By Rasheed Catapang: On May 1st, will we see the Shane Mosley of old or an old Mosley? The question needs to be asked though the answer won’t really matter. Little Floyd Mayweather Jr., like the countless times he had done before, will walk away with the win.

There may not be anyone now as supremely gifted a boxer as Little Floyd. And there may not be anyone now as confident with those gifts. We could deny his place in boxing’s Valhalla but we could never deny his talents. His detractors could cry foul and scream to deaf heaven all they want but they could not disclaim that his skill set rivals those of the All Time Greats.

In his claim to greatness, we could despise him – and his demeanor invites just that. But could we prove him otherwise? I doubt that.

Mosley, however, is qualified to try. He’s long in queue and earned the slot. Bear him no malice then when he inevitably fails and falls at the proverbial road side because at best Mosley is a test. He’s very good but is not great, and is now certainly very old.

Some people saw Mosley as a phoenix rising in the Margarito fight. They failed to consider Margarito’s state of mind in that fight or Mosley’s mediocre performance against Mayorga before that. Mosley could hope for another miracle but would that work against the very devil that is Mayweather.

If there’s anything Mosley could really do, it will be that which Pacquiao could not. That is to make Little Floyd shine.

“Shane done some things in this sport,’’ Mayweather (40-0, 25 KO) said, “but this fight is about enhancing my legacy, about proving I’m the best.’’

And that’s exactly what will come to pass. Floyd Mayweather Jr. for all his faults is a realist. He will never lose because he’ll never be on a fight he could not win. I believe there is the uncertainty in Floyd’s mind if he’ll be the winner against Pacquiao, with Mosley there is not a shred of doubt.

Mosley has yet to come to terms with that. Or else, he’s in denial. Failing to know the enemy eventually will cost him the war. After May 1, he’ll join the 40 before him who bloody tried.

And bloody failed.

“So now I’m telling everyone I know Mayweather is the best of all time. Better than Ali. Better than Frazier. The best that God has ever molded. But if he’s the greatest of all time and we knock him on his back, what’s that make Shane?” Mosley asked.

A dreamer.