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WILL SHANE SEE THE FORREST THROUGH THE TREES ?

posted by Kathleen Holland on August 13, 2007, in Features

Story by Jim Amato

There is a line in an old Phil Collins song. It goes ; " Just when I thought I had made it, you walked back into my life. " Shane Mosley is one of my favorite fighters. How could you not like him ? He was a very under rated lightweight champion. Maybe an all time great at 135. He's defeated " Golden Boy " De La Hoya twice and he also has two wins over Fernando Vargas at higher weights. BUT two men seem to have his number. Winky Wright was just too big for Shane. Then there was Vernon " The Vipor " Forrest who defeated Mosley on two occasions. Well guess what Shane...The Vipor's back and he's lookin' good.

Mosley appears to be set to meet the highly regarded Miguel Cotto in his next fight
for a portion of the welterweight title. Recently Vernon Forrest stepped back into the limelight with a win over rugged Carlos Baldomir to capture a piece of the junior middleweight title. Is there a chance that down the road we may see Forrest - Mosley III ? This is a fight that Shane should avoid at all costs.

Will Shane get by the murderous punching Cotto ? Well that's a story for another day. For the sake of argument, let's say that he does. Would Shane be willing to move up to 154 again to attempt to avenge his two losses to Vernon ? If not, would Vernon be able to come down to 147 to challenge Shane ? Forrest looked very comfortable at 154 pounds.

If Shane wins over Cotto the big money fight for him afterward of course would be the winner of Mayweather - Hatton. There would also be a possible match with Paul Williams but why fight a tall. quick southpaw who is not yet a proved attraction ? If a bout with either Mayweather or Hatton falls through, a match with Forrest makes sense. It can also be a mistake.

Styles make fights. Harry Arroyo, the fine former lightweight champion said Jimmy Paul had a very difficult style for him. Nevertheless Jimmy Paul who was a very fine fighter in his own right could not cope with the pressure of tough Greg Haugen. As tough as he was Haugen was just outslicked by the great southpaw Pernell Whitaker.

The bottom line is that Mosley has a style that will be very difficult for Cotto. It should be a very interesting battle.

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