Brick City Boxing

By: Leszek Dowgier
In front of a record sell-out crowd at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the 37-year-old “Sugar” Shane Mosley (46-5, 39KOs) turned back the clock and defeated the rugged, fearsome and granite-chinned Antonio Margarito (37-6, 27 KOs). However, not only did Mosley pull off the upset victory, but he did so in devastating and dominant fashion by doing what many thought impossible - knocking out the “Tijuana Tornado”.

From the opening bell Mosley controlled the fight, using his jab, quick combinations and footwork to keep Margarito off balance and at bay. However, one of the smartest things Mosley did throughout the fight was to continually tie up Margarito after throwing his searing combinations. Time and time again, Mosley would connect with vicious shots to both the head and body then tie up the larger Margarito, not allowing the (now former) WBA Champion to return fire.

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At the end of the 8th round, Mosley connected with yet another massive right to Margarito’s head, which stunned the Mexican warrior. Sugar jumped on the staggered champion, following up with a few more tremendous power shots until Margarito finally went to the canvas. Though Margarito beat the count and was saved by the bell, he looked like he was in trouble and the writing was on the wall. Between rounds Margarito’s corner saw the inevitable and tried to convince him to stop the fight, but the dogged champion would have none of it. Despite Margarito’s determination and bravery, Mosley picked up in the 9th round where he left off in the 8th, forcing referee Raul Caiz to jump in and stop the action just as Margarito was dropped to the canvas for a second time, succumbing to a sustained barrage of power punches while pinned against the ropes.

Congratulations to Shane Mosley and Nazim Richardson on an absolutely superb performance and in beating the odds and proving the many skeptics (this writer included) wrong. This is precisely what is so great about the sport of boxing; you truly never know what will happen. Though many people predicted a Mosley victory, few predicted a complete Mosley domination and knockout.