Many boxers throughout history have chosen “Sugar” as their nickname. The most famous and decorated have certainly been Ray Robinson and Ray Leonard, but in modern times, another great champion revived the beloved moniker, carving out a brilliant, long, and successful career: the talented Shane Mosley. Rising to prominence in the lightweight division, the Californian fighter climbed through weight classes, facing an impressive number of top-tier opponents and capturing world titles up to the super welterweight division. On his 53rd birthday, let’s revisit the key moments of his boxing journey.
Overpowering Mexicans to World Championship Glory
California borders Mexico, and it’s inevitable for an emerging boxer from that state to face a large number of tough Mexican fighters early in their professional career. Mosley grew accustomed to pressure, perfecting a counterpunching style that allowed him to evade opponents’ attacks with masterful slips before landing explosive and lethal punches. When he earned his first world title shot, with an impressive KO percentage (22 knockouts in 23 victories), he faced a world champion tailor-made for him: the rugged South African Phillip Holiday. The IBF belt holder had a formidable chin, but his constant attack and high work rate were completely neutralized by the young challenger, who, despite a brief slowdown in the middle rounds, dominated the fight more than the judges’ scorecards reflected.
A Shining Reign and the Lesson Given to De La Hoya
As the lightweight world champion, Sugar Shane was simply unstoppable. In the span of a year and a half, he made eight title defenses, all ending in stoppages, with none of his challengers proving competitive. Mosley won nearly every round and finished his fights in spectacular fashion. Particularly impressive were his dominations of seasoned fighters John John Molina and Jesse James Leija, boxers who had spent years at the top of the rankings, but whom Sugar rendered completely powerless. Enticed by the lucrative purses in the welterweight division, Mosley made a two-division leap and soon earned a shot at the hugely popular Oscar De La Hoya. DLH was the favorite, and for about half the fight, he seemed poised to win, advancing slowly and clearing a path with his infamous left jab. However, from the seventh round onward, Mosley showcased his best: switch-hitting, sudden bursts of speed, mixing head and body shots, and a variety of moves that left De La Hoya confused and helpless, resulting in a deserved loss.
The First Setbacks and the Controversial Rematch with De La Hoya
Just when Mosley was at his peak, widely regarded as one of the world’s top fighters, he met his nemesis: the powerful and undefeated Vernon Forrest. Their first fight was nothing short of a massacre. Forrest floored Sugar in the first round and unleashed such a barrage of brutal punches that Mosley remained dazed and disoriented for most of the subsequent rounds. Mosley was far more competitive in their immediate rematch, but Forrest’s style—using his long reach to control distance and landing precise punches—combined with his welterweight physique, proved too much for the former champion. Mosley once again lost by decision. To shake off the disappointment and earn another big payday, Mosley moved up in weight again to challenge his old rival, De La Hoya, for the WBA and WBC super welterweight titles. This time, the fight played out very differently: De La Hoya wisely fought as an outfighter, leaving the initiative to Mosley and tagging him from a distance. Although Mosley clawed back some points in the final rounds, most observers saw him as the loser, but not the judges, who controversially awarded him a unanimous decision.
From Wright to Vargas: Fall and Resurrection
The 154-pound division, however, was not one where Mosley could dominate, and this became evident quickly when he faced the dangerous Ronald “Winky” Wright. With his excellent jab, nearly impenetrable defense, and unorthodox boxing style, made even trickier by his southpaw stance, Wright inflicted a devastating and decisive defeat on Sugar, visually appearing significantly bigger and stronger. Once again, Mosley performed better in the rematch, but as with Forrest, his improvements weren’t enough to reverse the outcome—only to narrow the margins on the scorecards. On the other hand, Mosley’s double clash with the brave Fernando Vargas was much more favorable. After an exciting and evenly matched first fight, which ended due to a grotesque swelling near Vargas’ eye, Mosley dominated every moment of their rematch, sealing it with a stunning KO and essentially ending his rival’s career.
The Epic Victory Over Margarito and One Last Thrill
Despite the double victory over Vargas, Mosley’s glory days seemed to be over. Though still dangerous—he gave rising star Miguel Cotto a tough fight—Sugar no longer appeared to have the brilliance and flair of his prime, an opinion reinforced by the difficulties caused by the crude and unrefined puncher Ricardo Mayorga, before Mosley knocked him out with one second left in the final round. It’s no surprise, then, that the boxing world counted Mosley out when he announced yet another world title attempt against the Mexican powerhouse Antonio Margarito. In a fight now famous for the scandalous hand wraps controversy, which were removed from Margarito before the bout, Mosley delivered his final masterpiece. He comfortably handled Margarito’s aggressive but predictable attacks and bombarded him with such a barrage of right hands that he stopped him after nine one-sided rounds. Before his decline, Sugar gave his fans one last thrill: facing the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., Mosley rocked him hard in the second round with two brutal rights to the temple, coming within a breath of a legendary upset that never materialized.
Had he stayed longer in the lightweight weight class, Sugar Shane Mosley would probably have written unforgettable pages in the history of the division, establishing himself as one of the greatest 135-pounders of all time. However, his hunger for glory and lucrative paydays pushed him beyond his comfort zone, perhaps hurting his legacy in historical evaluations. Nonetheless, we cannot help but be grateful for the incredible number of high-level challenges he gifted us throughout his career.