Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions is considering a matchup between Victor Ortiz and Shane Mosley this fall, Mike Coppinger reports at BoxingScene.com:
"I think both guys have a lot to prove," Schaefer told BoxingScene.com. "I think it's an evenly matched fight -- half will pick Mosley, half Ortiz. Mosley really proved himself in Mexico against Pablo Cesar Cano, so I think it would be an intriguing fight."
Since I like arguing with nudge-nudge, fans will like this because I say so quotes, let's do that.
- Victor Ortiz might have something to prove. Shane Mosley does not. Not in reality.
- Half will pick Mosley? Maybe if they're so gullible as to think gutting past Pablo Cesar Cano suddenly makes Mosley a contender again.
- I'd pick Mosley, maybe. There are at least "funny because it's true" jokes to be made about the idea of Mosley winning. Well, hell, ol' Tricky Dick might have a buyable fight on his hands here.
In all seriousness, I don't think it's that awful a fight. I, too, would prefer Shane Mosley retire, but he's not going to do that, so I prefer to just accept the sad real world situation we have going on there than hope and wish for a better world, one where a 41-year-old Mosley (47-8-1, 39 KO) doesn't need to sell himself out and fight on so far past his better days.
That said, it's just Victor Ortiz. Ortiz (29-4-2, 22 KO), who has two straight stoppage losses, has been known to look for ways out when the going gets tough, and is hardly an elite fighter. Ortiz is talented, but not some jaw-dropping natural fighter, and he's strong, which could surely lead to Mosley getting his brain sloshed around further, but I think we're past the point of no return on that. Less famous guys fight on in Mosley's state or worse all the time. I think I've just started to realize that Shane Mosley is not a special case. I'm definitely not arguing that this is a fight you should want to see, it's just not grinding my gears. I've thrown in the towel on going bonkers about this stuff. It's going to happen. Boxing is more brutal outside the ring than inside. Hey, that really made you think, didn't it? That was an important thing I said.
Anyway, my point is, whatever.