Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley: 5 Questions Heading into the Championship Fight
What will the May 7th fight between Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KO) and Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39) leave fans with? Will it leave us with more questions than answers?
Will it gives us answers to questions about the future of the Filipino politician? Can the 39-year-old former welterweight champion give fans one more shining moment before he leaves the sport?
There are a few intriguing questions heading into the PPV bout, which will be broadcast on Showtime—a first for Pacquiao.
No. 5: Is the Fight as Much as a Mismatch as Most Are Making It out to Be?
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Mosley, who is a 10-to-1 underdog, has been in this position before several times.
In his fight with Antonio Margarito (January, 2009), he was a 4-to-1 underdog. He defeated Margarito, who at that time was the most feared boxer in the sport, with an spectacular and memorable ninth-round knockout.
In his 2010 fight with the second-best pound-for-pound boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Mosley also entered the fight as a big underdog. He didn't have the speed or power he had in the Margarito fight and lost a 12-round unanimous decision. All he had was a flash, which came in Round 2, when he landed an overhand right that almost dropped Mayweather, but he was not able to take advantage of the undefeated fighter.
If the fight is really a mismatch, it will be an exciting mismatch. Both fighters always come to fight, and that is something that cannot be denied.
Even as both get deeper into their careers, there will always be moments worth seeing when they both meet each other in the middle of the ring.
No. 4: Will Pacquiao's Busy Life Outside the Ring Finally Catch Up with Him?
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It's a question that is brought up almost every time Pacquiao fights. Will his lifestyle as the lone politician from the Philippines finally catch up with his out-of-control boxing career—two jobs that relate in more ways than one?
The current WBC super-welterweight champion and WBO welterweight champion is a workaholic, and that translates into dedication, growth and desire to be great in anything they do. The respect he gets from fans, congressman and Filipinos is what drives him to help as many people as he possibly can.
He can take what he learns from each job and use it to satisfy his ambition as someone to remember.
Both jobs work hand-in-hand with the respect that is given to the people who participate in them, and that is what Pacquiao fights for, as all fighters do.
No. 3: Is Pacquiao Underestimating Mosley?
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For Pacquiao, a fight is fight, it doesn't matter who it is or what they have to prove. He goes into each fight looking to satisfy the visceral need as a professional boxer to be great and go down in history as one of the best ever.
He was voted by the BWAA as the "Fighter of the Decade" for the 2000s.
There actually may be more pressure on Pacquiao because of the confidence his fans have in him than the actual fight. Pressure equals just that, and he can take the same motivation that drives Mosley and use it to drive himself to be the best and beat the best.
You can say he has accomplished both outside of a potential mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
He will be going up against the most motivated Shane Mosley ever, no matter the physical skills he has left at 39. There is no chance he is taking him lightly, but it's worth asking.
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No. 2: Can Pacquiao Stop Mosley for the First Time in His Career?
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Pacquiao has knocked out 38 of 57 opponents, which translates to 67 percent.
He has stopped the likes of Erik Morales (twice), Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, Marco Antiono Barrera, Miguel Cotto and David Diaz. Wins like these have won him the Ring Magazine "Fighter of the Year" award for 2006, 2008 and 2009.
Mosley, even with six defeats, has never been finished and is rarely in trouble during fights. The only time he was in serious trouble was against Vernon Forrest, when he was dropped twice in the first bout in the final round.
With Pacquiao's accelerated fighting spirit and Mosley desire to be great once again, this fight is fully capable of producing a knockout.
It will most likely come from Pacquiao if it happens, but Mosley is always one punch away from knocking someone out.
No. 1: What Happens If Mosley, an 11-to-1 Dog, Beats the Pound-for-Pound King?
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Pacquiao hasn't lost since Erik Morales defeated him in their first fight in 2005. His other two losses came when he was competing at 112 pounds—both knockouts.
Barely anyone is questioning whether or not Mosley can beat him, and most are questioning whether or not he can actually compete with the first fighter to win the lineal championship in four weight divisions throughout 12 rounds.
Almost everyone anticipates a close first couple of rounds before Pacquiao takes over and wins a decision from there. The consensus pick is Pacquiao by a wide unanimous decision.
If Mosley defeats the eight-division world champion, it will be the biggest moment of his career by far, and the question of where he goes from there should be considered for this reason alone.
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