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Talking Boxing Staff Picks Vargas/Mosley
SAT February 25, STAFF -
Talking Boxing's staff give their final thoughts and predictions on todays big "Showdown" between Fernando Vargas/Shane Mosley and Jhonny Gonzalez/Mark Johnson.
Jason Herron: Vargas by decision, Gonzalez by KO
Vargas/Mosley: Vargas goes back to his "Ferocious" ways. Vargas by close, exciting decision.
Gonzalez/Johnson: Johnson couldn't even make weight. Jhonny Gonzalez makes a big statement. Gonzalez by early KO.
Jay Duval: Mosley by KO/TKO 8, Johnson in 4
Vargas/Mosley: This is going to be a good fight, but I see this playing out with shades of the Vargas\De La Hoya fight in full swing!! Also, I was watching Vargas tonight on Telefutura and he looked ripped! Like he may be juicing again, I really hope not as that plan backfired on him last time.. I see Shane's speed being too much of a factor for "Nando" and his emotions are already getting the better of him, and he hasn't even stepped through the ropes yet! Shane looked really good on the scale tonight. If he comes to fight as good as he looks, and he has recovered his speed and his power, it just may be too much for Vargas. I see this one ending by knockout or stoppage in the corner in the 8th round!!
Gonzalez/Johnson: Too Sharp has seen better days, but he is still pound for pound one of the most talented fighters in the lower weight divisions. Gonzales is hungry and has a lot to prove to us. This fight certainly would be a good way to do it and for him to get on the map. If Johnson comes in the same way he did with Fernando Montiel back in "03" (I was ringside for that one at Mohegan Sun!), he should be able to bang Gonzales out of there in fairly quick fashion, lets say in about 4 rounds. Johnson needs to box effectively from behind his jab, and be weary of body shots which for some reason he just doesn't handle too well. If he can carry out and execute this plan or a reasonable facsimile, he can win big here tonight and get right back into the picture, and maybe get a rematch with Marquez.
First things first though, both Johnson and Mosley have extremely winnable fights before them tonight, they need to stick to their plans, lay the trap for their opponents, and execute with deadly precision, and they will come out on top in a big way. And without further..... LETS GET IT ON!!!
Carl Rice: Mosley by Decision, Gonzalez by TKO 9
Vargas/Mosley:Vargas looked really good at the weigh in coming in at 153.5 and I'm sure he worked hard to get there, but his rep for blowing up in weight between fights is well documented. I'm sure he's in good shape, but I feel that Mosley is in better overall condition, which will be a significant advantage for him. Vargas is too slick defensively for Mosley to catch him with KO type blows, but Mosley's level of activity, or rather, Vargas's level of inactivity against top level competition, win Mosley the fight. However, due to his performance, the sky will not be falling for Vargas and he will still be considered a viable opponent.
Gonzalez/Johnson: Johnson used to be one of the best fighters in the world and certainly was the best of the fighters under 122. But that was many years ago and now he's a 34 year old, has lost some of his reflexes, speed, hasn't fought in nearly 18 months, and was KOed in his last fight. Gonzales has the age, power, reach, and height advantage, all which spells a bad night for Johnson. Johnson gets stopped in 9.
Roger Gordillo: Vargas by SD, Gonzalez by late TKO
Vargas/Mosley: In a classic pick’em there’s no easy answer, Shane has the speed to get off more and look busier in exchanges and the movement to make his work look more effective. On the flipside you got Vargas who says he’s back to his old Feroz style of pressure,pressure,pressure in this he holds the exact formula to beat Mosley. In his last two fights Mosley has looked more and more sugar free than Sugar Shane, often fighting backwards on the defensive and cautiously avoiding exchanges often looking fearful of the latter. And yes I know Vargas was no Roberto Duran in his last two comeback fights, against Joval he gave his impersonation of himself as the “Mexican Mayweather”, Mexican he may be but Mayweather he is not. In his last outing he went the distance with veteran Champ Javier Castillejo despite dropping Castillejo in the fight he could not take him out and ended the fight with a swollen jaw which looked like it was broken. So with both fighters past their prime it’s a tough call I might regret this but I’ll go with Vargas by split decision. Based on Vargas making weight two weeks ahead of time and the anger that he displayed all he needs to do is jump on Shane and not stop (if his body allows him to) plus its hard for me to see fair scoring knowing that how big of a attraction Vargas can be.
Gonzalez/Johnson: Jhonny Gonzalez is a huge bantamweight that at times looks very beatable before he knocks his opponent out. There’s no mystery to Gonzalez he’s as big as his punch but that’s about it. Too sharp one of the best pure Boxers ever has seen better days as his last two losses have come via knockout. There is no way you can compare the two fighters as a prime Johnson would make Gonzalez look as stupid as Mayorga did when he entered the ring sporting a pink hairdo. But that was then and this is now and although I would like nothing more to see Johnson beat Gonzalez to set up one more big money fight for him (possibly a third fight with R. Marquez) I just don’t see it happening if Gonzalez keeps the pressure on Johnson I can’t see the wily old veterans legs holding up the full twelve. I hope I’m wrong but I’ll go with Gonzalez by late round TKO.
"JC" Jerry Casarez: Vargas by TKO, Johnson by UD
Vargas/Mosley: Vargas seems to have made weight without the wear and tear his body has had to endure in the past. He looks to have concentrated on having the conditioning to go 12 hard rounds over being overly muscular as in the past. Mosley hasn't looked like the "Sugar" of old since round one of the first Vernon Forrest fight. With that being said I think Vargas will win this fight by applying pressure and landing the harder shots. Fernando has fought the bigger,stronger guys his whole career and this is a rare occasion where he finds himself being at a size advantage. Look for Vargas to stop Shane late after breaking him down.
Gonzalez/Johnson: Look I know that Too Sharp is at the end of his career but I think he has a style and the experience to defeat Jhonny Gonzalez. While Gonzalez is the bigger,stronger man and has the physical advantages going in he lacks that world class experience that the former Pound for Pound great has. Maybe it's just the fan in me that watched Too Sharp as a regular during his years at the Forum in the 90's but I like Johnson to outbox Gonzalez for a UD.
Richard McManus: Mosley by UD
Vargas/Mosley: With all due respect to a great champion and true warrior I think Fernando Vargas is beginning to look like a shot fighter. Things have never been the same for him since Tito landed that first hook on him in Round One of their fight in 2000 and since then he's been rocked by guys that have no business rocking him (Wilfredo Rivera, Tony Marshall). Shane Mosley, on the other hand has been the victim of some incredibly bad match-making and even worse "in the ring" decisions. If he can fight the right fight against Vargas, i.e. go to the body and pick his spots while using his superior speed, he should pull out a clear unanimous decision.
Danny Marquez: Mosley by SD, Gonzalez by TKO
Vargas/Mosley: With both fighters having lack luster performances in their previous comeback fights this "Showdown" is pretty much dead even. However, I pick Mosley to pull it out, Mosley has the edge in the "chin" department, in Mosley's fights with Delahoya he was buzzed a few times but never as bad as Vargas was hurt by Delahoya's power. If Mosley does not get too carried away with his bravado and stand toe to toe with Vargas and utilize his speed he'll pull it off.
Gonzalez/Johnson: With nearly a year and a half off Johnson's tools can't be "too sharp", throw in his struggle to make weight and this future Hall of Famer's chances are "too slim". Jhonny's coming off a big win and has all the physical advantages in this fight and will prove to be too much for "too sharp" this late in his career. Gonzalez by TKO within 6.
Buster Paris: Mosley by TKO 11, Gonzalez by KO/TKO
Vargas/Mosley: Here's my 5 cent reason - I think of Vargas what everyone is thinking about Morales - that he's done - and yes I know Fernando looks really good lately, he's ripped and has that gleam in his eye, but I can't get past his last fight against Javier Castillejo (08.20.05) - he looked horrible in the closing rounds - and after the bout he sounded a bit shot. I don't think he has much left in the tank especially to fight Shane Mosley. My prediction - Mosley win TKO round 11!
Gonzalez/Johnson: Jhonny Gonzalez beats Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson" -- I love that name! - "Too Sharp" - it's too cool.Not much to say here - Mark hasn't fought since September 2004 and that time he got knocked out in the 8th. This could go one of two ways - it could be a very good fight with Johnson bravely fighting for his life against the 'star on the rise' Gonzalez -- or it could be that Mark's career is truly over and will again get knocked out in the middle to later rounds... Either way -- Jhonny wins.
Brian Skjold: Mosley by TKO 10, Gonzalez by TKO 7
Vargas/Mosley: It’s amazing how fast things can change in boxing. A few years ago both Vargas and Mosley were on the cusp of superstardom, now they are on the outside looking in. This fight could have happened earlier and been a real barnburner. Now it has lost some of its luster, but could still prove to be exciting with some potential toe to toe action. My gut feeling is Vargas still hasn’t matured enough to keep a solid game plan together for 12 rounds, despite all his potential. Shane is far from what he once was thought to be, but his natural boxing ability will be enough to carry the day in this fight. Mosley TKO 10.
Gonzalez/Johnson: Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson is the more decorated and was the more skilled fighter in his day, but he is also the older fighter, and was unable to make the weight after not having fought since 2004. All these factors together spell disaster for “Too Sharp”. Maybe I’m wrong, and Johnson still has 1 more great fight left in the tank...but I just don’t see it. Gonzalez is just too young and too strong, and that will be the difference. Gonzalez TKO 7.
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