CEBU CITY — A victory by Philippine national boxing hero Manny Pacquiao is again expected on Saturday (Sunday morning Manila time) when he takes on Shane Mosley in a fight some sports analysts deem a “mismatched” at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The Filipino boxer/politician is a shoo-in favorite to retain his WBO welterweight title going into the event dubbed by critics as “the best on the planet vs a fading champion,” putting into consideration all that Pacquiao has achieved in his boxing career against the aging Mosley’s diminishing talent.
Some people believe Mosley is already too far past his prime to give Pacquiao much competition, but the “Pacman” believes otherwise, saying the former three-division champion from California is bigger than him, still quick and still packs power even at the age of 39.
“Shane Mosley is still very strong and he moves more like he’s 30 years old,” Pacquiao said during a press conference. “He’s the kind of fighter who is bigger than me. Pound-for-pound he’s still good.”
“It’s an opportunity to show people I’m not washed up,” Mosley, for his part, said. “You don’t lose your power. They say you lose your speed, but I haven’t lost my speed either.”
Although absorbing a pathetically one-sided loss last year to undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., Mosley emerged as the better man when he decided to take the path his former tormentor dared not go by fighting Pacquiao.
The 32-year-old Saranggani congressman, widely considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, would have preferred a bout with Mayweather who twice failed to come to terms on a fight deal with Pacquiao for the mega showdown fans have been clamoring.
Pacquiao and Mosley, meanwhile, both passed their weigh-in Friday (Saturday Manila time) at the MGM Grand Arena. Pacquiao came in at 145 pounds, while Mosley weighed the welterweight class limit at 147 pounds.
Pacquiao, who earlier said he will be wearing yellow gloves in his fight against Mosley as a message of hope in fighting hunger in the Philippines, reportedly wore a yellow t-shirt during the weigh-in.
In line with this, Malaca?ang called for a “yellow Sunday” in support for the Filipino boxing hero.
Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) has won 13 straight fights and claimed world titles in eight different weight divisions including the WBC light-middleweight diadem against Antonio Margarito of Mexico recently on Nov. 13 in Texas.
Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs), who will try to resurrect his career with a big upset victory over Pacquiao in their 12-round duel, has won only two of his last five bouts.
Pacquiao is expected to make $20 million at the most, while Mosley is guaranteed a $5-million fight purse plus a percentage from the pay-per-view sales.
Former WBC light-flyweight champion Rodel Mayol (27-5-2, 21 KOs) is among the fighters featured in the undercard of this event. The prominent Filipino boxer from Mandaue City, Cebu, will be facing Mexican super-flyweight Javier Gallo (17-3-1, 9 KOs) of Tijuana in a non-title matchup for eight rounds.
