By Chris Williams: Floyd Mayweather Jr. (40-0, 25 KO’s) isn’t known for having a high work rate, but on May 1st, he’s going to have to find a way to throw more punches than he normally does if he wants to beat World Boxing Association welterweight champion Shane Mosley (46-1, 39 KO’s). Mayweather, 33, will be facing a steady withering fire all night long from the 38-year-old Mosley, and unless Mayweather is able to match his punch volume, Mayweather could end up losing and being the one who looks 38.

Mayweather has been able to win his fights on the cheap in his last four fights, beating opponents that couldn’t catch up to him long enough to land more than a punch or two. Mayweather, with his movement, is able to punch and move to keep out of the way of his opponents. The movement is good, but it’s made Mayweather more reliant on his legs rather than his offense.

This puts Mayweather in danger when facing a fast fighter like Mosley, who throws a lot if punches and who has the strength and power advantage over Mayweather. Mosley is going to be going after Mayweather and really letting his hands go with a lot of punches. Mosley has noted that Mayweather doesn’t throw a lot of punches and can be out-punched if his opponent can stay on top of him. Mosley, though, can’t just stand in front of Mayweather.

That would lead to Mosley taking some pinpoint shots. Mosley has to instead use angles and attack Mayweather hard when in close. It’s not going to easy. Mayweather showed in his fight with Ricky Hatton that he can fight really well in close with short punches. However, Mayweather is there to be hit if Mosley can get near enough. Forget the shoulder roll garbage. Mayweather is going to look silly if he does that bit against Mosley.

He needs to leave that for his slower, more limited opponents that can’t fight. Mosley probably has no chance of beating Mayweather if he makes the mistake of trying to box him. Mayweather is too clever and fast to be beaten by boxing him. The only way that Mosley can beat him is by turning the fight into a war, throw a lot of punches and try to rough Mayweather up on the inside. Even that might not work, but it’s really the only chance that Mosley has.

Mosley needs to throw punches and try overwhelm Mayweather’s defense. If Mayweather is too busy covering up and messing with his shoulder roll, he won’t be able to throw his pinpoint shots and will fall behind in the fight. If Mayweather gets behind in the fight, he doesn’t have the power to score a knockout. He’ll end up losing the fight because of his inability to come back and stop Mosley.

Another thing that Mosley should consider trying is his punch and hold technique. It worked wonders his fight with Antonio Margarito last year in January, and kept Margarito from throwing his own punches. Mosley might just be able to smother Mayweather’s offense if he hugs him all night long. It will be boring to watch, to be sure, but it might work in shutting Mayweather down.