FEATURED FIGHT: HBO vs. Showtime. The pay-per-view success of the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley fight largely will determine whether Pacquiao’s switch to Showtime will be a one-time occurrence or real progress in Showtime’s uphill battle between the premium cable networks. HBO has a bigger budget and roughly twice as many subscribers, but keeping Pacquiao at Showtime would represent a big blow to HBO’s boxing franchise. Pacquiao’s last fight, a lopsided points victory over Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 in Arlington, Texas, drew roughly 1.2 million buys via HBO Pay-Per-View.
LOCAL LOOK: Paterson middleweight Ossie Duran (25-8, 9 KOs) will face Philadelphia’s Latif Mundy (10-2, 4 KOs, 1 NC) in a 10-round main event June 22 at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark. Passaic junior welterweight prospect Jose Peralta (6-1, 4 KOs) and Nutley native Thomas LaManna (2-0, 2 KOs), a junior middleweight who’s a senior at Millville High School, also are scheduled to appear on a seven-bout card arranged by Clifton-based Gulfstream Promotions. For tickets ($100, $50), call 973-482-3005 or 973-350-9993.
THE FINAL BELL: Comedian Norm MacDonald recently bet $25,000 on the heavily favored Pacquiao at a Las Vegas sports book to win about $3,000. Floyd Mayweather, who frequently brags about betting large sums on sporting events, might go with his heart and put big money on Mosley. Even if he doesn’t, you can be sure Mayweather will root for Mosley. If Mosley wins, the embattled Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs), who hasn’t fought since dominating Mosley a year ago, can resume his career without worrying about fighting Pacquiao.
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