The Staple Center in Los Angeles, CA, is expecting over twenty thousand fights fans to attend Saturday night’s showdown between WBA welterweight champion Antonio “The Tijuana Tornado” Margarito and three-division world champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley. Both Mosley and Margarito hosted their final press conference yesterday afternoon.
“I know Mosley’s style, he knows mine,” stated Margarito. “He knows I’m not stepping back. I’ll be pressuring him to fight my fight. You will see a knockout!”
Top Rank and members of Margarito’s team displayed confidence and no doubt that Antonio Margarito (37-5, 27KO’s) will be victorious Saturday night.
“He might not have those boxing skills, but he makes it up with this power,” stated Margarito’s promoter, Bob Arum. “I feel confident on Margarito’s stand point. He will win; he will over come Mosley’s boxing skills. I believe people have bigger chins than others.”
“Mosley has fought very important fighters within his time, but Margarito is currently in his prime. I know Margarito will win,” said Margarito’s manager, Sergio Diaz.
On the other side of the table, Shane Mosley (45-5 38KO’s) had former champion in two-divisions Bernard Hopkins to sugar up the crowd.
“I respect Margarito for what he has done, but don’t think just because Mosley is older he’s going to loose, I have heard critics choosing sides because of the age difference. Boxing has proved any thing can happen, just ask Kelly Pavlik,”
Hopkins told the media. “I predict Mosley to win and not because he’s a business partner, but because I know what he’s capable of.”
“A lot of people are overlooking me and writing me off because of my age, but if Bernard Hopkins can and did win over Kelly Pavlik who is a lot younger fighter, then you’re going to be shocked at the outcome on Saturday night,” said Mosley. “I have seen his fight tapes, I have studied his style and I am ready.”
“I feel special, I just don’t feel good, I feel special and I am going to prove to everyone why.”
Shane Mosley has never been knocked out in a career spanning 292 pro and amateur fights. So what happens when Antonio Margarito cannot put Mosley away, as he did with Miguel Cotto? They go to the scorecards, and that is where Mosley has a boxer’s chance to win this fight.
HBO Sports is offering what should have been a Pay-Per-View event free on HBO, but also be the premium channel will be broadcasting the official Margarito-Mosley weight-in live on HBO.com 5:45 PM ET 3:00 PM PT on Friday. The Official weight-in is open to the public and will take place at the Nokia Plaza in Los Angeles (Across the street from the Staple Center). The address is: 777 Chick Hearn Court. Los Angeles, CA 90015. Parking is available at the Olympic West Parking /Lot W main streets Georgia and Cherry.