Mora vs Mosley – Sergio Mora and Shane Mosley failed in their objectives on Saturday night after fighting out a draw in a light-middleweight match that swung one way and then the other.
For Mosley 39, a chance at one last super-fight will have to wait. Former WBC Champion Mora frustrated the former four-time world champion in a contest that failed to ignite the Staples Center crowd’s frustration.
Mora now moves to 22-1-2. Any hopes of getting back into world title contention hang on a probable rematch in a few months.
Some reporters in press row had the decision swinging either way, with some having 117-111 to Mora and others having 117-111 to Mosley.
Both fighters started slowly, with the first three rounds being nothing to write home about.
The action picked up in the fourth as Mora tried to take the fight to Mosley, who seemed happy to hold on.
Mora vs Mosley
With Mora still controlling the pace, Mora caught Mosley with a clean left in the sixth round. Mosley returned with his work on the inside in the seventh.
Mosley came more into the fight in the later rounds and seemed to challenge Mora to a slugfest without success. “The Latin Snake” stayed out of reach with his long jab.
Mora seemed to be tiring by the eleventh. Mosley trapped Mora on the ropes. He wanted to try to end the fight there and then, catching Mora flush with the best punch of the night.
Both men went for it in the last round and gave the subdued crowd something to cheer till the final bell.
After which, two scores read 115-113 (Mora) and 116-112 (Mosley). The final judge Lou Moret scored it 114-114.
“Sugar” Shane’s record stands at 46-6-1. The result was the former three-weight world champion’s first career draw.
A probable rematch with Mora is on the cards.
Undercard results
On the undercard, former WBO super-bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon gained a shot at the featherweight version.
He knocked out Antonio Escalante in the third round with a lovely right hook.
Victor Ortiz may have ended the career of former world champion Vivian Harris.
Ortiz dropped him three times in the second. He finished the job in the third round to move to 28-2-1.
Finally, unbeaten Saul “Canelo” Alvarez came of age as the 20-year-old beat an aging Carlos Baldimir with an impressive 6th-round KO.
Alvarez improved his record to 34-0-1.
WBN Editor Phil Jay is an experienced boxing news writer. Follow WBN on Facebook @officialworldboxingnews, Instagram, and Twitter @worldboxingnews.
