When "Sugar" Shane Mosley lost his welterweight title to Vernon Forrest two years ago, many considered it a major upset, even though Forrest was a highly-skilled boxer who had beaten Mosley in the amateurs.

The fact that Mosley won the first round, was knocked down after butting heads with Forrest, but still went the distance was indicative of Mosley's championship heart, determination, courage and warrior ethic. So it was only natural that he excercise the rematch clause in his contract and seek an immediate chance at redemption without even taking a tune-up, because that's what real fighters do. When the two fighters engaged for the second time in Indianapolis a few months later, Mosley came out of his corner like a racehorse out of the starting gates, but Forrest's grab-and-hold tactics frustrated the shorter Mosley, and although it was a close fight, it was a dull affair that once again went to Forrest. Vernon Forrest simply had Shane Mosley's number.

Fast-forward to March 2004, where junior middleweight champ Ronald "Winky" Wright scored a career-defining win by taking Mosley, fresh off his win over Oscar De La Hoya, to school. In fact, Mosley was so outclassed by Wright that it led HBO commentator Emmanuel Steward to remark that it looked as if a man was in the ring with a boy. Mosley was being outjabbed, outmanouevered and outworked by the slick southpaw, and it showed. Even though Mosley had some moments and the fight was closer than it appeared, it was all Winky.

So you had to question Mosley's logic when once again, he opted for an immediate rematch. Is "Sugar" Shane making the same mistake twice?

Well, for starters, he has replaced his dad and long-time trainer with Joe Goosen. Though it was a painful decision, it was a step in the right direction, as Goosen, who trained Joel Cassamayor in his fight with Diego Corrales (won by Cassamayor), then switched corners to train Corrales in the rematch (won by Corrales), can give Mosley a refeshingly new perspective. Second, Shane Mosley isn't stupid. Sure, it's his pride that leads him to believe that he can overcome any challenge, that if given a second chance he can make adjustments and come out on the winning side. But we're talking about a highly-talented, genetically-gifted athlete here, one with impressive boxing skills, blinding hand speed and better than average power in both hands, a man who beat Oscar De La Hoya not once, but twice.

So if Shane Mosley believes he can beat Winky Wright in a rematch, doesn't he at least deserve that chance?

This Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Mosley will get that chance. It will be an entertaining fight, like the first one, and it will be a hell of a lot closer. But Shane Mosley simply does not have what it takes to solve the enigma that is Winky Wright. He's too small for the larger Wright, too inexperienced at the weight-class of 154, and too easily discouraged by Wright's superb defence and constant jab. It remains to be seen if Goosen can ignite a new fire under Mosley, but Wright finally grabbed the spotlight he's been craving his whole career with his win over "Sugar" Shane, and he's not about to relinquish it that easily.

Mosley needs this fight to save his career, but even in defeat, all is not lost. There's still a rubber match with De La Hoya, or a superfight with Felix Trinidad, both of which would be attractive. But first, Mosley must find out for sure that Wright has his number. No tune-ups, just straight to the rematch.

Because that's what real fighters do.

Prediction: Wright by split decision