Manny Pacquiao: Boxing Needs to Step Up
By Gina L. Caliboso
It was an incredible sports weekend RSR fans, but for a moment, forgive me. As I loved the fight between Pacquiao vs Mosley resulting in a clear cut victory for my beloved Pacquiao, my team, my former defending NBA World Champion Los Angeles Lakers are OUT of the playoffs.
I was on a high on Saturday after the Pacquiao win, but after Sunday, I’m ehhh.
It is that finally emoticon that summarizes how I might feel after a blah date. But please, no tears RSR Readers, I am here, ready to give you my take on the Mosley – Pacquiao bout. And you know what, it’s not pretty – about as bad, if not worse than how my Lakers did against the Mavericks. But give me a moment, I’m just wallowing.
I’ll start with the obvious post fight visual. After the winner was announced, did all of you catch a glimpse of Mosley’s face and skull? He took a few hits from Pacquiao and stated, as he removed an ice pack, “Pacquiao has power.” Mosley should have taken more risks and create an offense, but as one Showtime commentator stated, “Mosley showed all the signs of the aging fighter.”
Throughout the fight, Mosley found himself mostly retreating, unable to counter effectively and create an effective offense and defense. In other words, his mind was “willing, but his body not” willing to take a risk and attack. Mosley looked surprised, but felt the brunt of Pacquiao’s power.
As for Pacquiao, he fared pretty well against Mosley. He looked a bit more cautious in his offense and his tremendous output of punches was cut in half. First, Paquiao admitted at the end of the bout that he had “leg issues and it was less than a perfect performance.” One commentator stated, Pacquiao was “without his A-game, but still won.” This bout demonstrated that Pacquiao is a more disciplined and fit fighter and he seems to do well at 145 lbs. I think any heavier than 145 pounds, Pacquiao may lose his performance speed.
More significantly, if Pacquiao should fight anyone heavier, he could feel the impact of the power more. If you look a little more closely at Pacquiao, his right eye was also a bit swollen, which means that Mosley connected a few as well. Pacquiao is a much better boxer technically and has a controlled, effective aggression and he earned the judges’ scorecards. In defense of his WBO Welterweight title, the final scorecards read as follows: 119-108, 120-108, and 120-107.
So, RSR readers, the bout wasn’t even close.
So, that’s the post fight assessment. With every Pacquiao bout, I usually give Pacquiao about two or three rounds to figure out his opponents. But in this bout, whether or not his legs tightened up, Pacquiao did not produce very many punches from all angles as he normally does.
According to one stat, Pacquiao landed 182 of 552 punches along with 48 jabs of 268. As we know from both the Clottey and Margarito bouts, he usually produces over 1,000 punches in a bout without expending too much energy. Pacquiao will win a fight because his productivity is endless and he doesn’t allow his opponent to ever look busier. Mosley perhaps, in his reluctance, couldn’t put together the amount of punches he needed to show he could take the fight away from Pacquiao. In the opening round, Mosley did his best to make solid shots to the body. Pacquiao also looked relaxed and had a tentative offense as he tried to figure out Mosley.
In the 2nd round, there was a clash of heads, but Pacquiao put together enough combinations to show that he was about to take control of the fight. Finally, it happened, in the 3rd round, Pacquiao landed a solid left hook and Mosley got knocked down convincingly as the champion fighter had a glazed look on his face while he was on the mat.
Had Pacquiao been a heavier, KO puncher, he could have ended the fight. But since Mosley hasn’t ever been knocked out, a KO result would have been a tough one for Pacquiao to pull off.
So, RSR fans, the fight continued…and continued. And, not much to really comment on. Pacquiao was winning the bout. He was a more tactically strong boxer. But then, in the 10th round, Mosley scored a knockdown, in what really, fight fans, looked like a push.
I think Mosley even looked surprised.
The bout ended with a dazed Mosley just wondering how it is the Filipino fighter managed to generate his power. It left no doubt for Mosley that Pacquiao is the best pound for pound fighter. And, he should know, he’s faced Mayweather JR and he lost. But give credit to Mosley for making a fight with Pacquiao happen. It’s definitely more than can be said about Mayweather JR.
It’s definitely sad to say that I have to agree with the Showtime commentators that Sugar Shane Mosley definitely showed he has to reconsider the ‘R’ word in boxing – retirement. Although his body may be willing, he was really outclassed mentally and psychologically.
Mosley has shown heart throughout his career and he provided great challenges to his opponents, but he is definitely a different Mosley than from 10 years ago. And, it’s the naturally progression of a boxing career. Mosley should be proud that he went the distance against the best boxer in the world and he really didn’t need this bout. But actually, he showed a courageous fight against a superior boxer. He even took a pay cut, so to speak, by accepting $5 million for the fight as Pacquiao was guaranteed $20 million.
I also give a nod to Showtime and Top Rank for making the bout a premier event. I admit that I am used to HBO Commentators Jim Lampley, Emanuel Stewart, and Larry Merchant. And, I missed the Lederman card. But, there was something more straight laced in this bout. With the Super Six Middleweight Tournament coming to a close, Showtime and its commentators have provided a fresh new voice to boxing and have revamped the sport and spectacle of a sport that definitely needs some excitement.
So, as I write this article, internet rumors are whirling. I don’t read them all because we all know that not everything we read on the internet is true. Regardless, the rumor afloat right now is that Floyd “Money” Mayweather, JR may be fighting Victor “Vicious” Ortiz, 29-2-2, 22 KO’s. Do you remember Ortiz? He fought against Andre Berto, 27-1, 21 KO’s in April and earned the 12 round unanimous decision for the WBC Welterweight title.
Ortiz is also currently ranked #2 among welterweights. Mosley is now ranked #3 and Berto ranks at #4. Noticeably absent from the list? Floyd Mayweather, JR remains absent as well as inactive. With the current state of boxing, the sport needs a big bout and the only bout that should happen is Pacquiao vs Mayweather JR. The bout needs to happen. And luckily there is still enough time in the year to make the mega-bout the premier fight of the year.
So far now, as I mourn the loss of my Lakers, I’d offer that with this bout, Manny Pacquiao won the bout convincingly as a skilled, powerful, and technical fighter. And, right now, he can and will take on anyone willing to fight him.
Any takers?