Shane Mosley Isn't the Best Contender for Manny Pacquiao, Just the Cheapest

This matchup on May 7, 2011 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is really bothering me.  I’m disappointed in a lot of elements surrounding this bout.

I’m disappointed with Manny for taking this fight.  There is a hand full of fighters who would pose a heftier challenge for the P4P champ, like Dzinziruk, Angulo and Guerrero.  These fighters have heart and come to throw down, more importantly they pose a huge threat in their current weight divisions.   

I’m disappointed with the above mentioned fighters because they had a rare opportunity to participate in a fight that could define their careers even at the risk of losing.  Like Marcos Maidana, he came away with more fans even though he lost his fight with Amir Khan.  The guts he showed during that bout earned him a lot of respect.

I’m disappointed with the state of boxing at this time.  Boxing is not about the quality of the matchup anymore, it’s about the business of the event.  Look I’m a business man myself and I always watch my overhead to maximize our profit.  However there comes a time when I still need to offer a quality product and service or I’ll lose my consumer.

Mostly I’m disappointed in Sugar Shane Mosley.  He didn’t get the opportunity because he had shown in his most recent bouts that he’s the biggest threat.  He got this opportunity because he was willing to sell his soul to get the fight. 

He had to leave Golden Boy Promotions to even have a chance at a negotiation.  Moreover, now that he is promoting himself, that’s one less entity to split the proverbial pie with.

Mosley was also willing to take a guaranteed purse of $3 million and only 1-2 dollars for every PPV purchase.   Even if this bout scores as many PPV purchases as Pacquiaos last bout with Margarito, Mosley only stands to make just over $5 million at most.  That’s cheap!  De la Hoya made upwards of $25 million, Cotto—$7 million, and Hatton—$8 million against Pacquiao.  Mosley is a bargain at $5 million.     

What does that say for you at this point in your career Mosley?  The relationship you had with GBP wasn’t worth keeping?  How about your pride?  You proposed less than any other fighter who came to the table, there’s a term for that: Scab.  How about your health?  Manny could beat you senseless, and as seen in your last few episodes of HBO 24/7, your speech is beginning to slur.

Shane, unlike your mentor Oscar De La Hoya who is the ATM of boxing, as long as you are willing to take a beating for less you’ll always be the “Dollar Tree” of boxing.