Mayweather vs Mosley
By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated April 04, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is rooting for the big underdog in May.
“I’m for Shane Mosley,” said Pacquiao, referring to the reigning WBA welterweight champion who will have his 38-year-old hands full when he faces Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 1 in Las Vegas.
Mosley, who happens to be five years older than Mayweather, is the bigger fighter. He enjoys a one-inch advantage in height (5’9”) and a two-inch advantage in reach (74”), and is a true welterweight.
Mosley has fought at 147 lb, and even as high as 154 lb, 20 times over the last 11 years for an overall ring record of 46 wins (39 knockouts) and five losses, the last one against Miguel Cotto in 2007.
Mayweather is of course the undefeated ex-pound-for-pound champion who came off a nearly two-year retirement to beat Juan Manuel Marquez last September, and is now saying he’s still the best out there.
Mayweather, undefeated in 40 fights, has fought as a welterweight no more than half a dozen times, and defeated Oscar dela Hoya in a light-middleweight contest in May of 2007 to set the all-time pay-per-view record.
For their coming fight at the MGM Grand, Mayweather is the favorite. He’s a minus 340 favorite, meaning one needs to put $340 to win a hundred bucks. Mosley, despite his size, is at plus 260 ($100 wins $260).
There’s a lot at stake in the fight. If Mayweather wins, then all questions, and all roads lead to a super-fight with Pacquiao later this year. If Mosley wins, then he suddenly becomes one of the contenders.
Pacquaio’s promoter, Bob Arum, said there are only three fighters looming as Pacquiao’s next best opponent, and they are Antonio Margarito, who lost to Mosley last year, Juan Manuel Marquez and of course, Mayweather.
But that’s assuming that Mayweather would walk past Mosley.
Still, Pacquiao is putting his money on Mosley, and in a recent interview, he said Mayweather should “handle his business” by beating Mosley in order for him to keep his chance of facing the Filipino icon.
“Otherwise, I may end up facing Mosley,” said Pacquiao.
The 31-year-old Pacquiao, who hasn’t lost a fight since March of 2005, said he likes Mosley’s style against Mayweather, who works harder on defense, and is always happy to win on points.
“Mosley is bigger. And he throws more punches. In boxing, it’s always important to throw more punches,” said Pacquiao, now the reigning pound-for-pound champion and a congressional candidate in the Philippines.
But he said the work’s cut out for Mosley.
“He must do the right preparation. If he does, then he has a very good chance against Mayweather,” he said without elaborating.
What’s known is that Pacquiao is putting his money on Mosley, the big underdog.
Source: philstar.com
