By Ishe Smith

Rumors are circulating and running wild that Shane Mosley and Floyd "Money" Mayweather are very close to closing a deal for a potential fight that will be showcased on HBO PPV May 1st.  This fight has the makings of an all out war. Mosley will bring his “A” Game and Money May, well, he always brings his best. 

As far as speed, I will slightly give that edge to Floyd. The advantage in power goes to Mosley. Defense, well, we all know Floyd has the clear advantage in this category. The one intangible, that in my opinion will determine the outcome of the fight is ring smart.  Floyd is by far one of the smartest boxers I have ever seen in the ring. He knows what you are going to do before you even do it. Floyd is like a master chess player luring you into making moves before he yells checkmate. 

Shane on the other hand has looked flustered in some of his fights. The two losses to Winky Wright for example. I still remember how he looked confused, non receptive to instructions, and dazed in the corner, and not just that one either; he looked the same in the Vernon Forrest fights as well. 

It's still an excellent fight that should draw a lot of fans and a million+ pay-per-view buys. It’s a fight that will be talked about and hyped until the day of the fight. And once that bell rings, the anticipation will be overwhelming for us just as it will be for them. 

Boxing is dead?  I am so tired of hearing that. Boxing is very much alive and doing quite well. The first quarter is looking great for our sport. Lets just get rid of these incompetent judges and we will be ok.

Curtis Stevens has risen from the depths of the forgotten and has a shot at redemption tonight against Jesse Brinkley in what should be should be a good scrap. I give Stevens the edge in this one. I have never been thrilled with Brinkley’s work ethnic or abilities.  Curtis has good power and I believe he will put on one of the best performances of his career tonight.

Erislandry Lara feels he is ready for the likes of Alfredo Angulo, Sergio Martinez, and Kermit Cintron, and was quite shocked that these three turned down fights with him.  This is the pros young man. They have nothing to gain by fighting you at this time. You have absolutely no drawing power, you bring no money to the table, and furthermore you only have nine fights. Beat someone before you start calling out the names.  Like Riddick Bowe told Jorge Luis Gonzalez - "this is the Pro’s" - then mercifully went on to knock his ass out.  You’re a puppy, deal with Grady Brewer first (which wont be a easy task) and get off the breast milk and then maybe people will take you serious.

Eddie Chambers is America’s last hope at a heavyweight champion. I wish him the best…..Manfredo is back in action tonight. Vanda is a very durable opponent. Manfredo will have to work for the victory. Revamped dedication is showing with his return to 160lbs and I don’t see him having much of a problem with Vanda.

It’s pretty clear that Vanes wants no part of Sergio Martinez. Top Rank may have kept that bib on too long…..Again, when will Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fight someone with a pulse…Somebody asked whether I fight Vanes, I answered yes, but Mr. B wont do it. Who is Mr. B?  That’s no other than Top Rank matchmaker Brad Goodman himself, the man who use to make matches for Guilty Boxing - who helped make around 6-8 matches in my career.  Brad is by far no dummy. He is quite intelligent, and he knows very well what I would do with Vanes.

Had I seemed like I had no fight left in me like Kassim Ouma, he would have called me. Problem is, Ouma had more fight than they anticipated, which exposed Top Rank for overselling his stock but surprise surprise the truth came out, It's kind of like having kids hit a Piñata at a party only to burst it open and no candy is inside.  I am signing off. Remember this is my two cents, it is always just my two cents.

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