Just over a week away from Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley and the talk among many fans isn’t who will win, but whether or not the Filipino can become the first fighter to finish the veteran American.
Speaking on a Top Rank conference call earlier this week, Manny Pacquiao himself didn’t seem at all concerned with knocking Mosley out, stating:
“I’m not focused on the knockout, but we just work hard. If the knockout comes, then it comes. You know, we prepared ourselves that we’re fighting 12 rounds”
It isn’t known for sure of course what Pacquiao’s tactics will be on the night, several different press quotes recently have him both standing toe to toe and picking Mosley off from a distance.
Similarly various interviews have Mosley forcing Pacquiao to go on the defensive while others have him counterpunching, so until the bout starts we won’t know for sure.
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Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach however was much more upbeat on the subject of going for the knockout, and has also predicted a knockout over Mosley several times in the past.
“Shane’s a tough guy and a very durable guy and it would be a great feather in Manny’s cap to be able to stop him and to just prove to the world how much better he is than that other guy that couldn’t stop him”
Pacquiao tends to be reserved when discussing his opponents and what he hopes to achieve in the ring. Roach however is the man making the game plans for Pacquiao to carry out, and by the sounds of things he is looking for a knockout.
Roach was of course referring to Floyd Mayweather as the ‘other guy’, who in May of last year dominated Mosley over 12 rounds but failed to stop him, despite wobbling him in the later rounds.
The reason that Mayweather didn’t go in for the kill, other than not ever being known as an overly aggressive fighter, is likely that even as tired and beaten down as Mosley was, his speed and power were still a risk. Advertisement
Mayweather is a fighter who takes as little risk as possible in the ring in order to achieve his goal which is to get the victory.
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Whether the fight is exciting or whether he can stop his opponent is secondary, and while some of his fights have been less than thrilling, it’s hard to argue that this approach hasn’t worked well.
Manny Pacquiao, while equally successful, is the polar opposite.
He frequently stands and trades with opponents much larger than himself.
Much to Freddie Roach’s chagrin he often leans on the ropes lets himself get hit.
He also generally doesn’t pause long enough between punches to worry about whether his opponent is throwing anything back.
Joshua Clottey landed on Pacquiao on the all too infrequent occasions when he actually threw a punch.
Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto both hurt him at various points and he has also shown himself to be vulnerable to counterpunchers such as Juan Manuel Marquez.
Mosley isn’t noted as a counterpuncher but he is a lot faster even at close to 40 years of age than either Cotto, Margarito or Clottey.
He also has a good chin, and power enough to knock Pacquiao down if not out if he catches him clean.
Certainly if Pacquiao and team are looking to send a message to Mayweather, finishing Mosley would be ideal.
As long as Mosley is upright and Pacquiao is within reach though, Sugar Shane has the potential to change the fight with a single punch.
Which makes chasing the knockout a risky venture for Pacquiao, who at this point really has nothing to prove in terms of bettering Mayweather’s performances.
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