Manny Pacquiao Vs Shane Mosley: Something to Think About
By Gina L. Caliboso
On May 7th, 2011, Pacquiao, 52-3-2, 38 KO’s, will go on to fight “Sugar” Shane Mosley, 46-6-1, 39 KO’s. I wasn’t expecting Pacquiao to fight anyone so soon, but it figures that he’s at the pace of 2 fights per year. Should the fight happen in May, barring any issues, physical, financial, or even political, Pacquiao will still have time to fight later in the year, like in November, as he usually does.
As for his opponent, Mosley, this may very well be the biggest fight of his career. But let’s not forget who Mosley fought and lost to earlier this year.
Mosley vs. Pacquiao. Hmm.
Maybe by the end of this article, I’ll have thought about it.
It’s fair to say that in his last bout, Pacquiao showed that he is indeed the big man of boxing now. Pacquiao is the premier fighter among welterweights. He’s the best pound for pound fighter of his generation. Any fighter that goes up against him has been surprised by the Filipino’s speed, punching output, and accuracy.
As Pacquiao has shown against his last opponents, height and size do not matter to him. Pacquiao has unbelievable speed and is an excellent boxer, period. If you break down his last three fights, he showed he finds ways to box and beat his usually much bigger opponents. Even as Pacquiao defeated his opponents, there were traces of ways to competitively match him as well.
Back in November 2009, he fought against Miguel Cotto. Early in the bout, Cotto revealed that against Pacquiao, a good jab can keep Pacquiao at bay. But the jab has to be consistently accurate. Pacquiao earned the 12th round TKO and left Cotto looking as the precursor to his bout with Margarito. Pacquiao is a boxer that throws punches in bunches and coupled with speed, he will outbox his opponents.
Against Joshua Clottey, Pacquiao revealed again a high amount of punch output and accuracy, even though Clottey didn’t get as hurt as Cotto or Margarito. Against Pacquiao, Clottey didn’t put up much of a fight that resulted in a unanimous decision.
But that’s a lesson for any potential opponent of Pacquiao’s. He will accurately outpunch his opponent in order to defeat him. I thought Clottey, when he did engage, needed to neutralize Pacquiao’s speed and timing. Clottey was inactive and didn’t do as much as he could have to really test Pacquiao.
Finally, against hard hitting Antonio Margarito, Pacquiao showed to everyone just how much of a boxer he has evolved into. He still stands toe to toe, aligned with good head movement and footwork, and however bigger his opponents, Pacquiao throws a tremendous amount of power connect punches. Margarito’s right cheek is evidence that Pacquiao penetrates through the defense of his opponent. Although he might get roughed up in the clinch or against the ropes, he can take a punch and be slowed, however slightly, but not much.
With what I’ve said about Pacquiao, it’s fair to say that Mosley will have his work cut out for him in order to win.
At 39, Mosley is the veteran boxer. And, similarly to Pacquiao, his last three fights reveal his winning skills and ability. Mosley’s last TKO victory came in the 6th round against Fernando Vargas back in 2006. Since then, nearly 4 years later, Mosley has had to fight a lot of rounds.
In 2009, Mosley fought the infamous “handwraps” fight against Margarito and earned the 9th round TKO for the WBA Super World Welterweight title. Mosley can be a devastating fighter once he relaxes and lets his hands good in combinations.
He is a strong fighter and puts together effective punching combinations. Mosley, at his best, needs to start and take the fight early. With a trace of competitive speed, Mosley needs to start strong and work the jab.
Earlier this year, Mosley fought against Mayweather and lost in a 12 round unanimous decision. Against Mayweather, JR., Mosley had a brilliant round that left Money a little stunned and weak in the knees. But again, Mosley didn’t follow up on the momentum of the round in order to take the fight to Mayweather. Mosley wanted to get the KO and went looking for it.
Finally, in September this year, Mosley fought against Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora. Even as Mora fought a primarily defensive fight, Mosley didn’t relax enough to let his hands go and fight and box. Mosley and Mora fought to a split decision draw over the course of 12 rounds.
In each of Pacquiao’s fights, he’s always had to fight the bigger man and Mosley does not necessarily tower over Pacquiao as Margarito did. In his last few bouts, Pacquiao turns it on in the 3rd round or so when he just figures out his opponent. He finds the angles and defeats his opponents rather convincingly and he’s not always looking for the KO punch.
As for Mosley, he needs to start early and he does have the ability to rock his opponent with a solid connect, but he needs to consistently do this power connect in order to win. And, with Pacquiao’s defensive movement and footwork, he won’t just be a willing target.
I mentioned it was a surprising matchup. It’s a fight I don’t necessarily see as a megafight because I just don’t think the stakes are particularly high – and the stakes I’m thinking of have to do more with pride about the best boxers facing each other to finally decide the best of the division.
For now, both Mosley and Pacquiao have nothing to prove – at least against one another. Still, a surprising matchup. Think I need to think more.