The Neutral Corner

Marcus Henry, Newsday: You have to wonder what made "Sugar" Shane Mosley decide to take a fight like this. Considering that Miguel Cotto, a more powerful puncher than Mosley, couldn't hurt Antonio Margarito, it's hard for me to believe that Mosley could hurt him. Mosley still has the quickness and defense to take Margarito the distance, but he doesn't have the power to slow him down. Look for Margarito in a unanimous decision.

Wallace Matthews, Newsday: I'm going with Margarito by decision or late KO because if Mosley couldn't keep up with Cotto more than a year ago, how is he going to beat Margarito, who proved himself Cotto's master just a couple of months ago. Mosley looked--and worse, sounded--like a shot fighter against Cotto and I can't imagine he's gotten any better since then. Meanwhile, Margarito has made tremendous improvement over the past couple of years and could just be reaching his prime. Don't see how Mosley can handle that.

Dmitriy Salita, top ranked junior welterweight: I think it will be an interesting matchup for a few rounds. I think as the fight goes longer Margarito's pressure is going to start taking over and I don't think that at his age Mosley can keep up the pace of a hard fight. Margarito by unanimous decision or late round stoppage.

Alex Ramos, former top-ranked middleweight contender: "I'm picking Margarito because he is on top of his game, the peak of his career and he is GOOD! Mosley is fast and can give him a fight, but I think Margarito is just too big and too good for him. And, as usual, I expect a very well fought match by both of these greats."

Ron Ross, boxing author: Mosley showed in his fight against Mayorga that he has retained enough of his skills to still be a ranking fighter. But not enough to beat Margarito. "Tony," at 30, is in the prime of his career and will carry into the ring too much firepower and bulldog tenacity for Sugar Shane to handle. Mosley will make a fight of it all the way, but I see Margarito outpunching him in the later rounds, winning a 7-5, 8-4 decision.

Steve Farhood, Showtime boxing analyst: There's a reason welterweights shy away from Margarito. We'll see that reason again this Saturday. Margarito on points, with Sugar Shane lacking the speed and sizzle of his prime.

Irish Bobby Cassidy, former No. 1 ranked light heavyweight: I like Margarito by ninth-round knockout.

Tommy Rainone, Plainview welterweight prospect: Real good fight. Mosley is the quicker and faster of the two as well as the better boxer. Margarito is not only the stronger puncher but phycially the stonger man. I think Mosley will give 'Rito problems with his speed and movement the first few rounds. He will also be willing to trade in spots and might get the better of the exchanges early but ultimately, like many before him, I think 'Rito wears Mosley down with sustained pressure and activity, and takes over the secondhalf of the fight, a la, Cotto. Mosley has a better defense than Cotto and a good chin. So it might be a bit of a stretch to think that 'Rito stops him late (although I wouldn't not be surprised). But it could get one-sided after the 8th, on the way to a unanimous decision win. Bottom line is that Margarito is entering his prime and improving with each fight, Mosley, although still great, is not.

Seamus McDonagh, former top cruiserweight contender: I'm picking Margarito by TKO. By the seventh round, Mosley will have nothing left. Margarito in the ninth.

Mario Gonzalez, Newsday: Should be a good fight but Margarito's size and strength will be too much for the veteran Mosley. Margarito also showed an incredible chin in his entertaining victory over Miguel Cotto last year. Those factors will be too much for Mosley to overcome...I'll take Margarito winning by TKO in the 8th round.

Robert Cassidy Jr., Newsday: Mosley went life-and-death with Cotto and lost. Cotto went life-and-death with Margarito and lost. Should mean an easy win for Margarito, right? Perhaps. Margarito is a big, broad-shouldered welterweight. He is physically strong and a very hard puncher. Sugar Shane Mosley is one of the most gifted fighters of this era. If Mosley were five years younger, it would be an amazing fight. Still, Mosley will stick around and make it harder than expected for Margarito. Margarito by unanimous, but close, decision.

Mike Rose, Newsday: Antonio Margarito definitely showed me a lot in his win over Miguel Cotto. Margarito's strength and size, and his ability to take a punch stood out against Cotto. I just don't think Shane Mosley has much left, especially against this type of opponent. I see this fight being entertaining in the early rounds with Mosley using his speed, but Magarito will control the fight thoughout and eventually wear down Mosley. Margarito by TKO in the middle rounds, probably around the seventh.