The ramifications of Shane Mosley as Manny Pacquiao?s choice as next opponent haven?t died down a bit even during the extended Christmas holidays.
Many believed and cried out that Mosley was a poor expedient choice as Floyd Mayweather Jr continues to avoid, if not evade, Pacquiao.
On paper, however, Mosley is one of the better choices. If only one takes away the age factor.
Mosley is one of the more durable fighters in the division and has never been stopped or seriously hurt during his storied boxing career.
But there is also no denying that age has caught up with him. He may no longer have the spry in his legs he once had in compiling a respectable record of 46 wins as against six losses and a draw (one no contest). He may fight in spurts and may not be able to sustain his two fisted attacks against Pacquiao but to say he never has a chance is outright insulting. However, I agree that his chances of pulling an upset are very slim. And although he may have aged, Mosley is not, by any stretch of imagination, a damaged good which makes him still dangerous. Former world champions, however faded they are, still believe they have one good fight left in their pockets.
So are you going to see these two fighters trade blow against each other?
I believe that should not be the question. It should rather be: Do we have a choice?
As fight day approaches, expect more drama to unfold giving the fight a shot in the arm, publicity-wise.
Top Rank?s Bob Arum, after, all makes a living selling fights. And he has been doing that for the longest time some of these whining critics were even born.
Manny will be able to whither the negative reactions of his choice just as he was able to silence critics when he took up then disgraced Antonio Margarito when nobody in America dared touch him with a totem pole.
It is not the quality of the match-up that counts. It is the satisfying and enjoying victory that keeps the fans coming in and gluing on their TV sets.
And with Pacquiao, each victory is becoming different from the previous.
That is why people will still watch him.
In fact, many are waiting to see him finally lose that is why they want to see him against tough opponents. But is there anybody left outside of Mayweather?
