The following is a list of the common opponents amongst Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley and what significance the results of their fights against these opponents will play in their fight.
Oscar De La Hoya
Shane Mosley defeated Oscar De La Hoya twice, in 2000 and 2003 respectively, winning by split and unanimous decision respectively. Pacquiao fought De Le Hoya once in 2008 and scored a TKO at the end of Round 8 after De La Hoya could not answer the bell to begin Round 9.
Mosley was moving up in weight to fight De La Hoya from 135 to 147 pounds. Pacquiao was also moving up in weight to fight De La Hoya from 135 to 147 pounds. Mosley was fighting De La Hoya in his prime. Pacquiao was fighting De La Hoya on his last legs and dehydrated.
The span in which Pacquiao and Mosley fought De La Hoya is too far apart for it to really have any significance when analyzing their fight this Weekend. However, from a chronological standpoint De La Hoya was the first person who would become a common opponent against both and they both had success against him.
Miguel Cotto
Mosley fought a prime undefeated Miguel Cotto in 2007 in a title fight at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds. Pacquiao fought a once beaten Cotto in 2009 in a welterweight title fight fought at a catchweight of 147 pounds. Cotto had rebounded from a beatdown at the hands of Antonio Margarito three fights prior with an easy comeback win over England?s Michael Jennings and a war with Ghana?s Joshua Clottey.
Mosley fought Cotto at his best. At the time, most boxing fans thought that Cotto had the best chance of any boxer on the planet to give then reigning pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather a competitive fight and perhaps defeat him. Mosley was competitive with Cotto; however in then end Cotto was just too good for him on that night.
Pacquiao fought a still very effective Cotto. However, it was a version of Cotto who still had memories fresh in his mind of getting beat down by Mexico?s Antonio Margarito. Mosley lost a unanimous decision to Cotto. Pacquiao earned himself a 12th round TKO win.
If Mosley is any bit of the fighter he was in 2007 when he fought Cotto against Pacman Saturday night, he could give the fighting Filipino trouble. The question is, is Mosley anywhere near that fighter? Many boxing experts say no. However, Mosley has surprised the experts before.
Antonio Margarito
Mosley fought Margarito when he was perceived to be at his best going into the fight. Mosley was a 4-1 underdog, but shocked the boxing world with a dominant performance in which he KO?s the normally iron chinned Margarito in a fight that was never competitive. Of course, just hours before the fight started Margarito was caught with loaded hand wraps that would harden when wet like a plaster of paris like substance. This led to many questioning his previous career best win over Miguel Cotto and it cast a shadow over his entire career.
Pacquiao fought Margarito after he had been disgraced from the hand wrap incident. The once feared Margarito was seen as a cheater who got the Pacquiao fight due to business ties rather than actually earning it in the ring. Pacquiao beat the Hell out of Margarito on his way to a unanimous decision win.
This could be the most telling amongst their three common opponents. Both Mosley and Pacquiao fought a version of Margarito confirmed not to be wearing loaded gloves and they picked him apart using superior hand speed and boxing skill.
Take these past experiences from both fighters when going in to make your pick for this Saturday?s fight.
