tenth where Mora seemed more effective early, but then got trapped against the ropes and took some heave leather for his troubles late. Sugar Shane Mosley continued to press the action finally forcing Mora to fight against the ropes and getting the crowd excited about the action. The man with the trunks the color of Mexican flag and a sign that said Azucar( which means Sugar in Spanish) on his trunks continued to force the young boxer to fight till the final bell thus getting the crowd something to cheer about in the end.

Undercard.

Photo by Ray Flores

Tribal warrior, former junior featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon(40-2,33KO’S) annihilated hot young prospect from El Paso, Texas, Antonio Escalante((23-3,15KO’S) via a brutal third round knock out. Straight left hand followed by a vicious right hook had Escalante on the floor senseless. “I loosened up and got into a groove,” said de Leon after the fight:” I didn’t feel his punches at all. I want a world title shot again.”

Photo by Ray Flores

Vicious Victor Ortiz (28-2-1,22KO’S) out of Oxnard, California, dropped Vivian Harris (29-6-1,19KO’S) from Brooklyn, New York four times on the way to a third round TKO victory in their light welterweight scrap scheduled for ten.

Photo by Ray Flores

Young Mexican super star Saul Alvarez (34-0-126KO’S) thrilled thunderous crowd at the Staples Center knocking out hard punching Argentine Carlos Baldomir (45-13-6,14KO’S) with a brutal left hook at 2:58 of the sixth stanza.

 

Kaliesha West is a new WBO bantamweight champion.

Photo by Ray Flores

Moreno Valley’s rising female star Kaliesha “Wild Wild” West((13-1-2,4KO’S) scored an impressive seventh round knock out over South Carolina’s Angel Gladney(6-3-1,5KO’S) and thus won a vacant WBO bantamweight title at the Staples Center on Saturday night in front of mostly pro West crowd. “During the fight my father taught me to sit down on my punches more,” said elated West after the fight:” And so I did and a knock out just came.”

Photo by Ray Flores

West controlled the action in the first round with an educated jab that landed regularly; she landed a crisp left hook and hard right hand to culminate the stanza. The shorter Gladney upped the pressure in the second creating several heated exchanges in the very competitive round.

Kaliesha opened up more in the third, landing a left hook followed by the right hand that made her opponent hesitant to initiate the action. Gladney hit the canvas in the fourth and even though referee Raul Caiz Sr. called a slip, west pressed the action backing up her adversary for most of the round. Heated exchanges opened a closed round five with local fighter having a slight advantage in accuracy.

Student of the sweets science Kaliesha dominated the early part of the sixth by hitting and not getting hit, but her fighting spirit took over when the later part of the frame turned into an inside brawl.  Kaliesha’s advantage in skills started to be more obvious as rounds progressed. The fight ended abruptly in the seventh when a crisp left hook dropped Gladney on the seat of her pants. Referee Raul Caiz administered a count and found Angel not fit to continue despite her insistent protests. Kaliesha West was announced a winner by a knock out. Official time of the stoppage was 59 seconds of the seventh round.

 

Early Action at Staples Center.

In the opening bout of the evening Mexican featherweight Erick Arreola has earned his first professional victory with the majority four round decision over another Mexican veteran, Missael Nunez (4-9-2,1KO). After four tough competitive rounds, judges scored the fight in favor of Arreola: 38-38 and 40-36 twice.

Undefeated  light welterweight prospect from Henderson, Nevada, Sharif Bogere (17-0,11KO’S) who entered the ring wearing a lions costume, acted like a king of the jungle inside the squared circle destroying Mexican veteran, Julian Rodriguez( 17-20-4,11KO’S) within two rounds. Left hook to the chin dropped Rodriguez at 1:43 of the second stanza. Referee Raul Caiz Jr. ended the night without a count.

Unbeaten junior middleweight from Largo, Florida Keith Thurman (14-0,13KO) continued his winning ways with a third round destruction of Portland’s Quandray Robertson (15-10,10KO).  Thurman controlled the action throughout and when he dropped Robertson in the third, Referee Pat Russell waved off the contest a at 2:40 mark without a count.

Photo by Ray Flores

In an exciting six round light welterweight fight Ricardo Calzada(2-3,1KO) from Las Vegas, Nevada extended exciting East Los Angeles prospect Frankie “The pit Bull “Gomez(6-0,6KO’S) to three rounds. No matter what came his way Las Vegas fighter kept pressing forward and trying to land body shots turning an aggressive bull Gomez into a matador?  And just when it looked like Calzada would be able to take all the punches and keep coming forward, Gomez unloaded a crisp combination that deposited him on the canvas. Brave Calzada got up but was met with a torrent of punches that prompted commission member to jump up and tried to stop the fight, but before that happened Gomez dropped his adversary again for good. The official time of the stoppage was 1:06 of the third stanza.

 

Gamboa and Rios win thrillers in Las Vegas.

Photo by Ray Flores

In the main event of the evening televised by HBO Boxing After Dark from Palms Hotel in Las Vegas, feather weight sensation from Cuba Yuriorkis Gamboa (19-0,15KO’S) defeated a rugged Mexican champion Orlando Salido (34-11-2,22KO’S) over twelve blistering rounds by unanimous decision and thus unified IBF and WBA world titles.

All three judges scored the fight for Gamboa: 116-109,115-109,114-109.

“It was a tough fight,” conceded a unified champion:”But I am happy with my performance.”  And so were the fans at the sold out Arena at the Pearl.“It was a great fight for the fans, continued Gamboa, 28:” it was great fight in the ring against a very good opponent and as I promised I gave it a hundred and ten percent.”

Photo by Ray Flores

The speed and explosiveness of Cuban sensation was obvious from the onset; he hurt Salido with the right hand and then with the body dominating the first round. But the Mexican champion would not be discouraged easily; he put pressure on in the second stanza and kept throwing punches despite absorbing punishment from his more talented counter part. The blazing speed of Yuriorkis Gamboa ignited the fans in the crowd as he continued to assault the Mexican champion. Salido, however, was prepared to go through hell to deliver his artilery; he continued to press forward and landed some hard right hands to culminate the round.

Gamboa dominated the fourth stanza, but Salido had his own game plan; he applied pressure, went to the body trying his hardest to turn the fight into a street brawl. Salido partially succeeded in rounds five and six; he was not winning rounds, but he was putting some leather on his opponent and giving himself a chance to win. Salido landed a flush right hand in the sixth that stunned Gamboa momentarily, but Cuban champion came back strong hurting his adversary with the left hook. A real fight broke out in the seventh as champions went toe to toe early in the round. Gamboa decided to box in the middle of the round, but it ended the same way it started with a furious exchange that lasted way past the bell.

Gamboa went for the kill early in the eighth and just when it looked like he was going to overwhelm the Mexican warrior, he got dropped off balance. Gamboa got up quickly complaining that it was a slip, but referee Joe Cortez administered an eight count. Salido smelling blood went on the attack and may be for the fist time ever took the Cuban champion into deep, deep waters, landing bomb, after bomb. To his credit Gamboa survived the round and came back strong in the ninth and tenth; he buckled the knees of Salido in the tenth, but got a few body shots for his trouble.

Gamboa went for the kill in the eleventh and unleashed furious fire. A clash of heads produced a huge gash on the fore head of Mexican champion, but he fought back trying to land to the body and marching forward.  The final stanza featured dramatic conclusion with Gamboa trying to close the show and dropping Salido off balance first and then launching intense assault that had Salido holding for dear life. As the Mexican warrior slid down on the mat holding on to the ropes, Gamboa landed the shot while Salido was down and got deducted two points and no credit for knock down. He finished strong and got the deserved win and unified the belts.

Photo By Chris Farina

Brandon Rios and Anthony Peterson waged a lightweight war on Saturday night at The Palms Hotel in Las Vegas that had the fans in delirium for seven frames that seemed to go by like they were in fast forward. At the end of the seven violent rounds, televised by HBO Boxing After Dark, Anthony Peterson was disqualified for excessive low blows and Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios was announced a victor and a star. “I bring it, I always bring it! “Exclaimed elated Rios at the post fight press conference:” I will die in the ring!” He then called out WBC lightweight champion Humberto Soto.

Oxnard’s Brandon Rios had quite an entourage walking into the ring. Among his supporters were ex champions Fernando Vargas and Antonio Margarito who is scheduled to face Manny Pacquiao on November 13^th. But once inside the ring, no one could help Bam Bam except his will; it would be a man against man, a twelve round lightweight bout with two undefeated prospects.

Photo by Ray Flores

Using his speed and superior boxing skills Peterson boxed well from the onset; he used his jab and several right hands that landed flush. Rios was able to get close and work to the body.

A fight broke out early in the second as Rios got close and landed several uppercuts that snapped Peterson’s head back. From that point on they fought in the phone booth with intermittent success. In the third, just when it looked like Peterson took control of the action with several scorching right hands, Rios retaliated with uppercuts that snapped his opponents head back dramatically. From that point on it was a dynamic inside brawl that seemed to favor Rios. The violent action continued all the way through the third eerily reminiscent of another lightweight bout a few years ago between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo. Rios hurt Peterson with the left hook at the end of the round, but the east coast fighter decided to fight fire with fire and finished strong in the round that should be a candidate for the round of the year.

Peterson decided to box a little in the fourth, but could not keep determined Mexican warrior off of him. Just when Anthony decided to open up Rios dropped him with the left hook.  Unfortunately there was not enough time to follow up; the round ended. It was the war of attrition in the fifth, but Peterson went south of the border repeatedly; he got warned a few times and then deducted two points. It almost looked like illegal blows were intentional to stop the onslaught. Rounds six and seven featured the war of attrition that took the breath of most fans in the arena. Rios hurt his opponent again at the end of the seventh. Peterson threw one more low blow at the end of seventh prompting Referee Russell Mora to end the contest and disqualify Peterson for excessive low blows. All three judges had Rios winning the fight convincingly 68-62, but even though it was just, referee rubbed the fans from the dramatic conclusion that was surely coming.

 

Early Action from Palms Hotel in Las Vegas.

Benavidez Jr, Magdaleno and Lee stop their foes while Korobov settles for a decision.

Photo by Ray Flores

In a tougher than expected fight undefeated amateur stand out from Russia Matt Korobov (12-0,8KO’S) won an eight round unanimous decision over a little known middleweight from Florida, Anthony Greenidge (14-5-1,5KO’S). All three judges scored it for the twenty seven year old Russian: 79-73.

Fireworks erupted in the first minute of the very first round as southpaw Korobov and conventional fighter from Florida went toe to toe with neither guy gaining a clear advantage. Korobov was more accurate at the close, possibly winning the round.  They went back at it in the second stanza with both warriors bleeding from the nose. Korobov found his range in the third and used his superior technique to confuse and outbox his determined adversary. Russian amateur stand out took control of the fight in the fourth unloading fluid combinations almost at will as his befuddled opponent has lost a desire to engage.

Korobov did not press the issue in the fifth stanza and allowed Greenidge back into the fight, which regained his confidence and came out firing on all cylinders landing some great body shots. As the fight progressed Korobov’s advantage in skills became more obvious as he continued to control the action in the seventh mainly relying on his amateur experience. What Florida fighter lacked in skills he more than compensated with will and a strong desire to succeed. However it was not enough. Despite looking tired and beat up Korobov tried to close the show in the final stanza, but was not able to do so. Perhaps Korobov could be doing a lot better going to the body instead of headhunting almost exclusively.

Photo by Ray Flores

Former heralded amateur from Phoenix, Arizona, eighteen year old Jose Benavidez Jr. (8-0,8KO) destroyed his outgunned opponent from Los Angeles, California, Manuel Del Cid (4-3-1KO) within two rounds of their light welterweight bout scheduled for six.

Young Benavidez, trained by famed Freddie Roach, took control of the action from the onset; he hurt Del Cid with the body shot in the first and finished the job in the second.

Photo by Ray Flores

Referee Kenny Bayless stopped the action at 41 seconds of the second stanza to protect Del Cid, who was pinned in the corner by Benavidez, from absorbing any further punishment. “I could have stopped in the first,” said Benavidez after the fight:” But I didn’t want to get too wild, that is when you can get caught.”

Photo by Ray Flores

Very raw, but young and athletic light heavy weight from Chicago, Illinois, Mike Lee(2-0,1KO) needed exactly two rounds to pound his opponent from Las Vegas, Alex Rivera (2-3,2KO’S) into submission. A body shot at the conclusion of the second stanza put Rivera down. Referee Tony weeks started the count as the bell rang, but then waved off the contest. The official time of the stoppage was 2:59 of the second round.

Photo by Ray Flores

Undefeated lightweight from Las Vegas Diego Magdaleno (16-0,4KO) dominated and stopped Carlos Oliveira (25-2,19KO’S) from Brazil. Referee Kenny Bayless stopped the contest at 1:13 of the fifth stanza due to barrage of unanswered punches absorbed by Oliveira

A righty from Brazil and a local lefty Magdaleno match up produced three head clashes in the first stanza. Aside from that it was a frantic pace first round in which neither guy asserted his dominance. Another clash of heads early in the second inspired Las Vegas boxer to initiate a furious assault; he dropped Oliveria with the right hook and then continued to pummel him against the ropes prompting referee Kenny Bayless to take very close look at the action. The onslaught continued in rounds three and four as Magdaleno hurt his opponent repeatedly and kept him trapped on the ropes throughout, but it took till the fifth to convince the referee to halt the contest after Oliveria absorbed shot after shot unanswered.

 

Rios to face Peterson on Saturday night.

 

Photo by Chris Farina

 By far, the best fight of this weekend, at least the most competitive one is a twelve round duel of unbeaten lightweights, Brandon”Bam Bam” Rios (24-0-1,18KO’S) and Anthony Peterson (30-0,20KO’S). It will be an opening bout of HBO’s Boxing After Dark telecast transmitted live from Palm’s Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

 Both combatants are young, undefeated and hungry; eager to dazzle in their debut on HBO in hopes of bigger paydays and brighter future.

“This is really a blessing,” said Rios, 24:” I am taking on a great fighter. But Peterson’s hand speed and movement will not be the difference. I’ve got power to deal with that.”

Brandon just got married two weeks ago. I asked his trainer Roberto Garcia if that would not be a distraction prior to the biggest fight of his professional career.

“I don’t know what they are doing at home behind the closed doors,” said Garcia referring to the myth that fighters should not have sex prior to the fight:” But she had the most positive affect on his life; she watches what he eats and watches over him. He has turned the corner in the sport since he met her several years ago. He used to go back home to Kansas and get in trouble, but now he is completely focused on boxing.”

 Trainer and coach exude confidence; they believe that this is their time to shine and they will come out victorious on Saturday night.

Photo by Chris Farina

“Rios is a dynamic fighter,” said Anthony Peterson, 25:” I could box circles around him all night, but I won’t…” Fans will witness a dynamic brawl if Peterson, who despite being an inch shorter has a four inch reach advantage, stays true to his word and engages with Rios.

Both guys have known each other since the amateur days, but they have never faced off in the ring, because Peterson campaigned at 132 pounds division while Brandon Rios competed at 125. According to Las Vegas book makers this is truly an even fight with Anthony Peterson a slight favorite. If you subscribe to the theories of sweet science then Peterson should win, because speed kills. However Peterson claims that he is not going to run around and box, which should give an edge to his opponent. Brandon Rios plans to neutralize the speed of his adversary with power. Will he be able to do that? Stay tuned for Saturday night.

 

Gamboa is ready to battle.

Photo by Paul Hernandez

Undefeated Cuban sensation Yuriorkis Gamboa (18-0,15KO’S) arrived in Las Vegas a few days ago for his featherweight unification bout with veteran Mexican IBF champion, Orlando Salido (34-10-2,22KO’S). Twelve round bout for IBF and WBA titles will take place this Saturday, September 11^th, 2010 at Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and will be televised live on HBO boxing After Dark.

 2004 Olympic champion Gamboa had to sell his gold medal in Cuba to pay for a birthday party for his young daughter. With those days firmly behind him Gamboa seems hungry for success. “It’s a big opportunity for me and I want to give the fans a great fight, said Gamboa, 28:” It’s important to give the fans the best fight possible and this is what I intend to do on Saturday night.”

In contrast to his Cuban adversary, young veteran Salido had no amateur experience and had to learn his craft on the job. However he is no slouch; after loosing to Juan Manuel Marquez in 2004, he has won all of his fights but one since. He lost to country man Christobal Cruz on a split decision in 2008 only to avenge the loss this year and to win and IBF crown.

“He a very good fighter with a lot of professional experience,” conceded Gamboa:” but he is not really at my level. My speed and power will be too much for him.”

 WBO featherweight champion from Puerto Rico, Juan Manuel Lopez (29-0,26KO’S) will be ringside for the fight. Lopez is scheduled to face aging ring great Rafael Marquez on November 6^th in Las Vegas. Should both Gamboa and Lopez win their perspective bouts, the showdown between two best featherweights looms in the future?

 When asked about this match up the Cuban champion said: “It is a fight that is out there and when Top Rank feels that he is ready to face me he will face me. In the mean time all I have to do is beat who ever they put in front of me.”

Just in case this fight does not excite you as a boxing fan, the opening bout on HBO Boxing After Dark is a lightweight showdown between two undefeated prospects, West Coast’s Brandon” Boom Boom” Rios(24-0-1.18KO’S) and East Coast’s Anthony Peterson(30-0,20KO’S). Twelve round WBA title eliminator will undoubtedly be a war. Do not miss this one.

 

From San Quentin to Hollywood.

Wildest dreams coming to reality is the stuff Hollywood is made of. Here is the story that just might rise more than a few eye brows, a tale of Danny Trejo, a journey from depth of despair to stardom in the entertainment business.

  Growing up in the North end of San Fernando Valley, a place as close to Hollywood geographically as it is far apart ideologically, Danny Trejo followed the footsteps of many kids coming up in the barrio; he adopted the life of crime and drugs. As a teenager Danny was in and out of juvenile halls until his crimes and his addiction progressed and he graduated to a Gladiator school or a big house located in Northern California named San Quentin, a prison reserved for hardened criminals.

While serving time Trejo revived his passion for boxing and became a state prison champion in lightweight and welterweight divisions. A sixty six year old Danny Trejo comments about that part of his life: “I didn’t think I was going to make it through sixties.” Boxing and involvement in a twelve step program has helped Danny through turbulent times at San Quentin State prison.

Realizing that battling his addiction would become an on going process, Trejo became active in the program of Narcotics Anonymous upon his release from prison. Using his god given talents such as charm and charisma Danny has helped countless addicts over the years to find a new way to live.

It is his commitment and selfless desire to help another suffering addict that sprung this incredible story into real life. In 1985, a young man in the movie business , who was still battling his demons of addiction, called Trejo late one night and asked for help. Danny ended up meeting the kid on a movie set of Runaway Train. The director liked him and the rest is history. “I was inmate Number one for five years in my career,” said Trejo:”And I was the best Inmate number one they ever had.”

Trejo tells this story from the podium during meetings of Narcotics Anonymous that he still attends on regular basis. His incredible tale and a profound gift for story telling have hundreds and thousands of recovering addicts crowd the meeting halls and hang on every word he has to share.

Trejo’s simple message of hope and that anything is possible is being proven by his life story over and over again. After being a character actor for twenty five years, mostly a villain or a criminal with a hardened face and a distinctive look, Trejo gets to play a main role of a Mexican super hero in a major Hollywood movie “ Machete” with stars like Jessica Alba and Robert De Niro as his supporting cast. How did this happen?

 A few years back Trejo played Machete at pseudo commercial of a film with the same name during Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino double feature collaboration of Grind House. I went to see it with my son. When we left the theater my son turned to me and said; “They f-ed with the wrong Mexican!” that was the phrase that Machete used during a spoof trailer. The pop culture phrase was born. “I loved that guy!” raved my son. And so did many other fans who loved Machete so much that Rodriguez decided to make a movie and Danny Trejo is now a bad ass action hero movie super star. Machete is now playing at a theater near you.

 “I’m so blessed, “said Trejo, 66:” I’m still scared that somebody’s going to wake me up and say, ‘Hey, we’re still in prison. Let’s go to chow”

 

Sturm defends his title In Germany.

WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm (34-2-1,14KO’S) retained his title last night via a twelve round unanimous decision over worthy challenger from Dominican Republic, Giovanni Lorenzo (29-3,21KO). Perhaps the site, Laxness-Arena, Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, a home town for Felix, had as much to do with the final outcome of the fight, because the wide margin on the score cards, 117-111 twice and 118-111 was not indicative of the action in the ring.

 

Each round, early similar to the previous one featured the champion holding a high guard and controlling the action with the stiff razor sharp jab, pushing his challenger back. Lorenzo, who said that he learned his lesson from loosing his previous title challenge in Germany last year on a split decision to Sylvester, was not able to assert his dominance. Despite throwing fluid combinations and mixing some vicious hooks to the body, he was being backed up constantly from a jab of a champion. In spite of moving back wards for much of the fight. The challenger threw a lot of punches, but majority of them landed on the gloves of the champion.

 

Every round was competitive and close and could go either way, but may be the challenger could learn that if one wants to win a title, especially in enemy territory, he needs to press the action and look dominant. Lorenzo failed to do that.

 

Sturm showed no ring rust after being out of the ring for fourteen months due to managerial problems; he fought a good technical fight, displayed a fantastic jab, one of the best in the business, and did enough to keep his belt. What is next for a thirty one year old champion? Should he forget about his bad experience in America with Oscar De La Hoya in 2004 and try to defend his title against Kelly Pavlik or should he try to unify in Germany against newly crowned WBO champion, Dmitry Pirog?

 

Mosley is ready for Mora.

Photo by Ray Flores

Sugar Shane Mosley hosted an open media work out on Wednesday afternoon in Hollywood, California at the Justine Fortune Boxing Gym to promote his upcoming bout with Sergio “Latin Snake” Mora. A twelve round light middleweight contest is scheduled to take place on September 18^th at the premiere Los Angeles venue, Staples Center. It will be a main event of a huge Golden Boy Promotion night dubbed “200: Celebrate and dominate”. HBO Pay per View will televise live beginning at 6:00 pm Pacific time. Last time Shane fought at Staples Center was in January of last year when he dismantled Antonio Margarito in front of the largest crowd ever assembled there for any event, which were over 21,000 fans.

Photo by Ray Flores

“I have a lot of success at the Staples Center,” said Mosley surrounded by reporters:” I promise you on September 18^th, a fight will brake out. It will be a great fight for fans to watch.”

Eighteen days away, judging by the interest it created with the local media (channel 4 and ABC news vans were on hand to interview the future Hall of famer), the event that will celebrate 200 years of Mexican Independence will turn into a huge night of boxing in Los Angeles. Tickets for Mosley vs. Mora, priced at $200, $125, $75 and $20, are on sale now and available for purchase online at ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800)745-3000.  Tickets are also available at STAPLES Center box office.

The biggest question on everybody’s mind was what went wrong in a fight with Floyd. “Mayweather is a great fighter and a great champion with a lot of skills,” said Mosley who will turn thirty nine on September 7^th, 2010:” And that night in Las Vegas just wasn’t my night.”

“I am in great shape; I have been training very hard. I feel great for this fight,” continued Shane Mosley (46-6,39KO): “I think Nazim has been punishing me for my poor performance against Mayweather. He wants to make sure I am in shape for this fight, so he has been pushing me extra hard.”

Even though this fight is intriguing, some might consider it a loose-loose situation for Mosley. He is facing much bigger guy, who is younger and taller and stronger; a bad match up. Should he beat Mora, he will not get any special recognition; he is supposed to beat him. Should he loose, it will put the rest of his career in jeopardy. I asked Shane how he felt about that.

“I just want to be in the ring,” said Mosley:” He will give me a great work out and I will not be inactive for a year and a half, like it happened last time. I like to fight a lot. This was the only fight available for me at this time. He is a worthy opponent. I know it’s a tough fight and I know he has something to prove. I have to be on top of my game. He is a lot bigger than me and might not be easy for me to get to him. Yes, Sergio is a bigger guy. He has been in there with big guys and he is going to push me to the limit.”

When asked about what Sugar Shane are we going to see on September 18^th, the one that destroyed Margarito last year or the one that got dominated by Mayweather earlier this year, Pomona super star replied with the smile: “You are going to see Sugar Shane Mosley that fought Margarito. My trainer is making sure of that. This may not be a good thing for Sergio Mora, but what can I do? I am excited to be performing at Staples center again.”

The ageless warrior is not contemplating retirement any time soon; instead he is looking at this fight as a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

“I want big fights,” said Mosley:” I am looking to fight Cotto, Pacquiao, and rematch with Margarito or Mayweather. It doesn’t matter what weight. I feel comfortable at both 154 and 147.”