Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao Fever: Don't Forget About Mosley vs. Berto

Being Floyd Mayweather's number one fan, nothing excites me more than the potential (not yet-official) showdown with Manny Pacquiao next year. But I am also a die-hard fan of boxing itself.

No lone fighter makes this sport—not even Mayweather. So with that said boxing fans, let's not forget there's a pretty exciting fight coming up in January between Andre Berto and "Sugar" Shane Mosley.

This welterweight fight is taking place on January 30th 2010, at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas to unify the WBA and WBC welterweight titles.

Mosley (46-5-1, 39 KO) will be fighting for his first time in over a year since his ninth round TKO victory over Antonio Margarito to regain the WBA welterweight championship.

Berto (26-0, 19 KO) last fought in June—a unanimous decision over Juan Urango.

This fight has a lot to offer. The veteran Mosley who is still very hungry against the young, rising star in Berto.

Both fighters are hungry for different reasons. Mosley wants to prove he is the best welterweight and make a statement with this fight.

"Andre Berto’s a good young fighter but he’s bitten off more than he can chew with all the talking he’s been doing,” said WBA Welterweight Champion Mosley. “I’ve forgotten more about the fight game than he knows and the world will see that in January.”

Berto, on the other hand, wants to show the world he is ready to take on and be mentioned amongst the elite welterweights.

“This is the fight I’ve waited my whole career for and now it’s finally a reality. Shane Mosley made me chase him for a while, but he won’t be able to run when we get into the ring on January 30, and I can’t wait.”

So with that said, who wins?

Berto and Mosley are almost identical in size, body weight and height. Shane has an advantage in speed and more importantly the experience.

Mosley, a champion in three different weight divisions, has been in some of this decade's biggest fights.

Mosley easily could have called his career quits after losses to Vernon Forrest twice, Winky Wright twice and Miguel Cotto—especially considering one point in his career he was 39-0 with 36 KO's.

But Mosley has one of the more memorable comeback stories in boxing history—reemerging back onto the scene winning seven of his last eight fights dating back to 2005.

As much as I like the humble and talented Andre Berto (ESPN.com's Prospect of the Year in 2006), he  hasn't fought anyone with Mosley's attributes or credibility.

In Berto's last fight he didn't look that impressive against Urango, looking rather sluggish and leaving himself open, taking punches. Prior to that, he started off very slow against Luis Collazo.

Berto will need to bring his best performance to beat Shane Mosley. Although, I do believe he will be at his best for this fight—it's career defining for him.

There are many expectations surrounding this fight. Two fierce welterweights fighting for notoriety and trying to open a window for bigger fights in the future. I give the edge to Mosley, based on experience more than anything. I don't think there will be a stoppage; I see it going to the scorecards.

But who knows—anything can happen. I'm no Nostradamus or King J, for that matter.

What do you guys think?