Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather: Why They Should Train Against Manny Pacquiao
Many bonds throughout time have been formed between enemies to defeat a greater threat. America was only a few years over a century removed from its conflict with Great Britain before the two nations teamed together to fight Germany in two World Wars. Likewise, American boxers Floyd Mayweather Jr and Shane Mosley could greatly assist each other in training to defeat the common Filipino threat that is Manny Pacquiao.
Floyd Mayweather is dealing with legal issues while Shane Mosley is scheduled to fight Manny Pacquiao on May 7 2011. Mayweather may not be able to be there throughout Mosley's entire camp, but a few sparring sessions and strategy discussion would do wonders for Mosley's chances.
The following pages contain ten reasons Mayweather and Mosley should spar together in preparation for the showdown with pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather has five reasons exclusive to why he should offer his assistance to Mosley. Mosley has five reasons exclusive to why he should use Mayweather's assistance.
A Reason For Mosley: Mayweather Can Match Pacquiao's Speed
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Floyd Mayweather may not fight with the fast pace of Manny Pacquiao, but there's no doubt in my mind Floyd Mayweather could imitate it in practice. Mayweather's speed is blurring and sparring with someone that fast could help Mosley be able to come alive against Pacquiao with more confidence than he would after sparring against other fighters nowhere near as fast.
A Reason For Mayweather: He Gets Paid
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Boxing is tough money. If Mayweather loses, his marketability goes down a little. Sparring, on the other hand, is an entirely different game. Sparring is an easy game for Mayweather to play. That means it's easy money for Mayweather to take from the Mosley camp.
Mosly's trainer, Naazim Richardson, would surely be anxious to get Mayweather in the training camp to get Mosley to be able to handle the speed advantage Pacquiao possesses and come up with a great gameplan.
Mosley's already declared he can make up to fifteen million dollars in his fight against Pacquiao. What's a couple million to Mosley to pay Mayweather to spar and share some knowledge with him if it helps toward achieving victory in one of the biggest fights in his entire career?
A Reason For Mosley: Floyd Mayweather Is an Expert Strategist
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Naazim Richardson is Mosley's trainer. He's an expert trainer who specializes in raising old boxers back from the land of the "Fighters Who Should Retire". Richardson's done wonders for 45-year-old Bernard Hopkins. With Mayweather's firsthand insight into Mosley's weaknesses from their previous clash, Richardson could guide Mosley to a victory or at least a very competitive showing against Manny Pacquiao.
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A Reason For Mayweather: Mayweather Could Learn From Naazim Richardson
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Floyd Mayweather does have his way of fighting, but what better way to improve than to ask one of the only opponents to ever wobble him what he's doing wrong? Naazim Richardson and Shane Mosley could help Mayweather take a meaner punch than he normally takes in intense sparring sessions.
Once Mayweather has helped train Mosley, Mosley and his training camp may return the favor. Should Mayweather need Richardson's assistance, he'd surely be welcomed to call. Sharing knowledge between each other is the best way to increase their chances of defeating Manny Pacquiao.
A Reason For Mosley: Mayweather Can Improve Mosley's Stamina
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Shane Mosley appeared drained throughout the later rounds of his fights with both Floyd Mayweather and Sergio Mora last year. Manny Pacquiao fights a fast pace that is likely to tire Shane Mosley out much quicker than his slower paced opponents did. Floyd Mayweather always seems comfortable and never tired.
What Mayweather can bring to the table is how to gain more stamina to fight more intensely for more sustained attacks. Mosley already hits harder than Pacquiao. He just has to learn when to use his energy and when to conserve his stamina even after he improves it. If Mosley can hit combinations without getting as tired as he used to, Pacquiao will be easier to outpunch.
A Reason For Mayweather: If Mosley Wins, Mayweather Doesn't Have To
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If by a shooting star, Shane Mosley knocks sand into Pacquiao's eyes and forces him into dreamland, Mayweather won't have to fight Manny Pacquiao. Manny Pacquiao is an enticing payday for Mayweather, but the issues they have had trying to sign a fight contract with each other they both can agree on is horrible. Since Mayweather beat Mosley thoroughly last year, a victory for Mosley is a victory for Mayweather. Mayweather's legacy will improve to the point where Mayweather doesn't need to fight Pacquiao and can just use his celebrity to make more money.
A Reason For Mosley: Mosley's Defense Will Improve
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Floyd Mayweather is the king of defense. Shane Mosley will be going up against a fighter that loves picking apart faces like fleshly clay. Manny Pacquiao is fast and strong, meaning Mosley must defend well enough to look human on his way to the bank to cash his big check for this fight. Mayweather can point out Mosley's defensive holes and inform him on how to plug them up. Mayweather wouldn't hold back either, because Mosley won't fight Mayweather again. Nobody wants to see that rematch, so Mayweather won't have to hold back for fear of Mosley using any knowledge learned against him.
A Reason For Mayweather: Mayweather Can Gain Advantages Over Pacquiao
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If Mayweather can get Mosley to beat Pacquiao, then the negotiations for a Mayweather Vs. Pacquiao match change in his favor. What was once a stalled effort on both sides because two rich and powerful egos would become a more one-sided affair the minute one loses a match.
Right now, Mayweather is undefeated. Manny Pacquiao is on a major win streak that includes quite a few notable names. Both fighters make up the top two pound for pound fighters in the world. Both fighters also are the only active fighters still raking in million-selling pay-per-view sales. A loss for Pacquiao against Mosley, someone Mayweather beat easily, is a big win for Mayweather.
Mayweather will be able to demand whatever he wants and Pacquiao will look far worse for not giving in to every demand which will surely include a bigger chunk of the proposed 50/50 fight purse. Watch out Pacquiao.
A Reason For Mosley: He Can Promote His Fight Better
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Siding with Floyd Mayweather could mean a better training camp for Shane Mosley. Another thing this could mean is a great 24/7 documentary series to help promote the fight. Between Shane Mosley and Manny Pacquiao, you have two humble fighters who don't talk much trash and who don't have much if any animosity toward each other that can be brought out on camera. Add in Floyd Mayweather training Mosley and you have a wild card.
Floyd Mayweather will be something Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao's witty trainer, will surely have an opinion on. Naazim Richardson will share some wise words on Pacquiao and Mayweather as individuals and fighters. Mayweather will be on the tips of everyone's lips. Of course, Floyd Mayweather himself is quite the flamboyant character. His jokes, troubled lifestyle, and bragging banter has made him into a star. If applied here, it could bring more people into looking forward to the fight.
Mosley can use Mayweather's sparring and training services in private but having him on camera to help promote the fight can breathe life into a fight no one is 100% sure will sell what it needs to be considered a success.
A Reason For Mayweather: Mayweather Gets To Sample His Postfight Career
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Floyd Mayweather's father, Floyd Mayweather Senior, and two uncles, Roger and Jeff, had decent boxing careers. Then they became better trainers, Roger Mayweather being the most successful. Floyd Mayweather will inevitably have to hang up his gloves. While fighting is still a possibility should he get pass his legal issues, he turns 34 next month. That's the age many fighters become or are washed up.
Floyd Mayweather sparring and training Shane Mosley to fight Manny Pacquiao could be Mayweather's first assignment as a trainer. Sure, Naazim Richardson is Shane Mosley's head trainer. That doesn't mean Mayweather can't help train with his own input. If Mayweather speaks, they'll listen. Many call Mayweather the smartest fighter out there. That could translate into a career as the smartest trainer as well.
If You Like This Boxing Writer...
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