Nothing’s set in stone just yet – thank goodness – but Shane Mosley has stated a potential fight is in advanced talks. And to make things worse, Liam Smith has gone on record to say a rematch clause would be in effect should they square off.
Before we check out what the pair has been saying this week, let’s just get one thing straight: boxing does NOT need to see Smith vs Mosley. Not now. Not ever.
Smith, who recently won the vacant WBO Junior Middleweight title after knocking out John Thompson in frightening fashion, should be looking elsewhere. If anything, his large fan base deserves to see him take on a ‘contender’ who isn’t anywhere near 17 years his junior.
If Smith vs Mosley were to take place, it would be some kind of freakish novelty fight. Boxing fans are already irate following last weekend’s god-awful Eubank Jr vs Jeter, and there’s no reason another sickening mismatch should be produced. Even if ex-champ Mosley does still possess a ‘big name’.
Anyway, let’s get to the quotes already:
“I don’t really care about a rematch clause because I’m 100 percent confident that I’ll beat Shane Mosley,” Liam Smith recently told The Ring, speaking of pre-fight particulars. “It’s just that from a business perspective, my team want to protect my interests in case there’s a clash of heads or something of that nature.
“We have the right to request a rematch clause because this would be a voluntary defense and Mosley is in no position to throw down demands.”
Smith couldn’t be more right there. Mosley has no bargaining chips, besides his ‘crowd-pulling name’, and recently beating a washed up, bloated Ricardo Mayorga hasn’t changed that fact. Unless you’re a diehard Mosley fan, that is.
Here’s what Mosley had to say on the rematch clause, and that of a potential Smith vs Mosley clash:
“I might take the fight with Liam Smith, but they say we must have a rematch clause,” Mosley told World Boxing News. “I have a fight on the table for early 2016 so I can’t do that easily. I told them that if the win is close that they can have a rematch within eight weeks or it would then have to wait until after October 2016.”
“It should be a huge sell-out and will be my first fight in the UK.”
At least there’s some light at the end of tunnel given the rematch clause could be a deal-breaker. (I say on my knees, praying…)
What are your thoughts on a crossroads showdown such as this? Would the aging Mosley have a shot in hell at being victorious? And could ‘Sugar’ even make the 154 pound weight limit?
