-Photo Credit: Martin Solis-

This past Saturday night, January 24th, I watched Sugar Shane Mosley turn back the clock on his opponent, highly touted  Antonio Margarito, conqueror of the once welterweight king Miguel Cotto.

Margarito stopped Cotto in devastating fashion after Cotto had proven himself to be the man to beat in the division, having defeated Zab Judah and Shane Mosley back to back. The Puerto Rican star would soon be crowned king of the welterweights,  a position he would hold on to for several years. In comes Antonio Margarito and thrashes Miguel Cotto knocking him off the throne as welterweight king.

To replace Cotto in status as the best 147-pounder in the world, the longevity of Margarito's reign as the division's king turned out to be shorter than Cotto's reign. The 'Tijuana Tornado' faced a focused and determined Sugar Shane Mosley. Going into the fight Shane's mettle would be tested by Margarito along with his mental capacity to block out all the negative things that were happening in his life. Having to admit his part in the BALCO Investigation, and being served with divorce papers while in training camp had to be devastating blows. However, when faced with adversity one either rises above it or one fails, by allowing one's misfortunes to mentally break you down. Not on this night. Shane Mosley would not be denied, and neither BALCO nor Jin Mosley would deter his focus.

I have seen this type of situation many times in big fights. I've watched those who were able to turn negative situations into the fuel that made them rise above whatever calamity may have been facing them at the time. Two of the biggest upsets in the history of the heavyweight division came at the hands of adversity. 

Douglas vs Tyson - Buster Douglas had lost his Mom prior to the fight and he fought the fight of his life. Douglas would say after the fight that the loss of his mother gave him the strength and fortitude to excel beyond Tyson's mystique.

It would happen again when Lamon Brewster faced Vladimir Klitschko.  Brewster had lost his long time trainer Bill Slayton, and this fact gave Brewster the will to hang in there when he was being dismantled by Vladimir to the point where the fight was almost stopped. But he dug down deep within himself and came up with the right punches that earned him the WBO heavyweight championship of the world, as he stopped Vladimir to obtain the title.

Mosley's victory was just as sweet, comparable to his Golden Boy Promotions partner Bernard Hopkins when he recently faced Kelly Pavlik. Like Hopkins, Shane looked to be the younger fighter in the ring, not only defeating Margarito but pitching a shutout in doing so.

Margarito, who to me has always been overrated, got a lesson in every aspect of boxing: speed, power, will, focus, accuracy, and Shane separated his level of skill by closing the show.

Margarito somehow became at threat in boxing without really beating anyone of merit until he beat Miguel Cotto. Self-proclaimed baddest welterweight in the division, he had the Pound for Pound king 'Pretty Boy' Floyd Mayweather Jr.  shaking in his boots. Sugar Shane Mosley terrified  Oscar into hiding, yet at that time the only fighter of any stature willing to face Margarito was Kermit Cintron, a guy with limited skills and a decent punch. (Margarito stopped Cintron in 6 rounds). He then fought Joshua Clottey, a fight that could have gone either way, even though Clottey had an injured hand. He went on to fight Paul Williams and got beat at his own game, volume of punches and pressure. Following that fight, he beat Cotto and becomes the best thing since sliced bread?!? I don't think so! 

I was never that high on Margarito; he has very limited skills although he has a strong will and desire, and will pressure you to no end. If you don't know how to handle his pressure you will succumb to it, like Cotto did. Personally I never thought he had a chance against Mayweather or De la Hoya. I gave him a slight chance against Shane only because Shane doesn't really have an effective jab and as of late has been getting hit with too many right hands, but I always thought Mosley had the style and the power to defeat Margarito. One thing I was sure of was that Shane would not wilt under pressure the way Cotto did.

I think Shane was so focused for this fight that he took the negativity that was going on  in his life and gave it all to Margarito, as though it was Margarito's fault these things were happening to him. Someone had to pay the price and unfortunately Margarito was the man in front of him that night.

Shane has always been a very strong fighter in the physical sense and he would not allow Margarito to impose his will. Shane stayed right in front of him almost daring him to come get him. Shane unloaded big shots at will, with very little or no return from Margarito. In addition, the difference in hand speed was so evident it appeared that Margarito's only chance would have been to land a wild punch that Shane wouldn't see coming because the Mexican fighter was extremely slow in pulling the trigger.