Mosley contains Collazo at the Bay

Mosley contains Collazo at the Bay - wins easily!

Jeff Zimmerman at ringside - 2/13/2007

Although Sugar Shane Mosley (44-4, 37 ko's) may not be as sweet as he once was, he showed the 5,700 plus in attendance and HBO audience at the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas, Nevada that he still has the speed and ring generalship to win a tactical fight as he did by a unanimous decision over the heavily tattooed Luis Collazo (26-3, 12ko's). Mosley came out the aggressor from the opening bell and caught Collazo right away that sent him flying across the ring. Collazo quickly regained his composure and seemed to bother Mosley early on with his defensive approach and southpaw style. Chants of Luis seemed to pump up the Brooklyn native - who caught the public eye with a fight against Ricky Hatton that many observers felt he won - as he snapped back the head of Mosley with a straight left in round 6.

A the fight wore on, Mosley's consistent work on the body of Collazo finally allowed Mosley to tee off upstairs with multiple straight rights in between the gloves of Collazo. Finally in round 11, Mosley hurt Collazo and put him on the canvas in the closing seconds of the round. Although clearly a knockdown, Collazo was visibly off balance as Mosley connected. Collazo got up right away as the bell sounded.

Although Collazo was able to counter the more active Mosley occasionally throughout the fight, he did not do enough throughout to impress the judges. In the end, the judges had the fight 119-108, 118-109 and 118-109 for Mosley as he claimed the WBC Welterweight Title - Interim Title.

What's in store for the 35 year old Mosley remains to be seen. Although his first fight at 147lbs in a couple of years was a success and he obviously keeps himself in great shape, there doesn't appear to be a big payday left for the always congenial Mosley. With his former nemesis and now boss, Oscar De La Hoya, set to fight for potentially the biggest payday in boxing history, the end may be close for Mosley. Although he has not been publicized and appreciated like some of the bigger names of his era - De La Hoya, Vargas, Trinidad - he certainly deserves to be ranked right up there with the best fighters of the last decade.

As for the 25 year old and game Collazo, he should get more opportunities to hold a title in the welterweight division. His lack of punching power, 12 ko's in 29 fights, however will keep him from marquee status in the years to come.

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