Uppercut Magazine.com - Boxing & MMA - Pacman-Shane
Photo by Paul Hernandez
A Warrior's Way: Pacman vs. Shane
By David A. Avila
Prizefighting at any level is unpredictable especially among the elite. All it takes is one single punch to change the outcome.
Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, (52-3-2, 38 KOs) considered the
best fighter pound for pound, knows this and does not expect an easy night
against Sugar Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) when they fight Saturday May 7, at
the MGM Grand in
“He is a former pound for pound champion,” said Pacquiao,32, who will be fightingMosley for the WBO welterweight world title. “I can’t underestimate him.”
You can compare this fighter’s record to another fighter’s record or even common opponents, but all that is quite simply lunch break chatter. What really matters is one fighter’s style compared to another fighter’s style.
Ever since Pacquiao emerged on the American scene he’s captured the fans with his explosive aggression and pure attacking style. He’s like a mini pit bull that may lack size but utilizes his speed and volume punching to blind opponents with blows.
“Manny is a warrior. He doesn’t need to be angry or upset to knock your head off,” said Mosley. “I’m the same way.”
Mosley, 39, made his big entrance into the elite status nearly
11 years ago when he beat Oscar De La Hoya by split-decision at the
“He’s a dangerous fighter,” said Freddie Roach who trains Pacquiao. “Styles make fights.”
It’s a common mantra heard when you talk about Mosley versus Pacquiao: styles make fights.
Because Mosley’s last two bouts ended in a loss to Floyd
Mayweather and a draw to Sergio Mora, many consider the
“You have to be out of your mind to think that Manny Pacquiao is an eight to one favorite over Shane Mosley,” said Arum, who promotes Pacquiao. “Anybody who knows anything about boxing knows that styles make fights and Mosley has the style that can make this fight one of Manny’s most dangerous fights.”
If you analyze both: it pits the aggressive power boxing style of Mosley against the offensive-minded Pacquiao style in a fight that can only lead to a form of playing a game of chicken before millions of fight fans.
“Shane Mosley is still very strong and he moves more like he’s 30 years old. He’s the kind of fighter who is bigger than me,” said Pacquiao during a conference call. “Pound-for-pound he’s still good.”
After Mosley beat De La Hoya by decision in 2000 he was the consensus pound for pound champion. It’s been a decade-long goal of his to return to that status.
“I want to become recognized as the pound for pound champion again,” said Mosley.
Though Pacquiao beat the much bigger Antonio Margarito for the WBC junior middleweight title last November, he knows that Mosley has never been stopped and still maintains the quickness and hand-speed that could prove problematic.
“This fight is bigger than the Margarito fight because Mosley moves fast and he has good speed and power. That’s what I want. He throws a lot of punches. It will be good for us and it will be a good fight,” said Pacquiao.
Mosley’s trainer Nazim Richardson seems as excited for the fight as any fan because he knows the journey elite fighters must travel.
“Fighters at this level have had to do everything it takes
to get this far in boxing. They had to work the punches, they’ve had to get off
the canvas. Fighters of this magnitude have probably seen every scenario you
can see in the ring,” said
Expect a great fight.
Other bouts
WBO junior featherweight titleholder Wilfredo Vasquez
(20-0-1, 17 KOs) defends against
Fights on television
Fri. ESPN2, Diego Magdaleno (18-0) vs. Gilbert Sanchez
Fri. Telefutura, 11:30 p.m., Librado Andrade (29-3) vs. Aaron Pryor Jr. (15-3).
Sat. Showtime pay-per-view, 6 p.m., Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2) vs. Shane Mosley (46-6-1); Kelly Pavlik (36-2) vs. Alfonso Lopez (21-0); Wilfredo Vasquez (20-0-1) vs. Jorge Arce (56-6-2).
