Peter’s Pick: Margarito vs. Mosley

In anticipation of this weekend’s welterweight clash between Antonio Margarito and “Sugar” Shane Mosley, I bring you the first 2009 installment of my picks.

I think Margarito will win a decision.

Mosley has an incredible ability to withstand punches while pressing forward and breaking down opponents in the process. He’s an immovable object that continuously moves forward with fists that signify danger to anyone who opposes him.

While Mosley traditionally has showcased superior boxing skills that could present problems for “The Tijuana Tornado”, based on recent performances those skills have diminished enough that Margarito should prevail Saturday.

Going into Mosley’s most recent fight against former welterweight champ Ricardo Mayorga, many people thought Sugar Shane would toy with his more limited Nicaraguan foe. But when fight night came, he looked sluggish and at times got tagged with punches from the wide swinging opponent.

Mosley was ahead on two of the three judges’ scorecards at the time he stopped him with one second remaining in the final round, but the fact that Mayorga was winning any rounds in this fight at all was astounding. This is the guy that was annihilated by Oscar De La Hoya in 2006 and by Felix Trinidad in 2005, both guys who were making comeback fights. He’s known as the “punching bag to the stars”: an opponent with the credentials to make things interesting (his run as welterweight champ in 2003 and two wins over Vernon Forrest) but ultimately, limited skills and history of looking good falling down.

Margarito is far better than Mayorga. He has a far superior chin, which will allow him to go forward for 12 rounds and do damage to Mosley, a capable but aging former champ. Just look at his most recent bout against Miguel Cotto were he lost nearly the entire first half of the fight on points.

 Therefore, even if Mosley wins the first few rounds, I think Margarito will rally late and use his phenomenal conditioning and will power to break Mosley down. Mosley has a better chin than Cotto, so I think this one goes the distance with Margarito getting his hand raised at the end.