MANILA, Philippines ? Shane Mosley?s chief trainer is a huge Manny Pacquiao fan.
Naazim Richardson told boxingscene that Pacquiao didn?t reach his superstardom status by sheer luck as the cerebral cornerman defended the Filipino from allegations that he has never been truly tested by a top black American puncher.
?Fighters at the elite level didn?t get there by accident,? said Richardson. ?Fighters that reach elite level didn?t stumble across their talent. Fighters that constantly perform didn?t stumble across their accomplishments.?
But while Richardson remains awed by Pacquiao?s feats, the trainer is not handing Mosley?s head on a silver platter when they slug it out on May 7 in Las Vegas.
Richardson said during the New York leg of the promotional tour last month that Mosley should be in optimum shape for somebody like Pacquiao to have a legitimate shot at knocking the pound-for-pound crown off the 32-year-old eight-division champion?s head.
Mosley and Richardson are expected to kick off their two-month preparation for Pacquiao next week in Big Bear, California, a high-altitude resort city that is 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
Mosley is already in Big Bear warming up for training camp, according to the 39-year-old fighter?s Filipino-American publicist Suzanne Summerville.
To show his respect for Mosley?s talent and experience, Pacquiao has also done some pre-conditioning by running and playing basketball in General Santos City in time for the arrival of Freddie Roach this Tuesday.
