411 Boxing Exclusive Interview with Shane Mosley

Posted by Ramon Aranda on 11.06.2009

Mosley opens up about Berto, Mayweather, Pacquiao vs. Cotto, his son Shane Jr. and about his future plans as welterweight champ.


Photos by Laura De La Torre / 411mania.com

With 'Sugar' Shane Mosley being as vocal as ever about his future, we caught up with the WBA welterweight champ to talk about his possible fight with WBC titlist Andre Berto, the Pacquiao-Cotto fight, his frustrations and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

411mania – What's going on Shane how are things?

Shane Mosley– Hey how you doing!

411mania – Doing good my man, there's a lot to talk about but first how's everything else?

Shane Mosley – I'm feeling good, just living life and things are going well!

411mania - I know you've been hitting the gym, but going with your son too, how's Shane Jr. looking?

Shane – He's getting better and better. My dad and I have been training him and he's improved a lot. He got a late start into boxing but he's doing good and I'm pretty happy about that.

411mania – Have you gotten to spar with him at all when you're both in the gym?

Shane – I spar with him now and again but nowadays I've had him train with other guys to help build up his confidence and skills.

411mania – OK so we've all been following along on Twitter and we've caught the little verbal bashing between you and Andre Berto...how did that get started? I understand he got a little upset over an interview you gave.

Shane – Well basically I just told the truth. I didn't lie, I just said that I didn't want to hurt this man's career and he got upset about that. I don't think I said anything wrong but whatever, it is what it is and the truth hurts so what!

411mania – Well we know you two have been going back and forth in terms of the contract and we saw that you tweeted that Berto has signed on; so is this fight now official?

Shane – I believe so! I was informed that he signed the contract so it's on. We'll fight on January 30 at Mandalay Bay and I'm pretty excited about that.

411mania – Will this be on HBO or PPV?

Shane – You know at this point I think all my fights will be on PPV. Berto I think is PPV material...we can fight on PPV and I'm a PPV fighter but we can do either or – I just want to fight.

411mania – I was in LA to cover your fight against Margarito and it's been nearly a year now but tell me what it meant for you to win that fight so decisively against the guy who was considered the best in the division at the time?

Shane – Well it meant a lot to me because a lot of people were writing me off and they were talking about how I was going to end my career. And I was like, don't you know who I am? How can they count me out like that? But everyone knew in my camp that I was going to beat him. It wasn't about if I'd beat him, bout how badly I was going to beat him. I think for me and brother Nazim (Richardson) we accomplished that and beat him in dramatic fashion.

411mania – I was also in town to cover your fight against Mayorga and I know it was sloppy largely in part due to Mayorga's style....

Shane – I had some difficulties in the ring...I couldn't really move well that day and there were a lot of things going on with me but then I knocked him out at the last second....I don't think anyone's ever done that before...

411mania – Yeah right down to the wire..

Shane – Ha, yeah pretty dramatic right there but he was a tough fighter that can change things around at anytime because of his power. He also came in around 170 pounds and I was about 159 but I was happy with that win.

411mania – Based off of that fight, many wrote you off against Margarito though I personally thought your style was all wrong for him so did you almost see it as a bit of revenge given that you beat the guy who stopped Cotto?

Shane – You know I really didn't see it that way because I thought I won the Cotto fight anyway and I was anxious to get back in the ring with him so I can knock him out – I feel I'm a better fighter than him but oh well, the fight didn't happen. Then Margarito like Mayorga came in about 10 pounds heavier than me and he can't beat me like that; being that slow. And we saw what happened with that.

411mania – How frustrating was it for you, especially after that win to be on the sidelines for so long? You tried getting the fight with Pacquiao and that didn't work out. You tried calling Mayweather out but he doesn't seem to want a piece of you, or anyone else at welterweight for that matter, so did you have any other alternatives planned out?

Shane – It's been frustrating. When I was coming up, I was forced to fight certain people. I couldn't be like, OK I'm a welterweight...who's the lightweight champ right now..let me fight him. I couldn't do that! I tried to fight Arturo Gatti and they [HBO] declined that one. I tried Baldomir and they declined it too. They declined all these guys as they wouldn't pay enough for me to fight certain fighters and they let Floyd fight them and I wasn't allowed to and I didn't understand that. And I don't get why HBO and these other networks are not forcing Mayweather to fight real fights. Why do they let him fight these smaller guys? I don't get it!

411mania – Do you feel like Mayweather's career is mirroring Roy Jones' during the time where he was fighting police officers and not the bigger bouts?

Shane – Well I think Roy fought a lot of good people it's just that during that time there weren't really any great fighters in his division. He just fought whoever was there. But he did fight guys like James Toney before and Bernard Hopkins. Roy was good; he just slipped up and lost his timing and when he finally got hit on chin he went down...and I think that's going to happen to Floyd too – when he gets hit on the chin, he's going to go down.

411mania – I followed your career from the start and one of the fights that stood out for me early on that really impressed me was your win over Philip Holiday at lightweight for the title. Up until now though, what would you say has been your defining fight or the one you're most proud of regardless of how it's looked at?

Shane – Heh, I would actually say the Holiday fight. Not a lot of people knew at the time but I wasn't feeling good that night. I went to the ring at 137 pounds and I've never weighed that light before ever and I just basically beat the champion - the guy to beat. He weighed in at 147 pounds, 10 pounds heavier than me and I beat him easily and it was my first world title. I was very happy about that.

411mania – You're more or less in the tail end of your career although you don't look it. I don't think I've ever seen you out of shape, but what would you like to accomplish before you hang them up? What would essentially convince you that you're content to walk away?

Shane – I think after I wipe out the whole welterweight division. That's what I want to do! That way they'll know that I am the best and I'm the champ and they can't dispute that. This is my era and I want people to know that. I'm not leaving until they figure that out. I think I have 3 or 4 more years of fighting and then I'll let my son take over (laughs).

411mania – Has your son asked you if he can use the 'Sugar' nickname?

Shane – Well the nickname was given to me so if someone gives it to him then he can use it, otherwise I'm sure he can come up with one of his own.

411mania– Since we're talking about the welterweight division, there's a pretty big match-up next Saturday night in Las Vegas...who's your pick?

Shane – Hmm...I think Cotto's a real welterweight and I think he's probably going to take this. I think Pacquiao's had a lot of problems in his camp and I'd be surprised if he does a number on Cotto which is still very possible. Pacquiao's a very good fighter and he's done some remarkable things – he's come up from 106 to 147 pounds but I think this is where it stops. Cotto's too big for him and I think he'll be able to wear him down like he did with Zab Judah and Carlos Quintana; two good welterweight southpaws.

411mania – Alright, out of curiosity did you hear that interview between RA the Rugged Man and Floyd Mayweather??

Shane – (laughs) I did recently just catch it and it was hilarious. I actually loved it; Rugged Man put it on him! Rugged Man gave him the truth and he needed to hear the truth.

411mania – It was almost like Mosley and Brian Kenny ripping on him at the same time....

Shane – Oh my God yeah but it was the truth! Like I said, the truth hurts and if it hurts, so be it but I'm glad people aren't Mickey Mouse-ing around him anymore and now they want him to fight. Not come back and fight a lightweight – fight a welterweight! Just fight a real welterweight...anyone in the division and I'll be happy. Fight someone in the top-5...Joshua Clottey, Cotto, Berto...just fight anyone that's a real welterweight. Hell fight someone at junior middleweight...that's what I did. I fought Vargas, Mayorga.....

411mania – Winky too who's almost more of a middleweight...

Shane – Right! Just fight real guys...hell fight Paul Williams and fight me. Fight the best. You can't claim to be the best and not fight them.

411mania – Alright Shane before we let you go any last words to your fans, the Twitter followers and Andre Berto?

Shane – (laughs) Just keep watching...I'm going to show the fans that I am the best welterweight in the world.

411mania – Are you going to be at the fight next week? Maybe do a little scouting?

Shane – Hah, yeah I should be there. I won't be scouting but I'll be watching. And it doesn't matter who it is at welterweight, that's my division so either you fight me or get out of the division!!

411mania – Well thanks again Shane for talking to 411mania.com and we'll see you next week.

Shane – Thanks man!