agREED. Yep...folks are going crazy overrating Shane based on a win over a fighter who is basically the current Welterweight version of Mustafa Hamsho.
Why not just make it @ 135? Pryor fought at lightweight and there is no "assuming" in what Mosley would have been like at a different weight class.
Pryor takes the more rounds and the question is, can Mosley with his right crosses and body hooks, which he would land plenty of, slow The Hawk down enough to take over late. I don't think Mosley would quite catch him up. Pryor by close decision
The margarito fight has no bearing on this match-up other than illustrating that Shane has the ability to be accurate and powerful when given openings, something he has shown throughout his career. Forrest is a good defensive fighter, Winky is a great defensive fighter, Cotto is...well...orthodox. Pryor is great for what he is. I have and will continue to maintain that his reputation is on beating up an old man twice, and he never proved he could hang with a guy who could keep him honest. Shane could keep him honest, and with Pryor walking through shots and using his offense for defense, Shane would hurt him bad. Shane can actually match handspeed with Pryor, which is also something Aaron didn't experience in a big fight.
Aaron Pryor is one of my all time favs as you know, how is Shane more overrated? Mosley has wins over prime versions of Oscar, and Margarito... Pryor beat Arguello. Thats IT! I wont even count Cervantes, as Cervantes was like 90 years old when Aaron got to him. Shane from a historical stand point has accomplished alot more, and will go down on all time lists higher than Pryor. Having said all that, I probably would go with The Hawk by decision. But it'd be the toughest fight of Aaron's life, as he never faced anyone as fast as himself. And forget being AS fast, Mosley is FASTER than Pryor was. And at least AS strong. Those two factors alone would be problematic for Pryor. Shane would be a live dog. In fact, in the whole history of 135-140, the only two I'd make clear favorites over Shane are Duran, and Sweet Pea. Everybody else, Shane would either beat, or be a VERY live underdog, this includes against Chavez and Pryor. Especially against Chavez.
I'm picking Mosley by devastating KO. Keep in mind though that I never actually saw Pryor fight before. However, I'm sure that I'm right.
Pryor never faced a fast and powerful boxer like Mosley. I think Shane beats him nicely at that weight.
I'd pick Mosley. Pryor is a greater 140'er, but from a head-to-head standpoint he's a good match-up for Shane. Mosley is significantly bigger, is considerably faster, arguably hits harder, is physically stronger (he's just as tough as Pryor---maybe even moreso---and has proven it at 147 and 154), and is better tested against superior competition. Plus, with Aaron's defense and come-forward, volume punching style, I like Shane's chances. Agreed on Mosley vs all-time 135-140'ers. Duran and Pea would beat him. Probably Chavez too. But I'd pick Shane over Floyd Jr, DLH, Tszyu, and yes, Pryor.
Chavez don't beat no Mosley. Mosley's tough enough to stand up to that bullshit body punching for 12 rds and would be fucking Chavez' slow ass up at the same time.
I'd favor Chavez over Mosley at 135, but only a fool would write off Shane's chances. And either way, it'd be a close fight. Damn near a pick em. Chavez made a career off of "breaking" his opponents, but he wouldnt break Shane. No way! I'd also favor Pryor over Mosley, but Shane would have an excellent chance against Pryor also. Pretty much the only two guys from 135-140 in history who I'd pick over Shane WITH CONFIDENCE are Duran, and Sweet Pea. Everybody else... I'd either pick Shane to beat, or give him an even money chance.
Mosley had some of the most ordinary opposition of any champion ever at 135... it took him nine rounds to stop feather fisted former Jr. lightweight Jesse James leija (the same one that DLH absolutley destroyed SEVERAL years earlier) ... There is no way Leija lasts that long with Chavez... Chavez battered Jose Luis Ramirez and virtually executed Edwin Rosario at 135... those two fights alone trump Mosley's entire regin there Im not saying Shane wouldn't be competetive, but to make him a favorite is horsehit
Opposition be damed... Mosley has all the tools to have given Chavez a VERY tough fight, and Mosley pulling out a win isnt at all outta the question. But I never said I'd FAVOR Mosley. I'd make Chavez the favorite.. but not by aot. And lets not pretend like Chavez never gets overrated.
He does at higher weights like 140 and (gasp) 147, but if anything there is a tendency to UNDERRATE him at 135 and 130 around here, with people equating the over-the-hill crybaby Chavez with the hungry fighter he was in his prime
I just watched Chavez-Rosario last week, I'm not underrating Julio. But with all due respect to Rosario, who was a very good fighter... but Chapo is no Mosley. I think you're underrating Shane.
Chapo hit about twice as hard as Mosley and I would argue his actual boxing ability was superior... Shane was FASTER and TOUGHER, I will grant you that definitley And lets be real here, Chavez whitewashed Rosario, he won every round, just brutalized him. If Rosario had troubled Chavez, I could understand the relevance of a Mosley/Rosario comparison... but I could just as easily say John-John Molina is no Chavez, and I could further that point by saying that Molina gave Mosley more of ana rgument than Rosario gave Chavez
Mosley's speed, SIZE, toughness(both physically and mentally) skill, and ability to rise to the occassion in big fights would be highly problematic for Chavez. Rosario hitting twice as hard as Mosley is a huge exaggeration btw. And whilst Chapo had more power than Shane.... in terms of speed, stamina, heart, and toughness... Chapo comes nowhere CLOSE to Mosley. PLUS Shane would do something to Chavez that almost none else did... he'd punish his body.
Shane was NEVER a big puncher, Chapo was one of the hardest hitters of all time... it is not even close Lots of guys TRIED to go to Chavez body, but doing that left them more vulnerable to his punches Shane's "ability to rise to the occassion in big fights" ???? Outside of Hoya, where is this true??? he had the chance to define his career against Forrest in the rematch and chose to throw one shot and then hug the whole time... the Wright fight was a big fight... and he did nothing but throw one and then clinch, losing a wide decision... and you cant sue the Margarito fight because you told anyone and everyone that Margarito was a scrub with no skills... how can Shane be given credit as some great fighter based on a win over a guy that you think was a terrible fighter? Mosley is overrated, he had one guy's number (DLH) and arguably lost the second fight
