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Mosley rides the reputation wave

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
Veteran hopes to earns another title shot

On May 7th this year, Shane Mosley got the opportunity to win a fifth world title in a fourth different weight class and many people in the boxing world (including me) did not believe that the now 40 year-old deserved it.

With only two victories in his last six outings, I believe that the slick Californian was given the opportunity on reputation alone in order to provide Pacquiao with another big name for his already impressive CV.

Now 'Sugar' Shane is looking for one final shot and has been keeping busy in the gym helping Kermit Cintron prepare for his challenge for the WBC light-middleweight title against Mexican star Saul Alvarez this weekend.

Since a 2009 win over Antonio Margarito though, Mosley has not been anywhere near his best and was totally out-classed by Floyd Mayweather Jr in May 2010 losing almost every round. He then controversially drew with a borderline world-class Sergio Mora, who many believe beat him on the night at the Staples Center and was a victim of Mosley's status in boxing.

Pacquiao, 32, then dominated him for the full twelve rounds as he aimed to become the first man to stop Mosley on his way to his seventh loss but failed to do so and that has given the faded champion a new impetus to get back in the ring.

Mosley believes he still has something to prove at that can be a dangerous thing for a fighter in his 40's as Evander Holyfield and Roy Jones Jr. have found to their obvious cost - damaging their belt-laded careers with some bad losses.

Let's just hope the likeable former pound for pound champion can get out when he knows he has nothing left and doesn't carry on for the sake of chasing a distant dream of once again lifting a world title. His performace against Pacquiao tells me that he can still mix it with some of the lesser champions out there and it will be interesting to see where his reputation takes him next.
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