By Ishe Smith

To say I called it would be an understatement, I wrote a story a couple of months back stating that if Mosley did not get the proper guys in camp - he would lose to Floyd Mayweather Jr.  I have all the respect in the world for Karl [Dargan] and Rock [Allen], but they can't replicate Mayweather’s style one bit, and as the fight progressed you could see confusion and frustration on Mosley’s face. 

I spent the last couple of weeks helping Mayweather prepare for Mosley, along with Steve Forbes and a couple of other guys.  What I saw in this camp was far from amazing, it was unreal the things I had seen this guy do throughout the camp. I have never in my 24-years of boxing witnessed anything like this before.  Not only does Mayweather believe he is the best of all-time, he trains like it too. 

I witnessed Mayweather work out for two to three hours straight, and only taking ten second water breaks - with no bell, no minute rest, and no horse play. In the gym Mayweather is all about his business. I honestly can’t remember a single time throughout the entire camp that I even saw him get tired, and that includes during sparring, and regular workouts. 

What you see on HBO's 24/7 and what you perceive of him is really not the way he is. People buy into the controversy, and without that kind of persona I don’t think he would be the superstar he is today. Who do you think carries these pay-per-views?  Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez, and now Mosley - did not carry the pay-per-views, Mayweather did.  Those guys could fight each other in a round-robin tournamentin one night and I highly doubt they do a million buys on pay-per-view.

Mayweather went up against the U F C and did 1 million buys by fighting Marquez, I love Marquez but let's keep it real, Marquez won't reach half that number by fighting Juan Diaz come July 31st.  Is it a coincidence that the U F C event is taking place one week later than Mayweather vs. Mosley? I think not, because Dana White is not a dumb business man, and he wants no part of Money Mayeather when it comes to a pay-per-view duel. 

Mayweather believes he is the greatest ever. When he makes those statements about Ali, Leonard and Robinson - I wondered, like wow...really Floyd.  Then I pondered for a bit and thought to myself why shouldn’t he think he is better than them?  Why should he think anyone is better than him? I don’t think Ali was going around town screaming Joe Louis was better than him. If I remember correctly Ali was stating that he was the greatest of all time!  So why can’t Floyd be our modern day Ali?  Why do people hate that he thinks he is the best?  I don’t have the answers to those questions, but I don’t have a problem with a man not wanting to say another man is better than him.

Best Ran Camp I’ve Been a Part Of

I must admit that he runs a very tight organized ship when it comes to training. Everything is perfect, from the music, to the sparring, and everything else is pretty much run like a factory.  Everyone is professional in terms of dealing with you and making sure all your needs are met and accommodated.  I had some very good sparring sessions with Floyd. The late Vernon Forrest and Floyd were probably the hardest guys I have ever worked with in terms of sparring.  Floyd was very gracious in terms of me joining the camp and helping him down the stretch and I was humbled at the opportunity to spar with him because the last time we laced them up I was 19 years old. 

I refused to do interviews or offer opinions on the fight because me being a part of Mayweather's camp. I didn’t think that was fair or right to them to offer what I felt Shane needed to do, so I pretty much kept those opinions to myself because it was more about respect for me. Unless you visited my Facebook page, I highly doubt you even knew I was a part of Mayweather's camp. 

Final Impressions

As I said earlier, I knew the outcome beforehand. I knew that Shane would put up a good fight, but by sparring both of them I also knew that Floyd was 10 times smarter than Shane, and that to me was the key.  Mayweather anticipates what you’re doing before you even do it. His boxing IQ is through the roof, and that is why I think he will beat Manny Pacquiao.  Floyd showed not only that he is a superior boxer, but he will get down to the nitty gritty and fight as well. All of that coupled with his willingness to prove he is the best, and to see him train like he is the best - I don’t think there is anyone out there who can beat him right now.  Greatest of all time?  I don’t know about that yet, but I have no problem comparing him with the greats or calling him the greatest of this era. 

 

Look At Myself

I think the worst thing to do when you’re in my shoes is have to sit back and wait...to have to sit back and watch guys be promoted in a better fashion than you.  I understand the point where I’m at. I know I need to rack up some wins, and some quality ones at that, but when you’re not even being given the opportunities it is a tough pill to swallow.  Coming of the Daniel Jacobs fight you would have thought I would have at least had one fight already.

It's almost been a year since I've been in the ring and the only fight I've been offered during this time was a fight against Gennady Golvokin in Germany at 160-pounds. I took that fight but unfortunately I injured myself days before I was set to go. I’ve had 3 fighters turn me down in this time span, Derrick Ennis, Verno Phillips (great fighter, enjoy retirement champ), and now Kassim Ouma.  Ouma may be the worst of them all, because he formally took the fight which was set to take place at the Khan-Malignaggi card at the Garden on May 15th, and he started popping off at the mouth, and suddenly just backed out of the fight. 

What is more astonishing than Ouma accepting and then turning down the fight is the fact that he is fighting Keith Holmes now.  When people see you giving Mayweather quality work, and you’re busting your ass in the gym, it's hard to not have a answer to why you're not fighting. Even the champ himself was curious to the fact when I would see some time in the ring.  I don’t know what to say. I am just going to continue to pray and stay in shape, and hopefully the water breaks soon, because this pregnancy is long overdue! 

The disdain I have for Sergio Mora has probably reached its boiling point. Nearly to the point where we don’t even speak anymore. I just can’t stomach the guy that much.  He’s full of you know what, and if he would have made one false move this past Saturday at the MGM Lounge Bar, then it would have definitely produced that much needed fight I have long for - but I just wouldn’t have gotten paid for it. 

My dislike for him started after the Contender episode where he beat me aired. He lied by saying he wasn’t hurt in the fight and basically condoned the 5-0 decision that was rendered.  Since then he has gone on to be a champion for 3 months. I guess you have to respect a guy who held a championship just as long as I hold my piss.  I found great pleasure in helping the late great Vernon Forrest the second time around with sparring. That was priceless to me. 

Again, Mora will flood the airways with what have I done, and I’m not fighting him blah blah blah. Bottom line is he hasn’t done nothing besides beat a under-trained Vernon Forrest who destroyed him in the rematch.  I say do it again, and make it a real fight this time, but I know he won’t do it. Sergio protects his record more than birds protect their nests.  Anyway the Shack will be back soon with much to talk about....until then boxing fans I'm signing off.