MAYWEATHER PLAYS DOWN MOSLEY TALK
Floyd Mayweather Jr has poured scorn on a possible fight with WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley after the pair’s confrontation last week in Las Vegas following his victory over Juan Manuel Marquez.
Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs), also a junior partner in Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions company, gatecrashed Mayweather’s post-fight television interview at the end of his unanimous decision win over Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, an event co-promoted by Golden Boy.
Mayweather had just returned to the ring for the first time since knocking out Ricky Hatton in December 2007 and he stretched his unbeaten professional record to 40-0 (25 KOs) with an impressive victory over his Mexican rival.
Mosley, 38, wants to face the 32-year-old Mayweather having win his welterweight world title belt from Antonio Margarito in January but the younger man, speaking on American television channel HBO on Saturday night, said he would resist such a challenge.
“I guess Bernard Hopkins (also a Golden Boy junior partner) told Shane Mosley to get in the ring and be disrespectful but like I said before, Shane Mosley is a good fighter, I wish him nothing but the best in his career and the only thing I want to do is continue to be the best I can be in my career.
“In 1999, we tried to fight Shane 10 years ago and he turned the fight down and then in 2006 when he fought Fernando Vargas, right after the fight he said he had a toothache and he wanted to go on vacation with his family.
“I guess now that he’s 38 and his career is coming to an end and everybody knows they can make huge money with Floyd Mayweather, everybody is shooting shots at me.
“But I wish Shane Mosley nothing but the best in his career.”
Mayweather is believed to be waiting to face the winner of the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight which takes place in Las Vegas on November 14 with Pacquaio the more lucrative possibility.
Mayweather added: “They’re both good fighters but it’s not about the money, it’s for the love of the sport. I love the sport of boxing but of course it’s got to make business sense.
“I just want to keep fighting. Leonard (Ellerbe) and Al (Heyman) handle my business outside the ring and when it’s time to get inside that square circle that’s when I take care of my business.”
