BERT SUGAR'S PRE-FIGHT BREAKDOWN

January 22, 2008 - by Bert Sugar with Steve Small

STRENGTHS OF BOTH FIGHTERS

ANTONIO MARGARITO

- Margarito is relentless in his attack and seems to get better as the fight wears on.

- Has a physical advantage over Mosley. A tall, rangy welterweight. Margarito is five-eleven to Mosley's five-nine and has an advantage in reach as well.

- Is one of the most powerful punchers in the game today, possessing a bodacious body attack, especially with his left hand, delivered primarily with an uppercut.

- Has a cast-iron chin, one which, 'tis said, would enable him to withstand anything-even lighting, which if it were to strike him, the lightning would be the one taken to the hospital.

SUGAR SHANE MOSLEY

- Mosley has blinding speed of hand and foot and greater all-around skills than Margarito.

- Possesses one of the most dominating jabs in boxing.

- Mosley knows how to pace himself-won the last round in both fights against Oscar De La Hoya, knocked out Ricardo Mayorga in the last round, and won the last round in a close, controversial loss to Miguel Cotto.

- Mosley trains with Mexican boxers and knows how to handle their pressure.

WEAKNESSES OF BOTH FIGHTERS

MARGARITO

- Margarito's style is one-dimensional. Fights flat-footed and plants himself in front of his opponent in a "take-one-to-give-one" style.

- Speed and movement bother Margarito, as witnessed by his fight with Paul Williams and the first six rounds against Cotto.

- Margarito throws punches from every angle, many times wide punches, which gives Moseley a chance to counter him with his straight punches.

- With little or no head movement. Margarito will be "there" for Mosley's counters.

- The question is: Margarito was "up" for his fight with Cotto, his reputation-making fight; will he be as "up" for Mosley?

MOSLEY

- Shane fights with his chin up; and his body leaning backwards, making him vulnerable to left hooks and uppercuts, Margarito's best punches.

- Once one of the best combination fighters and jabbers in the sport, Shane has -with the notable exception of his fight with Luis Collazo-foregone the jab and must recapture his former style of using both hands and doubling and tripling up on his jab to keep Margarito on the outside.

- At a distinct disadvantage in height and reach against the taller, rangier Margarito.

- Once a dominating lightweight, where he was 32-0 with 30 KO's, Sugar Shane has not brought that devastating punch north with him with rare exceptions: the Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga fights.

WHAT EACH MUST DO TO WIN

MARGARITO

- Margarito must fight tall, negating Mosley's speed with his height, thus making Mosley reach and open to Margarito's counters.

- The man known as the "Tijuana Tornado" must keep the pressure on Mosley, forcing Sugar Shane to back up.

- Margarito must try to move Mosley into corners and onto the ropes where Mosley will be forced to trade punches with the harder-hitting Margarito.

MOSLEY

- Cotto showed how to beat Margarito, land and move, but didn't have the stamina to withstand Margarito's constant pressure.

- Sugar Shane should use his jab to control the tempo of the fight and look to win rounds early, but be wary of wearing down late.

- Mosley needs to use his speed in this fight, both with his hands and with his feet. There is no reason to stand in front of Margarito and trade punches.

- Shane needs to work behind his jab, move in close to Margarito and throw three- and four-punch combinations and clinch or roll underneath and circle away, moving laterally.