Shane Mosley: Does He Stand a Chance Against Manny Pacquiao?

Shane Mosley will be quite the underdog when he faces Manny Pacquiao next May.

A deal was put in place Tuesday, and the fight itself has already received tons of criticism from both fans and the media. The question now remains: Does Mosley even have a chance?

The former pound-for-pound king is as confident as ever, telling ESPN.com he knows what he's capable of, that he still has power and speed, and that when Pacquiao comes at him he will get knocked out. Every fighter thinks they have a chance, but at the same time, here are the facts: Mosley is 39, 0-1-1 in his last two fights and is facing an opponent who is just as fast and powerful as Floyd Mayweather Jr.

There are five months left until we find out if Mosley can back up his talk, or if Manny will punish him and add to his legacy. Here are five reasons Mosley has a chance, and five reasons he doesn't:

Reason No.5 He Doesn't: His Last Two Fights

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Sergio Mora hits Shane Mosley during the 10th round of the Middleweight bout at Staples Center on September 18, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The fight ended in a draw. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

If Mosley had that much trouble with Mayweather and Mora, how will this be any different? This fight is going to be ugly. Manny Pacquiao is a quick, powerful, smart, well-rounded fighter. Juan Manuel Marquez is a much better matchup, and has shown in their previous two fights he knows how to neutralize Pacquiao and challenge him.

Reason No.5 He Does: All He Needs Is One Punch

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LAS VEGAS - MAY 02: (R-L) Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines stands over Ricky Hatton of England after Pacquiao knocked him out in the second round during their junior welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena May 2, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada

No matter if you're a young up-and-comer or aged veteran, one punch can change an entire fight. Sergio Martinez proved that recently with his knockout of Paul Williams. Both Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. also scored vicious knockouts over Ricky Hatton. Mosley will be a huge underdog, but if there's one opening he finds, one punch could lead to a massive upset.

Reason No.4 He Doesn't: Manny's Got Freddie

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LAS VEGAS - DECEMBER 3: Boxer Manny Pacquiao (L) of the Philippines speaks with his trainer Freddie Roach at the final press conference at the MGM Grand Garden Arena December 3, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boxer Oscar de la Hoya fights Manny Pacquiao Dece

No matter what Shane Mosley does, it won't be anything that will shock trainer Freddie Roach. Pacquiao's longtime trainer learned under the legendary Eddie Futch. He's seen it all, was a fighter himself and knows how to put Pacquiao in a position to succeed.

Reason No.4 He Does: A Step Up in Competition

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LOS ANGELES - JANUARY 24: Shane Mosley lands a punch on Antonio Margarito en route to his TKO in the ninth round after Margarito's corner threw in the towel during their WBA welterweight title fight on January 24, 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angel

He may be 39, but Shane Mosley is much better than Joshua Clottey or Antonio Margarito when it comes to natural talent. Mosley has been in just as many big fights as Pacquiao, has a great trainer as well in Naazim Richardson and has pulled off big wins over Oscar De La Hoya, Fernando Vargas and Antonio Margarito.

Reason No.3 He Doesn't: Manny's Too Tough

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LAS VEGAS - NOVEMBER 18: (R-L) Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and Erik Morales of Mexico exchange blows during their super featherweight bout at the Thomas & Mack Center on November 18, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao won after a third round knock

Floyd Mayweather Jr. proved he could take a punch from Shane Mosley and cruised to an easy decision. Manny Pacquiao can take a punch just like Mayweather, and can deliver punishment too. He's faced too many tough fighters, been in plenty of wars and is built to trade if that's what Mosley tries to do.

If you want an idea of what this may end up like, think back to Pacquiao's first victory over Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003.

Reason No.3 He Does: A Second Chance

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LAS VEGAS - MAY 01: (L-R) Floyd Mayweather Jr. in action against Shane Mosley during their welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Shane Mosley caught Floyd Mayweather Jr. with one good punch but didn't finish him off. If he gets that chance with Manny Pacquiao, do you think that happens again?

Reason No.2 He Doesn't: Where's The Edge?

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Shane Mosley holds ice to his face after the Middleweight bout against Sergio Mora at Staples Center on September 18, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The fight ended in a draw. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Don't try to stretch this. Simple question: Name one advantage Mosley has over Pacquiao? Found one? That's what I thought. Mosley's getting a big payday, and that's it.

Reason No.2 He Does: Playing The Underdog

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9 Nov 1996: Mike Tyson ducks to cover his head from the punches of Evander Holyfield before losing by TKO in the 11th round at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport

Sometimes, being the underdog is the perfect place to be. In the ring, you're not the one with all the pressure. You can fight loose, you can be the aggressor, you can take bigger risks.

Two of boxing's biggest underdogs came in fights with Mike Tyson. Fans will remember when James "Buster" Douglas shocked the world with his victory over Tyson back in Japan. Fast forward to the first fight with Evander Holyfield, who kept telling anyone who would listen he would win. He got laughed at, but what happened? He won.

One of the most memorable underdogs was former Olympian Meldrick Taylor, a sharp, talented fighter from Philadelphia who got a shot to face then undefeated Julio Cesar Chavez in 1990. Taylor was winning the fight, but in the 12th round he got caught with a shot and referee Richard Steele shocked everyone when he decided to stop the fight. Taylor was never the same after that.

Reason No.1 He Doesn't: Legacy at Stake

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ARLINGTON, TX - MARCH 13: Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines celebrates in the ring after defeating Joshua Clottey of Ghana during the WBO welterweight title fight at Cowboys Stadium on March 13, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. Pacquiao defeated Clottey by unan

At this point in his career, do you really believe Manny Pacquiao is about to let up and endanger his legacy with a loss to Mosley? He'll be prepared, do what he needs to win and hopefully that will eventually lead to a showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Reason No.1 He Does: Something To Prove

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LAS VEGAS - MAY 01: Shane Mosley drinks water in his corner during a round break against Floyd Mayweather Jr. during the welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Shane Mosley returned to the spotlight with his shocking victory over Antonio Margarito, but all that credibility he earned back has since vanished with his fights against Mayweather and Mora. Boxers are some of the proudest people in sports, and they put in countless hours to achieve success. And if you can't bring it any longer in the ring? That's when most know it's time to walk away.

Conclusion

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LAS VEGAS - APRIL 30: Boxer Shane Mosley steps on the scale to weigh 147 pounds during the weigh-in for his bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 30, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather and Mosley will meet in a 12-ro

Shane Mosley is one of the classier fighters in boxing and a gentleman. He'll stand in and trade with Manny Pacquiao and give him a test, but there's absolutely no way he pulls off the upset here. Right now, it's Pacquiao by an easy unanimous decision.