I didn’t realize it was such a tragedy. I mean the bollixed Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao mega bout.
Some folks, including some weepy scribes, are acting as though the bullies and egomaniacs on both sides of the negotiating table just took a gravity knife and a magic marker and defaced the Mona Lisa.
Get a grip, people. I see it as a mere case of delayed gratification. It’s not like they will never fight.
This fight is too financially intense not to not happen before the year is out.
At some point, Mayweather will make a concession on blood testing or Pacquiao will agree to have blood taken out of his shoulder every time he goes to the bathroom.
Besides, an expert named Sugar Shane Mosley told me that what you, the public, is missing is most likely the equivalent of a 47 minute nap.
Why 47 minutes? Well, you take 12 rounds times three minutes and add in the one minute breaks just before rounds 2-12.
This came up in our phone chat when I asked Mosley, who is fighting unbeaten rising star Andre Berto Jan. 30 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, who would win, Manny or Floyd.
Mosley gets in Money’s grill as Kellerman seems flustered (HBO)
“It’s one of those pick ‘em fights, it really is hard to tell,” Mosley said from his training lair high up in the rarefied air at Big Bear Lake.
“I know that Pacman could get to him, that he could land some powerful punches. But, it’s just as more than likely to be a 12 round snoozer. That’s what Mayweather likes to do, that’s how he likes to go at it and he might edge Pacquiao like that unless Manny can get in there and land some of those awkward shots he likes to throw.”
Now that the Floyd-Manny logjam has been broken, with Pacman choosing to fight gamester Joshua Clottey on March 13 and Mayweather seeking some easy pickings for himself on the same date, Mosley figures into the picture more strongly.
But he can’t stumble as he tries to hurdle the energetic Berto.
“They had me frozen out. But I am planning on three fights this year, I will fight Berto, beat him and then collect all the welterweight title belts. I am the best and I will keep proving it this year.”
Mosley said he feels like a man who is physically 25 years old even though the calendar has him turning 39, Jack Benny’s mythical and consistent age, this year.
“I can go four or five more years, I really can because I am a clean living guy. I do feel like my age is 24 or 25. I always stay in good shape and I stay active. For the love of the sport, I will keep fighting. Then I’ll get my son (19 year old Shane Jr.) situated in boxing. He spars with my sparring partners right now even though he’s just an amateur.”
The proud father said his son weighs between 152-158 pounds.
Mosley has no regrets for locking in the bout with Berto amidst all the Mayweather-Pacman talk.
“I feel like I’m keeping the sport alive. Berto is a champion and a worthy opponent for me. I didn’t want to just wait, wait, wait. Berto is at the front of the line so I am giving him an opportunity,” Mosley said.
Berto likes to tie opponents up in close but Mosley thinks that could prove to be a disadvantage for the younger boxer.
“I see Berto as very quick, a guy with good hand speed. He must have talent because he was able to get himself a belt. But, as far as clinching, I am pretty strong and stronger than him. If he does that, it would not be to his advantage it would be to mine.”
