Live Saturday night from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas (HBO), welterweight Sugar Shane Mosley (43-4, 37 KOs), hailing from Pomono, Calif., gets it on the Brooklyn’s own Luis Collazo (27-2, 13 KOs). Mosley’s had his ups and downs, and adjusted his speedy style as he’s aged and moved up in weight. But now he’s back to fighting at welterweight and faces Collazo, who’s riding high after his questionable decision loss to Ricky Hatton last May. Can Collazo outspeed the more experienced Mosley, win over the judges and pocket the W, or does Shane remind everyone why he was on everyone pound-for-pound lists just a few short years ago and stop the feather-fisted southpaw Collazo? This is how The Sweet Science writers see Shane Mosley vs. Luis Collazo.
Not sure why Mosley is taking this fight. Not sure why he would take the Kermit Cintron fight before that. With Mayweather waiting in the wings, both opponents appear ultra-dangerous. For one reason: Mosley is not a natural welterweight, he is a natural lightweight. Therefore he is at a height and reach disadvantage almost every time out. (That would not be the case against Mayweather.) Just as he was against Winky Wright. Look for Collazo to follow the Winky blueprint, use his jab, and hold when Mosley gets close. By the end, Mosley will be frustrated and bruised up, wondering how he could blow another big opportunity. Collazo by decision.
Matthew Aguilar
Luis Collazo may have youth on his side, but it will be no match for the speed, power and experience of Shane Mosley. Expect Sugar Shane, with 37 knockouts in his 43 wins, to take the fight to the light-punching Collazo. He will punish his southpaw opponent with left hooks, and slow Collazo’s early movement. Mosley captures the vacant WBC title with a late-round knockout.
David Berlin
As much as I admired the work Collazo did with Ricky Hatton, I'm going to give Mosley the edge in this fight. Call him a sentimental favorite, but he's not ready for defeat by the tough Collazo.
Amy Green
This is supposed to be a Shane Mosley showcase, and Collazo wasn’t even the first choice for the opponent’s role in this fight. Mosley is a better than 3-1 favorite with the sports books, and he’ll be the house fighter, in HBO’s eyes as well as those of the Mandalay Bay, where he’ll be headlining for the fifth time. (Collazo, by contrast, has only fought once in Vegas, and he lost that one when he was stopped by Edwin Cassiani downtown five years ago. But 3-1 strikes us as a big overlay here. Collazo has improved by leaps and bounds over the past couple of years; in our view, a first-round flash knockdown was all that separated him from a draw with Ricky Hatton. It’s been over a decade since Mosley last beat a southpaw, and his last two wins came over a post-juice Fernando Vargas. But if you’re looking for compelling reasons to pick an upset, try this one: Mosley hasn’t had to make 147 in five years, and it’s been closer to six since he last won as a welterweight. Collazo by decision.
George Kimball
Mosley is on the downside of his career, but against Collazo, it will not matter. Collazo has gotten too much credit for his near-win against Ricky Hatton, and I have a sneaking suspicion the honeymoon will end for the Brooklyn native come Saturday evening. Mosley TKO 9.
Evan Korn
When I contemplate the outcome of this fight, competitive is the first word that comes to mind. Mosley is getting up in age and Collazo is underrated, or at least he was until recently. Even in his advanced age, Sugar Shane is the better pure boxer but Collazo is young, hungry and comes to fight. Add to the equation that Collazo’s a southpaw and last fought in November and the fight begins to look very, very close. I would normally pick Mosley because of his superior speed and skill, but I’m convinced Mosley has enjoyed a little too much of the good life. Grit and determination win out this time around. Collazo via decision. If you’re really feeling lucky, place your bets and call it a draw.
Scott Mallon
Mosley keeps defying nature by looking stronger and faster each time out. Collazo is no joke, but Mosley will utilize his greater abundance of skills to win a comfortable but competitive decision. Mosley W 12.
Bob Mladinich
Mosley should do enough – flashy enough – to tip the scales in his favor. But it won’t be a walkover, a split decision. Collazo’s a tricky customer – doesn’t get the vapors in the spotlight, has enough junkyard dog to keep Shane honest, and the sneaky speed and accuracy to pile up points. But the lasting impression will be Shane’s combinations downstairs.
Joe Rein
After going 1-4 over a two-year period, Sugar Shane Mosley has recovered well. However, in Luis Collazo, he is facing a southpaw who is just coming into his prime. By the time Mosley is able to effectively adjust, he will be trailing by a large lead on the scorecards. Collazo by unanimous decision.
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