For Pacquiao, a KO of Mosley is the Next Best Thing to Beating Mayweather and Quieting Hopkins

There have been huge paydays and much adulation on Manny Pacquiao's resume but the only thing that has eluded the holder of a record eight weight-class boxing titles is that fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr..

If Mayweather continues avoiding getting into the ring with Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KO's), the next best thing for Pac-Man would be knocking out "Sugar" Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KO's)--a fighter who almost knocked Mayweather out and went the distance with the Pacquiao-ducking fighter.

Like they say;  if you can't meet 'em, knock out some one they couldn't.

Pacquiao, who defends his WBO welterweight title against Mosley on Saturday night at the MGM Grand, could kill two birds with one punch this Saturday night.  A knockout would send a big message to Mayweather...and Bernard Hopkins, as a foot note.

First, Pac-Man can dispose of a common opponent, Mosley, who had the undefeated Mayweather beaten in the second round of their May 1, 2010 bout and, even though Mosley faded and was thoroughly dominated after that round, hung on for the final bell and lost in a 12-round unanimous decision.

Nothing would be a better measuring stick--maybe the only gauge for Pacquiao against Mayweather--than to brag that he did what Mayweather couldn't--put away the same fighter who almost knocked "Money" out.

Secondly, Pacquiao can lay to rest Hopkins' absurd rantings that the Filipino had never beaten a "black boxer from the streets," even if it might be considered that the 39 year-old Mosley was past his prime.

The only black fighter Pacquiao has defeated was Joshua Clottey last March, but in November, Hopkins railed that the Ghanaian didn't count because he wasn't "from the states with a slick style."

Still, there will be detractors, even if the Philippines senator KO's Mosley.  Besides being seven years closer to collecting social security than Pacquiao, Mosley is an 8/1 underdog and, unbelievably, hasn't won a fight in over two years.  Even Norm MacDonald has publicly put 25-grand on Pac-Man.

The only thing that makes this fight relevant is Pacquiao.  The song-recording, fragrance-making brand-name is like Beyonce and Old Spice rolled together in the world of boxing.  Even so, the champ better not take Mosley too lightly.



Mosley is a  title holder in three divisions and has a wicked right hook.  His last victory was a ninth-round TKO against Antonio Margarito on January 24, 2009.  The same fighter Pacquiao beat to a bloody stump last November, but couldn't put away in the final rounds.

Mosley has warned Pacquiao that he "hits three times faster than Margarito" too.

If Pacquiao is going to knockout Mosley, it would have to be in the later rounds after the older fighter is sucking wind and tired.  Mosley has the hand speed to keep up with Pacquiao for the first five or six rounds, so the Filipino will have to play it safe for the first half of the fight by keeping Mosley at bay. 

Pacquiao/Mosley is a better match-up than Pacquiao/Margarito, so Pac-Man must play it safe and can't get sloppy.  Pacquiao has the stamina and hand speed to go 12 rounds, Mosley doesn't--he showed that after he went all out in the second-round then tired against Mayweather.

Pacquiao is now an international star and bigger than boxing itself.  He has won 13 straight fights and has endorsements from  auto parts stores to computers.  A lot is riding on the welterweight--including future fights in Las Vegas, boxing returning to network television and the fight game in general.  After Pacquiao, who is there?

Bob Arum of Top Rank said Pacquiao is the driving force of boxing right now. "More people will know about this fight than any other fight in history," he claims.  Could a Pacquiao loss could be the final bell for the sport.  Maybe not, a Mosley/Pacquiao rematch might have some appeal--if only to see how Pacquiao would rebound.

If Pacquiao listens to his trainer Freddie Roach--which he is prone not to do--and paces himself until the late rounds, he might be glaring down at Mosley on the canvas and looking up to that one big match-up with Mayweather.

Alright, looking down at Mosley is probably the only reality.

Hopkins: Pacquiao Should Fight African-Americans. Arum: Bring on Mayweather

By Tony Mangia

Manny Pacquiao still can't get any respect.  Just days after pummeling Antonio Margarito, Bernard Hopkins comes out and says that Pacquiao wouldn't be so good if he faced more African-American fighters.

Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, today said he is giving Floyd Mayweather "a couple of weeks' to announce his availability to get into the ring with his fighter and, according to the Philippine Star, if Mayweather doesn't respond, Arum said Pacquiao will look for another opponent.  So there!

Meanwhile, Hopkins, the 45 year-old light heavyweight, says the African-American style of fighting would be hard for Pacquiao to adjust to and wonders if there is a reason why the Filipino boxer hasn't faced one significant black fighter?  "He hasn't faced any top-notch black fighter," shrugged Hopkins.

There was one black fighter last year. That one fighter was Joshua Clottey (from Ghana) and Pacquiao thoroughly beat him in a unanimous decision last March.  Hopkins has dismissed Clottey by saying that the Ghanaian is "black" but not a "black boxer from the states with a slick style."  Most observers of the fight would agree that Clottey had no style at all and didn't even deserve to be in the ring that night, but what's Hopkins' underlying point?  Is he saying Hispanic boxers can't fight as well as African-Americans?

While Hopkins verbally bashes Pacquiao, the Filipino smashes opponent's faces and wins titles.  Sure Pacquiao fought other Filipinos and Asians early in his career and devoured Mexican fighters over the last decade, but look at the weight classes he was in.  He has won ten titles in eight weight classes--HIS weight classes.  Ask Margarito if he looked into the mirror yet after Saturday's beat down--and he gave up seventeen pounds to Pacquiao!

This all leads to the $64 million question:  Is it still possible Pacquiao (52-3-2) will fight Floyd Mayweather?  Arum has laid the cards on the table...again. Who else is there--Shane Mosley?  He's an African-American but, even with Hopkins' race-baiting, that match-up won't generate enough hype.  After Margarito's poor showing, most fans won't be willing to spend big money for another sparring session.  What they do want is "Money."

Here we go again (sigh) more talk of the "Fight-of-the Decade."  Wasn't that last decade anyway?  Could Hopkins, who is a partner of Golden Boy Promotions (which has contracts with both Pacquiao and Mayweather) be priming the pump for the fight everyone wants?

While Mayweather (41-0) pushes around security guards and wrangles in domestic and criminal courtrooms and Pacquiao talks about settling into politics, Hopkins may be setting the tone for making the big fight happen--make it a race thing.

Hopkins says it isn't racial, but what else could it be?  The Executioner didn't mince words when he said,  "Floyd Mayweather would beat Manny Pacquiao because of the styles of the African-American fighters--and I mean black fighters from the streets or inner cities."  Last time I checked, Pacquiao didn't exactly grow up in a penthouse suite, but Hopkins may have a point.  Tough neighborhoods (white, brown or black) breed fighters--kids who must scrap for food, clothes and respect.

The great Italian and Irish fighters in the 40's and 50's came from rough and tumble backgrounds.  Now, after they assimilated into the mainstream, they're scarcer than plaster-of-paris in Margarito's hand wrap last Saturday. 

Let's be real. Pacquiao hasn't ducked anyone and he can only fight who's available, worthy and in his weight class.  Arum defended his fighter and questioned the talk about him steering clear of foes of a certain color. "I've heard that, he said,  "The notion he would not fight an African-American is ridiculous.  The selection of an opponent has nothing to do with race, creed or color." 

Two times before, both Pacquiao's and Mayweather's camps have tried to set up the big fight only to have it squashed by drug-testing demands and refusals--mostly by Mayweather's camp.  Maybe Hopkins is re-building interest for the match-up by tossing around fightin' words  like, "I think Floyd Mayweather would pot-shot Pacquiao and bust him up."  Fight fans might say to Hopkins, "Just tell Floyd to put up or you shut up!"

One question does remain.  Is Mayweather physically and mentally ready to face Pacquiao?  While Money steps in and out of courtrooms, Pac is hopping into boxing rings.  Money has a January date in a Las Vegas court and he is looking at serious jail time if convicted--a scenario which could either speed up or wipe out any potential fight.  The drama continues.