Don?t ever go fishing with Coach Freddie Roach?unless he lends you some of his bait.
Otherwise, you will be going home with your line and pole and nothing else.
The clever Manny Pacquiao trainer dangled his catch weight bait in front of a hungry fish named Sugar Shane Mosley and the nearly age 40 fighter looks to be ready to be swallow it hook, line and sinker.
While other players were blowing smoke in the direction of Marathon Man Floyd Mayweather Jr., Pacman?s shrewd tutor was dipping his rod in clearer waters.
Mosley, wise enough to realize that his top performance rounds are dwindling to a precious few in his bout with undefeated Father Time, doesn?t want to wind up sitting on the sidelines crying into his hanky like his fellow Golden Boy VP, Bernard ?I?m 44 And I?ve Had No Bouts in 2009? Hopkins.
So Mosley has been blasting out interview after another and saying complimentary things about Megamanny.
Now he?s let Team Pacquiao and the public know that not only will he agree to a weight closer to Manny?s premium junior welterweight limit of 140 pounds than to his own more comfortable 147 pound welterweight perch but he will also take the short end of a 40/60 money split.
If this fight comes together and it certainly can since the Golden Boys take in more filthy lucre with their own executive than they do in handling affairs for Mayweather, then Pretty Boy may be boxed out after his July 18 Juan Manuel Marquez bout. Sure, he will have $15 million in hand and he can get the pesky IRS out of his pockets but his choice of next opponent will be limited.
The January victory over Antonio Margarito was less impressive than it looked to the fans? eyes. Roach took it for what it was, a solid showing by Mosley over an overrated Mexican who never really went to the highest level achieved by icons Barrera, Morales and to a certain extent, Juan Ma.
Mosley could possibly upset Pacman, I will concede that. But the moon could fall out of the sky tonight also although I wouldn?t want to bet on it.
An Oct. 17 victory over future Hall Of Famer Mosley, a two-time winner over Boss Oscar, provides a pluperfect point for Pacman to take his leave from boxing for a while.
He can then attend to his political chores, get into elective office and then come for his final fistic run.
As for Mayweather, his biggest fish will have swum away.
Those almost 40 ?sea legs? of Mosley will get shaky after five or six rounds of trying to contend with Packman?s hand and foot speed.
Mayweather will be left trolling for minnows. How do you like that, chum?
Master baiter, Coach Roach, is about to haul in a whale.
