Shane Mosley sounds weary. Not only he has had to dodge jabs during sparring sessions preparing for his May 7 bout against Manny Pacquiao but also because every journalist is throwing accusations in his direction that he is past his best. An old dog forgetting his old tricks. An interminable bore in his last fight against Sergio Mora and a shut-out before that to Floyd Mayweather are the jibes thrown his way.
?This gives me motivation. I don?t read to much into it,? says Mosley. ?But I just want to make sure that when I leave a fight it?s without regrets.?
While Shane Mosley sounds apathetic with the world?s media on a teleconference call, his trainer Naazim Richardson is in bullish mood, keen to defend his charge.
?You have to realize that Manny Pacquiao has never faced Shane Mosley,? explains Richardson. ?I also don?t believe that his job in the government is a distraction. I think he is 100% focused on fighting ?Sugar? Shane.
Richardson is keen to stress that while he does not think Pacquiao is taking Mosley lightly, Mosley himself understands the risks involved in facing Pacquiao.
?We see him as a killing machine. He [Pacquiao] is like a young Aaron Pryor. Pryor was an all action athlete. You could see his energy level was extraordinary and you see that in Manny Pacquiao.?
But fighters at this level have done everything to get ready according to Richardson and in the case of Mosley they are ready for a fight a battle with Pacquiao, one in which they are confident of landing as many punches as they are likely to receive.
?Margarito landed the most punches ever on Pacquiao. If Margarito is fast enough to land punches on Pacquiao then I can land punches on Manny Pacquiao.?
The final say though is left with Naazim Richardson.
?A bullet that misses you by an inch is as dangerous as a fly.?
Can Mosley dodge the Filipino bullet. On May7 fight fans, and Shane Mosley will find out.
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