Prizefighting at any level is unpredictable especially among the elite. All it takes is one single punch to change the outcome.
Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs), considered the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, knows this and does not expect an easy night against Sugar Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) when they fight Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Showtime pay-per-view will televise the event.
“He is a former pound-for-pound champion,” said Pacquiao, 32, who will be fighting Mosley for the WBO welterweight title. “I can’t underestimate him.”
You can compare this fighter’s record to another fighter’s record or even common opponents, but all that is quite simply lunch-break chatter. What really matters is one fighter’s style compared to another fighter’s style.
Ever since Pacquiao emerged on the American scene, he’s captured fans with his explosive aggression and pure attacking style. He’s like a mini pit bull who may lack size but utilizes his speed and volume punching to blind opponents with blows.
“Manny is a warrior. He doesn’t need to be angry or upset to knock your head off,” Mosley said. “I’m the same way.”
Mosley, 39, made his big entrance into the elite status nearly 11 years ago when he beat Oscar De La Hoya by split decision at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Despite his lack of size, like Pacquiao, he defeats bigger opponents with a style called “power boxing” that has enabled him to fight professionally for nearly 20 years.
“He’s a dangerous fighter,” said Freddie Roach, who trains Pacquiao. “Styles make fights.”
It’s a common mantra heard when you talk about Mosley versus Pacquiao: styles make fights.
Because Mosley’s last two bouts ended in a loss to Floyd Mayweather and a draw to Sergio Mora , many consider the Pomona speedster an easy foe for Pacquiao. Roach and many others, including promoter Bob Arum, know this is not the case.
“You have to be out of your mind to think that Manny Pacquiao is an eight-to-one favorite over Shane Mosley ,” said Arum, who promotes Pacquiao. “Anybody who knows anything about boxing knows that styles make fights and Mosley has the style that can make this fight one of Manny’s most dangerous fights.”
If you analyze both styles: It pits the aggressive power boxing style of Mosley against the offensive-minded Pacquiao style in a fight that can only lead to a form of playing a game of chicken before millions of fight fans.
“Shane Mosley is still very strong and he moves more like he’s 30 years old. He’s the kind of fighter who is bigger than me,” Pacquiao said during a conference call. “Pound-for-pound he’s still good.”
After Mosley beat De La Hoya by decision in 2000, he was the consensus pound-for-pound champion. It’s been a decade-long goal of his to return to that status.
“I want to become recognized as the pound-for-pound champion again,” Mosley said.
Although Pacquiao beat the much bigger Antonio Margarito for the WBC junior middleweight title last November, he knows that Mosley has never been stopped and still maintains the quickness and hand speed that could prove problematic.
“This fight is bigger than the Margarito fight because Mosley moves fast and he has good speed and power. That’s what I want. He throws a lot of punches. It will be good for us and it will be a good fight,” Pacquiao said.
Mosley’s trainer, Nazim Richardson, seems as excited for the fight as any fan because he knows the journey elite fighters must travel.
“Fighters at this level have had to do everything it takes to get this far in boxing. They had to work the punches, they’ve had to get off the canvas. Fighters of this magnitude have probably seen every scenario you can see in the ring,” Richardson said.
There will be several other bouts on the card, with WBO junior featherweight titleholder Wilfredo Vasquez (20-0-1, 17 KOs) defending against Mexico’s Jorge Arce (56-6-2, 43 KOs); Kelly Pavlik (36-2, 32 KOs) will meet Alfonso Lopez (21-0, 16 KOs) in a super middleweight bout, and Pier Cote (15-0, 10 KOs) fights Aris Ambriz (15-1-1, 8 KOs).
Fights on TV
Friday
ESPN2 , Diego Magdaleno (18-0) vs. Gilbert Sanchez Leon (31-8-2).
Telefutura , 11:30 p.m., Librado Andrade (29-3) vs. Aaron Pryor Jr. (15-3).
Saturday
Showtime pay-per-view, 6 p.m., Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2) vs. Shane Mosley (46-6-1); Kelly Pavlik (36-2) vs. Alfonso Lopez (21-0); Wilfredo Vasquez (20-0-1) vs. Jorge Arce (56-6-2).
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