By Terry Arthur: Is this fight merely another mismatch for the irrepressible Pacquiao? Or does Mosley have any chance at the ripe old age of 39, of keeping up, let alone winning? with many arguing that Juan Manuel Marquez, Andre Berto or any other fighter around Pacman’s weight would be a more worthy opponent, why take this fight? The case could be made that there isn’t many other well known boxers who would pull the numbers needed to make it monetarily worthwhile.
This argument is a red herring because Manny Pacquiao has got the kind of fans who would pay good money to see him fight someone with no more than small chance of beating him, as we saw in his previous two bouts with Clotty and Margarito, respectively. Did any knowledgeable boxing fans see any other outcome than which we saw? Manny has transcended the sport of boxing, Not only in his native country, but globally, So that argument holds no water.
So who would be a more acceptable choice? Since Mayweather is involved in a legal battle he is out of the frame. Sergio Martinez has also been mentioned, but he is just too big and wouldn’t fight at a catch weight acceptable to Pacquiao. Marquez is a marquee name and has a huge Mexican following. So that fight would make sense financially, and as many think, the previous two fights were close and would be the final chapter in a superb boxing story.
There are others at welterweight and junior middleweight. Andre Berto, Luis Collazo, Cotto, (already beaten by Pacquiao) and Kell brook, but he is too inexperienced and unknown to be realistic. In my opinion the front runner’s should’ve been Berto or Marquez. Could Berto trouble Manny? He certainly has good power, hand speed and is young and hungry. Maybe Marquez could roll back the years and defeat Pacquiao. I doubt it based on his last performance against the durable, but hittable Katsidis. Berto should have been the guy to fight Pacquiao next. He has the power, speed and stamina to sustain a solid challenge, but still, I think he would lose. The fact is that there is only one guy that would beat The Pac Man right now and that’s Floyd Mayweather.
My predictions for the bout are; – In the early rounds, due to stamina problems for Mosley, is the best chance he has to catch Pacquiao coming in and knock him out. In his recent bouts, Mosley throws less and less punches during a fight and, against a relentless slugger such as Manny, the longer the fight goes; Mosley will be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of punches from Pacquiao.
The fact is; that Mosley has nothing more than a punchers chance in this fight if he tries to slug it out. He doesn’t throw enough punches to keep close to Pacquiao on the scorecards. If he chooses to box and move, employing a solid jab to create openings, he has a better chance, especially in the early rounds, of getting to Pacquiao and frustrating him. When he is frustrated he gets reckless, and with the kind of power Mosley possesses, I wouldn’t bet against a stoppage for him.
That being said, I see Pacquiao being the busier fighter and winning too many rounds for Mosley to surmount. Leaving Mosley needing a knockout, which, late in the fight I can’t see happening. Pacquiao will win on points or possibly a late stoppage. In that event I see Mosley retiring. Leaving the sport he has graced so magnificently, with his head held high, because at the age of 39, there certainly isn’t any shame in losing to Pacquiao.
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