David Avanesyan will defend his interim WBA World welterweight title against Sugar Shane Mosley over a scheduled 12 rounds at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday, May 28.
A pro since 2009 (21-1-1, 11 KOs), 27-year-old “Ava” won the title by stopping Charlie Navarro via ninth-round TKO last November. First-ranked by the WBA, the Russian has never been stopped, his only defeat coming in his second fight, losing to Andrey Klimov by unanimous decision in July 2009. He drew against Aslanbek Kozaev in March 2013.
Future Hall of Famer Mosley, 44, first entered the ring an amazing 23 years ago (49-9-1, 41 KOs, 1 NC). Third-ranked by the WBA, Mosley is a former IBF lightweight, WBC welterweight, WBA super welterweight, WBC super welterweight, and WBA welterweight champ. Fighting out of Pomona, California, Sugar Shane won the IBF World lightweight title by beating Philip Holiday via unanimous decision in August 1997, the WBC World welterweight title by beating Oscar De La Hoya via split decision in June 2000, the WBA Super World super welterweight and WBC World super welterweight titles by beating De La Hoya via unanimous decision in September 2003, and the WBA Super World welterweight title by stopping Antonio Margarito via ninth-round TKO in January 2009. But Mosley’s heyday is in the rear-view mirror, having lost three of his last six, though he did score the WBA Continental super welterweight title in his most recent fight, stopping Patrick Lopez via 10th-round TKO last December. Cement-chinned, Mosley has only been stopped once, when he sought the vacant WBA International super welterweight title, Anthony Mundine winning by seventh-round TKO in November 2013. His sole draw came in his September 2010 bout with Sergio Mora. The no contest, due to an accidental head butt in the third, came in his February 2003 match with Raul Marquez.
Trained for this fight by the legendary Roberto Duran, Mosley promises to “annihilate” the current interim champ.
The bout will air on CBS Sports Network.
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
