Eight-division king Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts), who also holds the WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds), has taken criticism for selecting to defend his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) belt against 39-year-old, three-division, five-time titlist, Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs), in an HBO pay per view televised, Top Rank Promotions bout on May 7.
Pacquiao is coming off of a Nov. 13, unanimous decision rout over ex-titlist Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs).
Margarito marked Pacquiao’s 13th straight win during a run that has included eight knockouts since his last defeat — a March, 2005, unanimous decision loss to Erik Morales, whom Pacquiao has since twice stopped in the third and 10th rounds.
Mosley’s not looked good in his past two fights, May’s Golden Boy Promotions, lopsided, 12-round unanimous decision loss to six-time champion Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs), and, September’s split-decision draw with ex-champion, Sergio Mora (21-1-1, six KOs) that was contested at 154 pounds.
Still, Mosley was chosen over 37-year-old WBO and WBA lightweight king Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 38 KOs) and 27-year-old WBC welterweight belt-holder Andre Berto (27-0, 21 KOs).
In this video, Pacquiao’s adviser, Michael Koncz, defends the selection of Mosley.
