I remember where I was when I saw Mike Tyson sitting on the canvass with his mouthpiece dangling from his mouth. Nobody in a million years ever thought that Buster Douglas would return to America from Japan as the world heavyweight champion. He did exactly that by defying the odds and knocking out “Iron” Mike Tyson.
There’s always a chance for a major upset in all sports. The Jets winning the Super Bowl, and QB Joe Namath predicting it before hand. Recently Jason Litzau, a 13 to 1 underdog defeated Celestino Caballero, a huge upset. Upsets happen, so should the boxing fans take a closer look at Mosley Vs. Pacquiao? Most foxing fans, especially Pacquiao fans, laugh at the notion that Shane Mosley will win. Mosley’s last two performances against Floyd Mayweather and Sergio Mora were not so great. This adds to the speculation that Mosley is a shot fighter, and that father time has snatched him. Are the fans jumping the gun here? Does Mosley have more in his gas tank? Perhaps he does.
Floyd Mayweather made Mosley look bad, really bad. Mosley had one moment in the fight where he caught Floyd with a right hand. Mayweather was stunned by the punch, and he went into survival mode. Floyd as he usually does, figured out Shane from that point on, and well the rest is history.
So should we judge Mosley based on his defeat to Floyd Mayweather? Perhaps not. Floyd makes everyone look bad, because love him or hate him, he’s a great elite fighter. Mosley then fought to a draw against former Jr middleweight champ Sergio Mora. So should we judge Mosley based on his average performance Vs. Mora? Perhaps not. Mora is a big tall Jr middleweight who is an awkward fighter. Mora is a lot slicker and a flat out better fighter than people want to give him credit for.
Does any of this mean that at this point in time Shane Mosley is in the same boat as Manny Pacquiao as far as boxing ability?
The odds are stacking up against Mosley, as they should I mean look at what Pacquiao has done to bigger fighters, and look what he’s done over the past 3 or 4 years. He has left a path of destruction leaving legends and future hall of fame fighters bloodied and bruised. It would truly be a shocking upset if Mosley were to defeat Manny Pacquiao. With that said, crazier things have happened.
Would I bet my Fender guitar and my cadillac on Mosley defeating Pacquiao? No I would not, but for someone who would be the farm, they would laugh all the way to the bank if it ever happened. Shane still possesses power, so it’s not crazy to imagine him catching Manny with a right hand. He did it against Mayweather who most feel is better than Manny defensively. Then again, on the flip side, how will Shane deal with the onslaught of punches and speed of Manny Pacquiao?
Mississippians that I recently posed the question to mostly feel as if Manny will win this fight big. Most boxing fans in Jackson, MS that I have spoken to believe that Pacquiao wins going away, because he’s too fast. There were a few fans that did think that Mosley has a chance. I spoke with Keith Fielder, a boxing fan, and a Mosley fan. Fielder has hopes that his guy will pull of the upset, “Look man, everyone knows what Pacquiao will bring. Mosley knows it too, and I truly believe that Shane has one more great fight in him. I think he will not only beat Manny, but he will knock him out.” I spoke to Patrick Carlson of Byram, MS at the “Time Out” sports bar. Carlson didn’t pull any punches, ” Pacquiao will destroy Mosley, and the beating he will give him will send Shane into retirement for good.”
Upsets happen in sports, but will it happen in this fight? You never know.
