Shane Mosley has faced Canelo, Pacquiao and De La Hoya, but says another world champion hit him hardest

Shane Mosley, who has fought Canelo Alvarez, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya, has named one man as the most powerful opponent he has ever faced.

Like the vast majority of world-class fighters, Mosley – who, of course, was not a feather-fisted operator himself – came up against several elite-level knockout artists throughout his 60-fight career.

In 2011, “Sugar” collided with then-WBO welterweight world champion Pacquiao, who, especially at that time, was considered one of the fiercest punchers in the sport.

Their encounter ultimately saw Mosley suffer a unanimous decision defeat, although the American nonetheless demonstrated his remarkable durability and survival instinct.

Before that, in 2007, Mosley found himself on the wrong end of another unanimous decision, this time against Miguel Cotto, who, again, was considered a particularly tough client at 147 pounds.

But despite losing to a selection of proven punchers at the highest level, Mosley also managed to defuse explosive attacks from several other opponents.

Against De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas, for example, the former three-division world champion managed to emerge victorious twice.

A similar story also played out when Mosley faced Antonio Margarito, another powerful puncher, and ultimately dismantled his opponent with a ninth-round stoppage victory in 2009.

According to the Hall of Famer, it was Vernon Forrest, a fighter who defeated him twice in 2002, who ultimately put the most force behind his shots.

In an interview with Ring Magazine, Mosley reveals that Forrest’s natural power is what gave him the most problems during their two encounters.

“I don’t know why; maybe it was just natural. [Forrest] just hit the hardest.

Forrest was a welterweight and super-welterweight world champion and finished his career with 41 victories in 45 fights, 29 of them by knockout.