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Shane Mosley Jr.’s victory lap around the ring lasted nearly as long as his Big Knockout Boxing debut Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay.
Mosley, the son of boxing Hall of Famer “Sugar” Shane Mosley, knocked out Jason Kelly (3-1) 51 seconds into the opening round of his junior middleweight bout.
Mosley Jr. (5-1) landed a massive left hook to the body of Kelly while the fighters were clinched to drop Kelly to his knees.
“It almost felt like I touched the other side of his stomach,” Mosley Jr. said. “I saw the face that he made and I knew it was over.”
Mosley Jr. followed with a quick combination that sent Kelly to the mat for good, and gave him the fastest knockout in the promotion’s brief history.
“My dad always tells me not to second-guess myself,” Mosley Jr. said. “For this fight he said, “He’s a (slam) dunk. Treat him that way.” And that’s what I went out and did.”
Mosley’s five professional wins, all by knockout, have lasted less than 13 minutes combined.
The fight was Mosley Jr.’s Big Knockout Boxing debut, and his first fight inside the Mandalay Bay, where his father fought four times during his career. His father fought 15 of his 59 professional fights in Las Vegas, including his 2003 win over Oscar De La Hoya, and losses to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
“It’s great to have the experience of fighting in Mandalay Bay,” Mosley Jr. said. “It was an incredible experience to have my dad there, and all of my family. It was just awesome.”
It was already Mosley Jr.’s third fight this year, and his father plans on continuing that quick pace as his son’s career progresses.
The fight was part of the promotion’s third event, which was headlined by a heavyweight title fight that saw Julian Pollard (7-0) claim the inaugural BKB heavyweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Rodney Hernandez (7-3-1).
But Mosley Jr.’s knockout win brought the crowd to its loudest roar of the night. He won $10,000 for the “Punch of the Night,” and more importantly – his father’s approval.
“When you are the coach, and especially the father, it’s like you are fighting yourself.” Mosley Sr. said. “I wasn’t nervous like I thought he would lose, but I wanted him to do the best that he possibly could, and he did. I am proud of him.”
If the 24-year-old can keep finishing opponents like this, it won’t be long before he is no longer referred to as “Sugar Shane’s Son.”
“When I’m at my best nobody can beat me,” Mosley Jr. said. “ I want people to know that I’m not some spoiled kid. This is what I love to do. I fight. It’s in my blood.”
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