Manny Pacquiao: 10 Things That Could Make His Shane Mosley Fight Compelling
On paper, Manny Pacquiao will be a huge favorite for his May 7 fight with Shane Mosley.
Boxing's pound-for-pound champ is younger, and has kept improving with wins last year against Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito. Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts) has now won 13 straight fights since losing a unanimous decision to Erik Morales in 2005.
Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs), however, is 0-1-1 in his last two fights and hasn't been able to build off his stunning upset of Margarito in 2009.
Just based on his last two fights alone, it's hard to imagine Mosley having much of a chance. But stop for a second and consider: Could he possibly make this fight close?
Mosley has the talent to compete with Pacquiao, but talent alone won't be able to carry either fighter. What makes boxing so unique is that sometimes timing, strategy and smarts will trump talent.
This has got mismatch written all over it, but there is a slim possibility the Pacquiao-Mosley could be compelling. Here are 10 factors that could make it interesting:
10. The Floyd Comparisons
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If you're foolish enough to purchase pay-per-view for this fight (unless you're just a huge Mosley or Pacquiao fan, why would you do this?), you may get caught comparing Pacquiao with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who won a unanimous decision over Mosley on May 1 last year.
Two judges scored the fight 119-110 for Mayweather, with another scoring it 118-110. Pacquiao and Mayweather are arguably the two most gifted fighters of this generation, and it's become a polarizing debate when discussing which is the more talented fighter. But it will be interesting to see if Pacquiao can match Mayweather's performance, or surpass it.
9. Will the Wars Catch Up with Him?
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Pacquiao has been a pro since he was a teenager. Much like some of the Mexican legends he's faced, who also have fought since they were teenagers, there's always the risk that you can grow old in one fight. That is magnified especially when you've been through wars, and been in the ring with the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Even if you're in peak physical condition, your body can only last so long before it begins to break down.
8. Manny's Camp
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Trainer Freddie Roach had complained about preparation for the Margarito fight, and called it the worst camp he and Pacquiao had in their time together. It's hard to tell if he was being honest, or playing mind games with Margarito and his camp.
One of the biggest X-factors always is the distractions that surround Pacquiao. Roach prefers to train him at his Wild Card Gym in California, which has less distractions than in the Philippines where he is a national icon.
He will still have a throng of reporters following his every move, though. Being able to block out the distractions and stay focused makes Pacquiao's success all the more incredible.
Whether or not he can maintain that level of concentration is always a question, though.
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7. Can Shane Outsmart Manny?
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This is a step up in competition for Pacquiao. Mosley has 53 fights to Pacquiao's 57, and will be his toughest opponent since facing Miguel Cotto in 2009. When you talk about talent level, Mosley is on par with Oscar De La Hoya, who Pacquiao beat in 2008.
Both, however, share one other thing in common when it comes to facing Pacquiao: They were much older and on the downside of their careers.
6. Shane's Defense
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It better be polished and working. Otherwise this fight will be as lopsided as fans and other media experts predict. Letting Sergio Mora (pictured) catch you doesn't bode well when you're about to facing the pound-for-pound champ.
5. Can Shane Out-Work Manny?
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What makes Pacquiao so tough isn't just that he's a complete fighter, but is also aggressive and throws a high amount of punches in his fights. He simply out-works his opponents.
This will force Mosley to be in even better shape, and put a greater emphasis on the shots he takes. If he sticks to his game plan and makes sure he lands smart shots and doesn't waste punches, this fight turns interesting.
4. Will There Be 1 Shot?
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Mosley actually caught Mayweather with a shot and dropped him in their fight, but was unable to finish him off. Mosley has since said he regrets that, but what happens if he gets that chance against Pacquiao?
And would that shot even phase Pacquiao?
3. The Trainers
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Most fans already know about Freddie Roach, a disciple of legendary trainer Eddie Futch. Roach is widely regarded as perhaps the best trainer in boxing, but pay careful attention to Mosley's trainer Naazim Richardson, who is also highly respected.
Besides Mosley, Richardson also works with Bernard Hopkins.
2. The Underdog Role
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Mosley is just like any other fighter going into a big fight. Of course, he's confident and is expecting to pull off an upset. There's nothing shocking there. But watch during the actual fight and see if he presses and tries to do too much, or stays loose and takes smart risks.
One could lead to trouble, but the other is just how you need to be when you're the classic underdog.
1. Will Age Be a Factor?
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Mosley is 39, and there certainly is a high probability it could very well show when he faces Pacquiao. But there are exceptions, and champions like George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins have defied logic and pulled off stunning victories well past a fighter's prime.
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