By Erik Thomas: Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach thinks the only way that 39-year-old Shane Mosley can beat Pacquiao next month is if Mosley fights dirty. Roach doesn’t say what exactly he means by saying that Mosley’s only chance of winning is by fighting dirty, as Mosley isn’t a particularly dirty fighter. In looking at Mosley’s past fights, the only thing that comes close to him fighting dirty is his bout against Antonio Margarito where Mosley used a punch and grab technique to shut Margarito’s offense down.

However, clinching is a legal tactic and the referee is the one that failed to limit Mosley’s clinching in that fight. He could have taken points away from Mosley because he was showing a clear pattern of throwing a punch and then grabbing immediately. It limited exchanges and marred the fight in terms of action.

In an article at philstar.com, Roach said “He [Mosley] can get dirty. That’s the only way he can win this fight.” I think Mosley can win the fight if he uses his punch and grab technique, but I don’t see that as fighting dirty. If the referee does his job, Mosley won’t be able to get away with this tactic. I highly doubt the referee will prevent Mosley from using this tactic, though, because they often look the other way when fighters do this. We’ve seen guys like Bernard Hopkins and Wladimir Klitschko get away with constant clinching after they throw their shots and the referees do little to stop them. If Mosley does decide to use the old punch and grab techique, I can’t see the referee doing anything about it. It will turn the fight into a total bore to watch with Mosley wrestling Pacquiao at close range for 12 long, boring rounds. Pacquiao hasn’t ever met someone that drapes themselves on him for 12 rounds and this could be a real test for Pacquiao’s grappling skills.