Image gallery: Mayweather and Mosley weigh in amidst rabid fans and fellow boxing stars

Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather weighing in (Photo: Paul Hernandez)

Moments ago at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley made weight successfully for their welterweight clash this Saturday night. Looking spectacular, Mosley was the first to step on the scale and came in on the button at 147 pounds. The Pomona fighter pumped his fist in a sure sign of confidence. Seconds later Mayweather would weigh in at 146 pounds and the crowd erupted.

The arena was packed full of crazy fans from the world over and everyone seemed to feed off of the energy in the building. Comedian George Wallace took the mic before each fighter weighed in and took his turn asking the crowd who they liked to win the mega fight this Saturday night. While there was obvious support for each man it actually seemed to be Mosley who received the louder roar.

In attendance and called to the stage were fellow boxing stars Tommy ‘The Hitman’ Hearns, former super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe, Manchester’s beloved Ricky Hatton, former champions Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera, WBC welterweight kingpin Andre Berto, and jr. middleweight contender Sergio Mora.

Calzaghe was the first to be called and began pumping his fists in order to get the crowd revved up. Calzaghe then began to jokingly shadowbox before cracking a smile and waiving a half-hearted goodbye. Calzaghe retired form the sport with a 46-0 record last year but there have been a plague of rumors circulating that he has been contemplating a comeback. Seeing Calzaghe's enthusiam today, one would have to think he would be open to at least a few more encores.

For his part, Berto addressed Wallace and seemed to be open to facing either Mayweather or Mosley after May 1st. Berto was in line to face Shane this past January 30th but withdrew from the contest due to the personal turmoil he suffered from the devastating earthquake that ravaged his native Haiti just weeks before the contest. Berto is coming off of an April 10th stoppage victory over Carlos Quintana and stated his belief that Mayweather will emerge victorious tomorrow night.

The lead up to the Mayweather-Mosley contest has certainly been notable and if the turn out for today’s weigh in was any indication, pay per view sales will certainly be strong. This is the type of event that has trickled over into the mainstream media and if the fight lives up to the hype it will certainly have a great bearing on the sport’s immediate future.

For a picture by picture look at today’s weigh in featuring Mayweather, Mosley, and the packed MGM crowd please click on the collage below…

All photos are courtesy of Paul Hernandez. Any looking to reach Paul can contact him at photoguy0601@yahoo.com

In the news

Thomas Hauser reflects on Las Vegas and gets personal with Floyd Mayweather

“I was chatting with Leonard Ellerbe and we were walking back to where Floyd had just finished a private shoot for some TV show,” Hauser says. “Floyd finished up the shoot and I asked him if I could ask him a question and he said ‘sure’ and we wound up, just the two of us, talking for at least an hour an a half on a more personal level than I have certainly ever talked to him before. I got great, great stuff. If I had tried to schedule and hour and a half alone with Floyd they would have laughed at me. Yet it just happened that way. I’ve never understood why people come out here and just sit in their room and watch CNN. If I am not doing anything either I will just be here or I will wander around the floor.” ... (Click for more)

Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at Trimond@aol.com