IOWA CITY, IOWA—Does Shane Mosley have a shot of beating Manny Pacquiao? Yes, and all you have to do is look at the second round of his fight with Floyd Mayweather when a Mosley right nearly derailed the undefeated Mayweather. In a fight that was mostly a sparring session for Mayweather, the second round was the only competitive round between the two with the Mosley right proving decisive in that ring. Beyond the second round, Mayweather boxed his way to an easy victory and Mosley looked old and slow. Nor did he look that much better in a draw against Sergio Mora a good but not great fighter. A few years ago, Mosley would have dispatched Mora but the 39 year old Mosley is not longer Sugar Shane, he is just Shane.
Team Pacquaio saw the Mosley?s last two fights and decided that the time has come for a big money fight with Mosley. I suspect that the Pacquaio?s camp decided that at this stage of his career, Mosley represents a safe fight for big money and Pacquaio is about making the big money. Not that I don?t empathize with Pacquaio concerns since he has beaten some of the best fighter of his generation, so no one can excuse him for taking a bout for money. The Pacman has more than paid his dues when it came to fighting the very best so now at this stage in his career, it is time to profit on his skills.
Mosley was a great hall of fame fighter and the real question is can Mosley regain for one fight, his skills that age has eroded? Often with great fighters, there may be just one more great effort left in the body, so the fighter continues to fight especially if there is a eight figure pay day involved.
