Shane Mosley
Shane Mosley, often known by his nickname "Sugar" Shane Mosley, is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2016. He held multiple world championships in three weight classes, including the IBF lightweight title; the WBA and WBC welterweight titles; and the WBA, WBC, and The Ring magazine light middleweight titles. He was also a lineal champion at welterweight and light middleweight.
In 1998, the Boxing Writers Association of America named Mosley as their Fighter of the Year. He was also given the same honor by the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2000 and 2001, he was named the world's best active boxer, pound for pound, by The Ring.
Early years
Mosley was born in Lynwood, California, and raised in Pomona, California. He has two older sisters, Venus and Cerena. Mosley became interested in boxing after watching his father, Jack, box in street fights. Mosley has been trained and managed by his father since the age of eight.Amateur career
Mosley was an amateur standout, capturing various amateur titles, including:- 1989 United States Amateur Champion at Lightweight
- 1989 World Junior Championships Silver Medalist in San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 1990 United States Amateur Champion at Lightweight
- 1990 Goodwill Games Bronze Medalist in Seattle
- 1992 United States Amateur Champion at Light Welterweight
Professional career
Early career
On February 11, 1993, a 21-year-old Mosley made his professional boxing debut in a scheduled six-round fight at the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California. His opponent was Greg Puente, who he knocked out in round five. Mosley fought a further 6 times in 1993, winning all of them inside the distance. In 1994, Mosley fought 9 times, winning all of them and 8 inside the distance. He was taken the 10 round distance by Oscar Lopez. In April 1995, Mosley knocked out Raul Hernandez in round 2 at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills, California. In July, he knocked out 34-year-old veteran Mauricio Aceves in round 4 at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. Aceves was best known for being the first-ever WBO World lightweight champion.In January 1996, Mosley had his first fight outside of California since beginning his pro career. He fought at the Grand Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, knocking out 35-year-old Mike Bryan in round one. By May 1997, Mosley went 23 fights unbeaten, with 22 coming inside the distance.
Lightweight
Mosley vs. Holiday
On August 2, 1997, Mosley fought for his first world title, the IBF Lightweight championship against then undefeated titleholder Philip Holiday. Holiday was making his seventh defence of the title since winning the then vacant title in 1995. It took place at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, and was the first time Mosley was scheduled to box 12 rounds. The fight went the full 12 round distance as Mosley took Holiday's IBF title via a unanimous decision. The three judges scored the fight 116-113, 117-111, 115-114 all in favor of Mosley.Early Title Defenses
Mosley made his first title defense on November 25 at the County Coliseum in El Paso, Texas, against Mexican Manuel Gomez. Mosley knocked Gomez out in round 11 to retain his title.On February 6, 1998, Mosley defeated 24-year-old Demetrio Ceballos at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville. Ceballos was down once in round 4 after an overhand right and left hook to the body. He was down again in round 8 following a flurry of punches before referee Eddie Cotton called an end to the fight. At the time of stoppage, Mosley was ahead on all cards.
In May 1998, Mosley knocked out former world super featherweight champion and world lightweight challenger John John Molina in round 8 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Molina was also dropped to his knees in round 7.
On June 27, 1998, Mosely knocked out Colombian boxer Wilfrido Ruiz in round 5. He then fought at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City on September 22, 1998, against Eduardo Bartolome Morales. Morales was knocked down in the 3rd round, and eventually stopped in round 5.
Mosley vs. Leija, Johnson
On November 14, 1998, Mosley faced his toughest defense to date when he fought 32-year-old former WBC super featherweight champion Jesse James Leija at the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut. This was Mosley's sixth defense of his IBF world title. As the fight progressed, Leija was knocked down in rounds 6, 7 and 9. The fight was stopped when Leija couldn't answer the bell for round 10, rewarding Mosley with a deserved victory. Mosley was leading by scores of 89-78, 89-78 and 88-79 at the time of the stoppage. Leija took the fight with 3 weeks notice.Mosley took only two months out returning to the ring to defend his title in January 1999 against American Golden Johnson at the Civic Center in Pensacola, Florida. The fight ended when Mosley connected Johnson with a flurry of punches as he was against the ropes and then dropped to both knees. He beat the count, but was put down again seconds later, ending the fight.
On April 17, 1999, Mosley made his 8th and final defense of the IBF lightweight title against former USBA super featherweight champion John Brown at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California. The fight was stopped after round 8, when the ringside doctor intervened. Mosley won the fight via TKO to retain his title.
Welterweight
Mosley vacated his lightweight title and moved up two weight divisions to welterweight, scored two consecutive knockouts against Wilfredo Rivera and Willy Wise, setting up a huge fight against Oscar De La Hoya for the WBC welterweight title.Mosley vs. De La Hoya
On June 17, 2000, Mosley met De La Hoya in Los Angeles for the WBC, IBA & vacant lineal welterweight titles. This was the first boxing event to take place at the newly built Staples Center. After twelve rounds, Mosley emerged with a split decision victory. During the fight, neither man was in danger of going down, but both had badly swollen faces at the end and De La Hoya was bleeding from the nose for several rounds. Mosley earned a minimum of $15 million, while De La Hoya was guaranteed $35 million. Judges Lou Filippo and Pat Russell scored the fight 116-112, and 115-113, respectively for Mosley whilst judge Marty Sammon had it 113-115 for De La Hoya. The fight was named The Ring magazine Event of the Year for 2000.Mosley vs. Diaz, Taylor
Mosley defended his newly won titles on November 11, 2000, at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York against Mexican boxer Antonio Diaz. The fight lasted six rounds, after Mosley knocked Diaz down twice. Diaz was also down once in round 2.On March 10, 2001, Mosley was scheduled to fight unbeaten Australian Shannan Taylor at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Shannan was knocked down once in the first round. He was losing all rounds, up until the end of the fifth round. Taylor lost the fight when he decided not to return for round 6.
Mosley vs. Stone
On July 21, 2001, Mosley easily beat IBO World super welterweight champion Adrian Stone knocking him out in round 3. The fight took place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Stone moved down to welterweight for the first time in three years to challenge Mosley and was losing the first 2-round before being stopped. Following the win, Mosley said he would like to have a rematch with De La Hoya in a split 50/50 fight or a unification fight against unbeaten Vernon Forrest.Mosley vs. Forrest I, II
It was finally announced that Mosley would be defending his WBC and Lineal welterweight titles against Vernon Forrest. The fight took place at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City on January 26, 2002. The Ring Magazine welterweight title was also at stake. Mosley was knocked down twice in the second round as he went on to lose a unanimous decision, his first loss in his professional career. In round 2, Mosley suffered a cut at the hairline from an accidental clash of heads. The final scorecards read 115-110, 117-108 and 118-108 all in favor of Forrest.Mosley and Forrest met in an immediate rematch on July 20, 2002, at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Forrest being the 'A' side, received $3.42 million compared to Mosley's $2.8 million. The fight was also known at the time for its attendance of 15,775 which was the largest boxing crowd ever in Indiana. The fight went the full 12 round distance. The scorecards were closer than the first fight, however still had Forrest as the winner unanimously. USA Today scored it 115-113 in favor of Forrest. Forrest kept on the outside using his height and reach as an advantage.