What's Next For Sugar Shane Mosley?

At 37 years of age, time seems to be running out for Sugar Shane Mosley. There is no doubt Mosley will fight again; he just came off a spectacular performance against Antonio Margarito. Shane stopped Margarito in the 9th round, after dominating most of the fight. You would think fighters in and around Mosley's weight division would be lining up to fight him - but that's not the case. That has never been the case with Sugar Shane Mosley.

Shane Mosley, at 37 years of age seems to have caught a second wind in his career. Going into the Margarito fight, not many boxing fans gave him a chance. Who can blame them? Margarito is a huge welterweight, who could easily fight at middleweight if he wanted. Not only because of Margarito's size advantage which saw him as the heavy favorite going into the fight with Mosley, but his then seemingly undentable chin and his previous fight in which he wore down Miguel Cotto to win via 11th round TKO. Shane Mosley's age was said to be a factor leading up to the fight - another contributing factor which lead to the crow many of us had to eat after the bout.

Even after such a boxing performance as Mosley put on in January, it's good to keep grounded when it comes to the sport of boxing and put things into proper perspective: Sugar Shane Mosley will be 38 in a few months. He is human. Everyone can't be a Bernard Hopkins - a timeless machine.

While Mosley's victory against Margarito was great (given his age, it ranks up there with one of the best victories of his career) he is running out of time.

Sugar Shane Mosley has a few options left on the table before riding off into the sunset to end a brilliant boxing career. He can face Manny Pacquiao, the winner of the Mayweather-Marquez bout, or campaign to fight Paul Williams.

Right now, Shane Mosley is campaigning hard to fight Manny Pacquiao. There have been a few exchanges between the Pacquiao-Mosley camps, flirting with the idea. Mosley would prefer the fight take place at 147 lbs. and the Pacquiao camp would like a catch-weight of 144 lbs. Given Mosley's age, and the fact that he hasn't fought below 147 lbs. in years, you have to wonder if he can manage to squeeze his body down lower in weight without draining himself. Three or four pounds is huge in boxing at the smaller weights, even more so considering Mosley's age. I would favor Pacquiao by decision if Mosley agrees to fight at a catch-weight.

Everyone wants a piece of Pacquiao, including Miguel Cotto, who is fighting Joshua Clottey June 13. I suspect no announcements will be made regarding Pacquiao, Mosley or Cotto until after June 13.

Whatever the case, I have no doubt Sugar Shane Mosley will fight at least one more big fight before retiring. The key words are "at least." Knowing Mosley, he will fight a couple more times before hanging them up - win or lose.

Personally, I would like to see Mosley exit stage left at the height of his glory. Get out on top. Seldom does that happen in boxing.