Shane Mosley won't train with Naazim Richardson for 'comeback,' rehires his father

Shane Mosley looks headed for an undeserved WBA welterweight title fight with Paulie Malignaggi on April 27 in Brooklyn, and says that he won't be trained for the fight -- or any other that might come up -- by Naazim Richardson, but instead by his father and former trainer, Jack Mosley.

"I’m going to train with my father for this fight. Naazim is very good and I have a lot of respect for Naazim and his training work but this time I believe, going into this and coming back its legacy. My father, me, my son, its legacy. It’s something that I believe that has to be done."

Mosley and his father split professionally after Mosley's sluggish and unimpressive, but memorable last-second knockout win against Ricardo Mayorga in September 2008, after which Richardson took over. Under Richardson, Mosley had his final night of glory, an upset thrashing Antonio Margarito in January 2009 -- and it was also Richardson who caught the Margarito team with bad hand wraps in the locker room.

But since then, Mosley has faded considerably, going 0-3-1 in fights against Floyd Mayweather, Sergio Mora (the draw), Manny Pacquiao, and Canelo Alvarez. In each of those fights, Mosley has been trigger shy and very slow to react both offensively and defensively, which isn't Richardson's fault or even Mosley's fault, it's just a reality of time catching up to a once-terrific fighter who no longer has the same physical ability he used to possess.

Mosley (46-8-1, 39 KO) retired after his entirely one-sided loss to Alvarez in May, which means he knows, or has at least briefly convinced himself at one point that his time as a relevant, competitive top fighter has come to an end. I don't think it's any big secret the likely reason that Mosley is continuing to fight on so obviously past his good years, and as long as he's passing medical exams, he's got as much right to be in there as any of the other not very good pro fighters in the world.

However, there seems to be no real demand for his return (not only has he not won in four years, but his fights have become very dull, too), and Showtime may have a real dilemma here if they approve the Malignaggi-Mosley fight, because there will be very valid criticism of that move. But whatever Sugar Shane does next, it won't happen with Naazim Richardson in his corner.