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.

Pacquiao's Mom Says It's His Last Fight!

By Tony Mangia

While Manny Pacquiao prepares for this year's biggest fight--basically carrying the rating-starved sport of boxing on his sinewy shoulders and, if you believe his mother, and the unconfirmed rumors that have dogged the world champion since his last fight--this will be Pacquiao's last bout.

A Youtube video shows Pac-man's mom, Dionesa Pacquiao, making it clear through an interpreter or that she will be ringside at her son's WBA fight Saturday night on the condition it is his final boxing match.  Now what mother hasn't said that before and what son didn't listen.  It's a standard plot which dates back to boxing films of the '30's.

Saturday night, Pacquiao goes into the ring against Antonio Margarito at Cowboys Stadium in an effort to clinch the vacant WBC Super Welterweight World Title.  Pacquiao will attempt to win a historic 10th world title in eight different weight classes.

Rumors of Pacquiao's 'retirement' have swirled incessantly around the Filipino since he defeated Joshua Clottey in a one-sided decision last May.  Pacquiao was elected congressman in the Philippines House of Representatives after the fight which fueled more talk of his permanent exit from the ring.

Pacquiao's  trainer, Freddie Roach, has admitted his fighter's political responsibilities have taken a piece of the world champion"s training routine. Now his mom has thrown a towel into the ring.

His mom's attendance at this fight will be the first time she has seen her boy inside the ropes. The religious woman said she doesn't go to his fights but always prays "he will win."  She knows her support is important to her son.

If this is Pacquiao's last fight, it could be a classic.  He is facing a devastating puncher in Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) a boxing pariah who is fighting in the U.S. since being suspended for using illegally-loaded hand wraps in an upset loss against Shane Mosley last year.  The lanky Margarito is sure to test the champ's chin even without the plaster-of-paris padding. In 2005, the Mexican fighter literally ripped Sabastian Lujan's ear in half and later beat Miguel Cotto into a bloated pulp.

Many fans have called for the lifetime ban of Margarito for his corner's dangerous and disgusting stunt. His camp denies the allegations and  claim the 'confiscated, saved and analyzed wraps' were legal and blown out of proportion.

Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs)  will have his hands full and his belly empty. He believes his speed was being compromised by going up in weight classes and has opted for being lighter and quicker against Margarito.  On fight night Pacquiao could be 20 pounds lighter than his opponent.  Even Roach is concerned about Pac's lack of bulk, but has faith in his fighter.  "He has been doing this a long time," the trainer said,"He knows what he is doing."

While California wouldn't allow the fight, Texas welcomed the bout with open arms and without a hearing.  Top Rank  (which represents both fighters) put the fight together after "The Fight of the Decade" with Floyd Mayweather didn't pan out.

Pacquiao is arguably the best-known fighter in the world but Mayweather has the undefeated record and is the only fighter in his class with the box office clout as Pacquiao.  The flamboyant "Money" has continually made excuses for not fighting Pac-man.  Meanwhile, Mayweather has a laundry list of domestic and criminal charges to contend with and was a recent no-show at his arraignment in Las Vegas.  Mayweather is equally adept at avoiding the ring as well as the court.

So the biggest fight of the year pits the people's champion against the cheater.  Margarito has a huge following in Mexico, where legions of fans turned up in support of his last fight in May.  This will be his return to U.S. boxing and his biggest payday.  As a thank you to the Pacquiao camp his trainers recently released a vulgar video spoofing Freddie Roach's Parkinson's affliction and stutter.  Margarito may have risen above the cesspool of his California license revocation but he still stinks.

Margarito might picture himself as Zorro in silk shorts repaying Pacquiao for his well-publicized dismantling of South-of-the-Border fighters like Eric Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera among others. He should draw a sizable home-crowd advantage in Arlington, Texas.

Mayweather has picked his nemesis Pacquiao to win.  In an interview with Fight Hype, he said," I'm going to tell you the truth.  It doesn't matter if he (Margarito) lay down or not--Pacquiao will still whoop his ass."

Mayweather's dad, Roger, chimed in and boasted his son was still better than the Filipino politician.  Sorry Mama Pacquiao, maybe there's still one more fight on the congressman's agenda.