Shane Mosley: I'll retire when I'm ready

Here's one for those who like to emit exasperated sighs: Shane Mosley got a "pep talk" from James Toney, and the two washed-up veterans agree that they'll retire when they're ready:

"I was on the plane signing autographs with James Toney, he was the IBA and IBU heavyweight champion of the world, and he's like 44," Mosley, 41, told BoxingScene. "He was giving me the pep talk and said 'You retire when you ready, when I'm ready to retire, I'll retire.' I kind of feel the same way. I love the boxing game and I'll know when it's time."

The sad thing about this -- well, more sad things, really. The "IBA and IBU heavyweight champion of the world" thing is bad enough itself, since those are totally irrelevant belts nobody cares about. Also, Toney, 44, was recently outclassed by a very limited Lucas Browne.

Also, here's the other thing, and the most significant thing about Mosley (46-8-1, 39 KO) and his continuing career: He did retire, last year. He made an official announcement and everything. We even did a career retrospective, which I knew then was probably premature, but I hoped that maybe, if I did all that, the retirement would then somehow be cosmically inclined to stick.

So clearly, the thought that it's time -- or past time -- has gone through Mosley's mind, seriously enough that he officially announced a retirement after being beaten up by Canelo Alvarez. Any talk that he hasn't reached that point yet is dubious at best, and that's the most unpleasant thing about this "should he or shouldn't he?" discussion. He's going to, of course, as he fights Pablo Cesar Cano on Saturday, and that's just the way it is. But it's pretty hard to not think he will because, for whatever reason, he has to, not because he really still wants to be in the ring.