[bob_bask]

Ray Robinson



Shane Mosley




Here's four key questions about the May 6 megafight in Las Vegas.

1. Will it be a good fight?

Despite fans having had little time to demand this fight, unlike the Robinson-De la Hoya fight or the never-to-be Robinson-Trinidad fight, they have lucked out here as this may just be the best possible match up between two fighters in any of the weight class right now.

We have two peak fighters, the best two fighters not only at welterweight but arguably (Mosley?) in the sport and one of them (Robinson) is the sport's biggest star by some distance.

Mosley likes to employ "power boxing" and when has Robinson even been in a bad fight?

2. What titles are at stake?

Simple. Every alphabet title that seems to matter, so that's Robinson long held WBA and WBC welterweight titles and Mosley's newly won IBF welterweight title.

There is also the status as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter, which should Mosley beat Robinson, he would have a good claim to the title.

3. Who has the most to lose?

Robinson. Yes he has already achieved incredible things in the sport. Yes he is a future Hall of Famer. Yes he is undefeated, and yes, Trinidad aside, he has fought everybody he possibly could have. But it's for precisely all of the above, in particular perhaps his unblemished record, that should he lose some will be quick to rip a stripe or two off of him.

Mosley while a former lightweight champion, and probably the best in the class for a time, has not yet begun to build his legacy and should he lose this fight, as is general consensus, then no considerable harm should befall his reputation.

4. Who will win?

Mosley is priced as a 6-1 underdog and that area seems a fair reflection. He is an offense fury who likes to throw an almost wild like amount of punches, astonishingly quick hands and feet, with serious power in both hands.

However the favourite, unbeaten in 89 fights is something of an underrated defensive wizard, something which is rarely mentioned due to the raving, and rightly so, about his offensive strengths.

Upset? A braver man than me would pick against Robinson.

Robinson by late stoppage.