Boxing: Mosley vs Collazo

[H2O Man]

SATURDAY - at Las Vegas (HBO) - 12 rounds, interim
WBC welterweights title: Luis Collazo (27-2, 13 KOs)
vs. Shane Mosley (43-4, 37 KOs); 12 rounds, light welterweights:
Vivian Harris (27-2-1, 18 KOs) vs. Juan Lazcano (37-3-1, 27 KOs).

This should be an entertaining fight card on HBO tonight. Shane Mosley has never backed down from fighting the toughest guys in the divisions he competes in. After Collazo's disputed "loss" to Ricky Hatton, it seemed likely that few contenders would be in a hurry to fight him.

But styles make fights. Can Luis Collazo create the same frustrations for Mosley, a boxer-puncher, as he did for Hatton? And can Mosley compete against a young, strong, mobile contender, as opposed to the injured old warrior he defeated in his last two big fights?

The undercard has the potential to be a more exciting bout for those who prefer toe-to-toe fights, to the sweet science.

[MessiahRp]

1. I was rooting for Lazcano

Harris has a lot of tools but his ignorance to his cornerman screams violent knockout in his future. After Lazcano got inside he dominated. Tony Weeks should be reprimanded for that late point deduction. If Lazcano had gotten inside and not taken so many jabs on the outside those last two rounds... and of course had Weeks done his job, Lazcano could have won that fight. Harris seemed content with running and throwing a jab here and there the last three rounds. It kept Lazcano off of him and created the illusion that Harris was doing more. Smart I suppose but I don't like people who fight to not lose rather than fight to win.

As for Collazo he seriously couldn't handle Mosely's handspeed. Everytime Collazo got one shot off, Mosely countered fast and then rushed back in for 2-3-4 more. Not all of them hit clean but he was too busy for Collazo to handle.

It's too bad Mayweather seems adverse to fighting Mosely now because I think he's the one guy that could match speed with Mayweather and unlike Mayweather, bring some serious power to the fight. I worry that De La Hoya will not be able to keep up with Mayweather's speed although I am really hoping for a knockout because I can't stand Floyd and would love to see someone shut him up.

Rp

[H2O Man]

3. I agree

with everything, except the point deduction. In a close football game, the refs shouldn't be knocked if they call "offsides" in the late 4th quarter. In a close basketball game, goal-rending isn't supposed to be overlooked by the refs. And in boxing, hitting a guy in the balls isn't okay, because it's a close fight. If anything, Tony Weeks let the fouls go on far too long without consequence.

[MessiahRp]

5. My problem with that is...

Weeks didn't warn Lazcano earlier about the low blows. Not to mention Harris was purposely leaning in a way where all body shots would be belt line or below. Harris had been whining about belt line shots all night and it seemed to me he was trying to lean more into them and get Lazcano penalized for it. Harris to me appeared someone who was incapable of dealing with a fighter who doesn't just lay down for him and because of that he gets emotional and loses all composure.

If Weeks had pulled Lazcano aside earlier and given a strict warning, the point deduction would have made sense.

I absolutely have issue with any ref who deducts a point without an official warning first. It's a completely unfair way to penalize a fighter.

And to use your analogy in another way, goaltending of course, is not allowed. But in the NBA and NFL late in games the refs back off and let the guys play so the players determine the outcome. Only something really egregious gets called. Had Lazcano been able to win round 12 on his own and Harris not gotten the cheap point from the deduction, Harris would have only earned a draw. That's how close it was when Weeks interjected himself for the first time about Lazcano's beltline shots (which to me all seemed top of the beltline minus one or two barely low shots of which Harris was vocal about anyway).

Rp

[H2O Man]

7. I think that saying

Harris leaned in a way that caused the foul is incorrect. If he had pulled his opponent's head down as the punches were being delivered, it has merit. But that wasn't the case. And it was pointed out that the ref had warned him. I do agree that he should have stopped the action and made it a more obvious and clear warning. It would be interesting to know what may have been said in between rounds, though I'm only speculatiing; referees do warn fighters at that time, too. All in all, the point did not change the outcome of the fight. Harris would have won the fight without it. The constant and purposeful low blows, however, did play a significant role in the course the fight took. If the referee had controlled the fight from early on, it would not have been as close as it was.

[Stephist]

2. Mosely looked great tonight.

Welter must be his weight. did Collazo's corner give him one piece of technical advice the whole fight?

I love how HBO was cheerleading for Collazo for the first 4 rounds and then did a 360 and started cheer leading for Shane after they figured Collazo couldn't win.

[H2O Man]

4. I had thought

Collazo was leading with his head on the inside, up until the cut. I had thought he might be more likely to do some damage to Shane's face -- either a cut or a swollen eye -- but he was the one who was hurt by it. I thought he went into a lower gear after that. I also think that Mosley hit harder than he anticipated. It was an outstand effort from one of the best of this era.

During the 9th round, a friend watching the fight said that the HBO crew made him long for the "good old days," when announcers were able to keep quiet for a minute at a time, to allow the viewers to enjoy the fight.

[MessiahRp]

6. I like Lampley and Steward

But Larry Merchant has to go... his pausing, slow style where he offers nothing of Boxing substance, interjects dumb current pop culture references to analogize and the fact that he's always seeing things differently then Harold Lederman, the other announcers and frankly the entire viewing audience means his time is up and he needs to go... badly.

I would prefer Max Kellerman be in Merchant's spot even if Max is blatant about his favoritism for certain fighters. At least he admits it whereas Merchant tries to conceal it but does it poorly.

Rp

[H2O Man]

8. Max Kellerman

is intelligent and interesting to listen to. He is better, in my opinion, doing analysis in the studio, than being ringside. But he would fit well with Jim L and any other person.

Larry Merchant is not intelligent, and not interesting, and offers nothing of value. He does, on the other hand, constantly say stupid and insulting things that take away from the quality of the show.

[TSIAS]

10. Larry Merchant is hilarious

I hate to say it, but I think he had a stroke in the early 1990s. He used to be much more fluid, but today he is slow and rarely offers much intelligent commentary about bouts. He loves to give fighter shit after their fights. I'm waiting for the day when a fighter sucker-punches him, James Buster style, after an insulting post-fight interview.

I used to love Kellerman. Despite his constant love of New York fighters like Zab Judah, he provided interesting commentary on the past week's fights. His work on ESPN2 with Brian Kenny was superb. I also think he gives astute commentary on HBO's Boxing After Dark.

[TSIAS]

9. Most of Mosley/Collazo has been covered

I wasn't impressed with that bout. Mosley took an early lead and never relinquished it. Mosley looks like he could be a top contender in the 147/154 region.

In today's news, Shannon Briggs has become sick with pneumonia and will not be able to defend on March 10 against Timur Ibragimov.

Fightnews is reporting that Miguel Cotto will defend his belt against former Jr. Welterweight titleholder Zab Judah on June 9. It had been previously reported that Cotto would face top Welterweight contender Antonio Margarito of Mexico.

Also, in next week's Boxing After Dark card, Paulie Malignaggi will take on Edner Cherry. In the co-feature, Ishe Smith will face Sechew Powell (coming off a loss to Kassim Ouma).