Shane Mosley discusses Mikey Garcia vs Errol Spence Jr

Way back in the year 1999, Shane Mosley made the move from lightweight to welterweight, taking two tune-up bouts at 147 pounds before facing Oscar De La Hoya in a big money fight in 2000 in Los Angeles, which Mosley won by controversial split decision.

Now, we’ve got Mikey Garcia looking to go from 135 to 147 to face IBF titleholder Errol Spence Jr, and Mosley has some first-hand knowledge of that move.

Here’s a bit of what Mosley said on In This Corner with Brian Campbell and Rafe Bartholomew:

“The difference is I was bigger then, a bigger lightweight going up to welterweight than Mikey is. Mikey I think came from 126 to 130 to 135, and now trying to go to 147, it’s gonna be very hard and difficult for him to do.”

… “When we were coming up, Oscar was actually lighter than me as an amateur. He fought 132 and I fought 139. With Mikey it’s a little different. He’s fighting a guy that’s 147 but really could fight at 160. It’s a different thing. Oscar did fight at 160 but he’s really not a big fighter like that.”

Mosley, who retired with a record of 49-10-1 (41 KO) and world titles at 135, 147, and 154, isn’t just talking here. He was a monster at lightweight, whereas Garcia is a terrific boxer-puncher, but not a big guy at the weight. His move to 140 earlier this year in a win over Sergey Lipinets looked like that might have been his real limit as far as weight classes go.

But no matter what, it looks like Garcia (39-0, 30 KO) is indeed making this move to challenge Spence (24-0, 21 KO) later this year.