Mayweather – Mosley Vol. 3: “Easy Money”

1.4 Million in domestic pay-per-view buys…
Over $78 Million in HBO revenues generated…
Recorded as the 2nd biggest non-heavyweight PPV fight in history…
740,000 cable buys, 660,000 satellite subscriptions…
and a reported $50+ Million dollar purse.

Beyond the bank figures and accounting points, Floyd Mayweather may have done more than simply solidify his place as this generation’s PPV box-office king… he may have stripped the naysayers of any reason to believe that anyone at 147 pounds… including Manny Pacquiao… has much of a chance of beating him. 

Outside of 2 clean right hands in the 2nd round, it’s tough to argue that May 1st wasn’t “Easy Money” for Floyd Mayweather.  Boxing fans wanted to see how he’d respond once Shane connected with his right hand… all he did was spend the next 40 minutes cleaning the scorecard, as he proceeded to technically sweep Shane right out of the fight.  The public wanted to know how he would respond to true speed, and if his defense was really as good as “24/7″ publicized… all he did was make Shane look uncertain and jittery; unwilling to pull the trigger out of worry for Mayweather’s counter punching skills.  We wanted to know if Floyd could stand up to a true Welterweight with ‘pop’ comparable to Manny Pacquiao… today, there’s no argument that he can; he adjusted, and never allowed himself to be hit with that same shot again!  He looked physically bigger and stronger (which to many was unexpected considering Shane’s power & build.)  He was obviously faster, smarter, craftier, better conditioned… and most importantly he was more relaxed (which was perhaps the most surprising measure considering Mosley’s resume).

Plain and simple, there are no holes in his game… which makes the prospect of Manny/May an even BIGGER draw now than a few months ago when promoters where shooting for them to fight at the top of 2010!

…The word around town is that Pacquiao has reserved a room at Dallas Cowboy Stadium for either November 6th and 13th… wonder if Mayweather will be checking in on that evening as well.

  
T.J. Breeden
www.iblmedia.com

Mayweather – Mosley: Post-fight Press Conference

“Last night’s fight was an amazing display of skill and heart… Perhaps the first time that Floyd Mayweather’s chin has been tested, and he responded the way Champions do; with a decisive unanimous decision victory over Sugar Shane Mosley.” 

The following link has been provided by the Las Vegas Sun//  
Click Here to view video.

More videos curtousy of mlive.com//
Visit. www.mlive.com/mayweather for a video blog of post fight commentary.

Mayweather – Mosley Vol. 2: “Conflict and Pressure” (writer’s notes)

There’s something to be said about the pressures of conflict… the courage it takes to stand in front of a man who by all accounts is equally equipped in terms of skill, strength, heart, determination…  It is justice according to a lost society, where conflict is settled face-to-face; when tables would be pushed away to clear a makeshift ring and bookies began accepting in-prompt-to wagers.  No judicial theory or congressional hearing… no cross-examination or jury breaks.  You couldn’t just make accusations without proof, or spew ridiculous insults without anticipating some sort of physical consequence. 

Sounds a bit archaic, I know; but it is our natural history: both of violence and settlement; of war and peace… just as we embrace peaceful resolution as a demonstration of our social tolerance, we also welcome the challenge of physical confrontation to show our muscle.

…It’s what we do.

Boxing offers that same ‘peaceful tolerance’ within its own ‘violent settlement’… for as much as the insults sting and the HBO nonsense sells tickets, eventually the tables are once again spread throughout the room and conflict is cleared with muscle, speed, power… not legal rhetoric & case studies.  Because in the ring, words don’t matter!  Floyd Mayweather won’t have a public defender to ward off Sugar’s angry right-hand; and Shane Mosley can’t look to his prosecution team to Object to Money’s clever defensive strategy.

This is pressure… justice in its purest form…  and tomorrow, conflict will reach its verdict.
 

T.J. Breeden
www.iblmedia.com

Mayweather – Mosley Vol. 1: “The Moment” (writer’s notes)

“…It’s what we’ve been waiting for.  Something worth the cost of PPV, worth the red-eye transit into McCarren International on the south strip… worth the “Ticket Master” price of admission and scalper increases… worth cheap suites at Monte Carlo, Twitpic bragging rights, and Saturday night table reservations at Tao!“

“This generation has been waiting for our “Leonard v. Hearns” moment, where 10 years from now we can turn to ESPN Classic and silently reminisce about the weekend we experienced sports history… even if it does come at the cost of on-the-spot losses at the blackjack table and over drafted checking accounts.  We want the: “Yeah, I was there,” or “I remember watching it LIVE” because there’s much more than just a belt on the line… much more than an undefeated record and a 10 year rivalry.  This fight has the potential to revive a sport that has consistently found itself at odds with the growing popularity of its Vegas counterpart: an MMA alternative that draws higher attendance numbers and has a distribution deal with network cable!“

“But beyond the fandamonium, this is the moment for Floyd Mayweather to solidify his unbelievably boisterous claim that he is not only the best fighter of this generation, but that he is the greatest fighter to ever wear vaseline… better than Ali, better than Sugar Ray (Robinson & Leonard), ”the Brown Bomber,” and all others who have paved his sure-fire route to the Hall-of-Fame.   This is the moment that Shane Mosley can move beyond this sort of second tier, executive suite level of super stardom.  As great a career as he’s had, he’s always been recognized as the #2/#3 guy in the division… He’s the Utah Jazz who would’ve won 2 rings if it weren’t for MJ’s Bulls, Atlanta Braves teams who won 10-times as many pennants as World Series Championships, Phil Mickelson who would be the biggest star in golf if it weren’t for a guy named Tiger… He’s great and he’s always been “right there”, but he’s never quite been the guy that draws fans to the gate.“

“Either way this is the moment… this is the time… AND MAN, THIS IS GONNA BIG!“

T.J. Breeden
www.iblmedia.com  

Andre Berto: Next in Line

With all of the Mayweather-Mosley talk… with Manny Pacquiao campaigning for Congress in the Philippines and Miguel Cotto shanking hands in Yankee Stadium… with all that Antonio Margarito has managed to stir up with his looming return, and Pauli Malignaggi’s Twitter trash talk… HBO’s “24/7″ program premiering tonight, and the May 1st hype pumped on ‘roids like the PDA’s the Olympic-Style Drug Officials tested Shane & Floyd for on tonight’s series premier episode…. 

…amidst all of this, did we somehow ‘forget’ about Andre Berto? 

If so, he reintroduced himself to the masses in explosive fashion with a devastating Knock Out victory over Carlos Quintana.

He’s shown great character in his humanitarian efforts as he forewent his scheduled January 30th fight versus Shane Mosley to volunteer in his native Haiti… tonight, it was Quintana who was in need of rescue and relief efforts as Berto seemingly picked him apart in route to maintaining his undefeated streak.

ESPN’s Dan Rafael’s full report here//
HBO.com’s report//

Mayweather – Mosley “FACE-OFF” for HBO.com

HBO.com preps for the networks month-long “Mayweather-Mosley: 24/7″ program with “FACE-OFF” hosted by Max Kellerman.  It’s a confrontational short feature, where Mosley & Mayweather let their true feelings known in anticipation for their upcoming May 1st mega-fight. 

If there was any question as to whether or not these two guys like each other, it was answered in this joint interview!  Irrespective of personal feelings however, there’s no doubt that they respect the other’s true skill… This is gonna be one hell of a fight!  (Click the pic to view, or go to HBO.com/Boxing.)

Update: Mayweather – Mosley agree “in terms” to May 1st Title Defense

ESPN.com released information Friday evening that according to Team Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley have come to “terms” on the proposed May 1st Welterweight Title defense in Las Vegas, NV. 

According to the report: “Shane [has gone through] every provision of the contract and he signed,” says [Judd] Burstein, Mosley’s attorney. “He is excited to move forward with the bout.”

Perhaps more importantly, “Mosley has [also] agreed to undergo random blood and urine testing, as has Mayweather, Ellerbe said.”  This is significant as Manny Pacquiao had refused to conduct himself any level of blood testing within a 30-day window of the fight, which in turn was the main reason why the (proposed) fight was cancelled.

I’ll chime in later; but I just wanted to spread the exciting news!!

Visit ESPN.com for the full report//

 
–T.J. Breeden
www.iblmedia.com

An Emotional Withdraw: Berto turns his focus to Haiti recovery efforts.

It was announced today that Andre Berto has decided to withdraw from his scheduled January 30th bout with Shane Mosley due to “physical & emotional exhaustion” suffered by both he and his family in wake of the tragedy in his native Haiti.  Berto, a Haitian-American who represented the small island country in the 2004 Olympics, plans to focus his efforts and energy to support those suffering as a result of last week’s earthquake which has claimed thousands of lives, including 8 members of his own family.

In a statement released today, he goes on express the emotional toll the devastation in his home country has had on him.  “Since the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday evening, I have been focusing on my family and the Haitian people who are facing an inconceivable battle for survival while still trying to continue to prepare for an opportunity I have dreamt of since childhood.”  He goes on to say: “I lost several family members to the earthquake and, after two days without word, was relieved to learn that my sister, Naomi, and her daughter, Jessica, survived, but were left homeless. I have seen the pain in my parents’ eyes as they attempt to understand what has happened to our homeland and recognize a place they once called home.”

Read Jemele Hill’s full article here, at ESPN Boxing.

Also, read Dan Rafael’s report at ESPN.
 
  
T.J. Breeden
www.iblmedia.com

Mosley – Berto preview: “Back to the Future”

A the top of 2009, amidst the conclusion of Andre Berto’s business with Luis Collazo, Mosley was pressed to comment on his thoughts regarding a possible fight with the interim WBC Champion.  With Manny Pacquiao’s acceptance to a full-time position atop the Welterweight division (and Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s return then looming), Shane was very careful not to prematurely align himself with Berto, which would eliminate him from discussions for a Spring 2010 mega pay-day.  This of course didn’t prevent HBO from asking: “What are your thoughts on Andre Berto?”  With seemingly a hint of hesitation, he says something that got a lot of fight fans curious: “He reminds me a lot of myself… it would be like ‘me’ fighting ‘me’!!” 

 

 “Prepare yourself Marty McFly…. we’re going back to the future!”

 

The obvious cannot be denied; Andre Berto’s power, speed, technique, and willingness to ’BANG’ are reminiscent to the Shane Mosley who began his pro career 38-0… and if this fight represents Berto’s shot at the spotlight (as did De la Hoya represent Shane’s trophy win in 2000), then fight fans can expect a fight that’s worth their HBO monthly subscription.  Yes; Shane is 38 years old, and conventional wisdom suggests that eventually the ghost of ‘Winky’ Wright’s “peak-a-boo” style will take its toll on his ability to slip punches… but then again, Antonio Margarito just sent out a tweet, and ’he’s wondering if Javier Capetillo wrapped Shane’s hands with bricks too!!’

 

 

Not to be overlooked, this is undoubtedly the biggest fight of Berto’s career!  A win here puts him in line for $7-8M minimums with Miguel Cotto who,  is still in the conversation (and his loss to PacMan will be looked at with less scrutiny if the papers are signed and Mayweather takes his 1st ’L’ in March), Tim Bradley (if/when he moves up in weight), Juan Manuel Marquez, maybe Paul Williams, Pacquiao, or “Money.”  On the other hand, a win for Shane guarantees him a shot at the winner of the Pacquiao-Mayweather sweepstakes in the fall of 2010, and his first legitimate mega fight since his BALCO laced win over De la Hoya in the ’03 rematch.

The match-up possibilities are endless, but first Sugar must crank the Delorean and travel ‘back’ to face someone with an eerie resemblance to Vernon Forest… someone who’s hungry, ferocious, fast, powerful, and unfazed by Shane’s legacy.  Berto’s eyes are fixated on the future, but if Mosley’s dreams of Pacquiao or Mayweather are to come true, he’s got to channel Michael J. Fox and prepare to be introduced to his past, and perhaps future self.
  

T.J. Breeden
www.iblmedia.com