Connecting the dots to Mayweather-Mosley

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A source has told Fanhouse’s Lem Satterfield that there is work being done to create a long-discussed Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Shane Mosley fight May 1, most likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The men who know how far those talks have progressed are being vague about the discussions, giving credibility to the idea because they were both given opportunities to deny it.

‘I have two words: no comment,’ said Richard Schaefer, Mosley’s promoter and the man who has been retained by Mayweather to promote ‘Money’s’ next bout. ‘I can’t talk about anything. I’m just trying to get stuff done.’

Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe was similarly dodging.

‘Floyd has always said he wants to fight the biggest fight possible, no matter who it may be,’ Ellerbe told The Times today. ‘He’ll line up all these guys one by one and beat them.’

Since Mayweather’s proposed March 13 bout with Manny Pacquiao crashed in a dispute over drug-testing protocol earlier this month, logic says the next best bout to make would be against Mosley, who has more name recognition than another talented possible foe, Paul Williams.

Mayweather originally was going to fight the same night as Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey March 13 in Dallas, but it appears smarter thinking prevailed to get out of that date in Las Vegas. The Nevada State Athletic Commission last week tabled Schaefer’s request to stage a March 13 bout at the MGM Grand.

World welterweight champ Mosley still has a title fight coming Jan. 30 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas against Andre Berto, but a victory would make a Mayweather bout very sensible, with the winner poised to take on Pacquiao in the fall.

I remember years ago, around early 2000, when boxing analyst Al Bernstein told me the best idea in boxing would be to stage an old multi-fight series between Mosley and Mayweather. It never happened. Mosley ended up taking on Oscar De La Hoya and others, and Mayweather has selected other foes, such as Juan Manuel Marquez, but perhaps it is happening now.

And in a year that started so poorly for the sport, with the Mayweather-Pacquiao talks imploding, this is the next best thing.

-- Lance Pugmire