Mayweather vs Mosley
IT’S BARELY A MONTH BEFORE THE much-awaited mega fight between “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr. and “Sugar” Shane Mosley with the winner expected to take on current pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, who owns seven world championship belts from seven different divisions.
While conducting a mini survey among colleagues who cover boxing, I was reminded by one of them that most of the fans are rooting for a Mayweather victory because they want to see him fight Pacquiao.
As senior writer Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin said when I asked him to pick who he thought would be the Labor Day winner in Las Vegas: “My mind says it’s going to be Mayweather, but my heart says it’s Mosley.”
Was Nick, who has covered practically all of Pacquiao’s fights both here and abroad, trying to say that his heart wants it to be Mosley?
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Speed versus strength, flash versus force, perfection versus power. What qualities will prevail?
In one corner, there’s the flashy and precise Pretty Boy Floyd, who holds an impeccable record of 40 wins with 25 knockouts. The 32 year-old who hails from Grand Rapids, Michigan, may be an arrogant loudmouth, but perhaps he has something to brag about.
On the opposite corner is the more low-key Sugar Shane, the reigning world welterweight champion who is six years older than Pretty Boy at 38 and has the reputation of having defeated the best among his peers, including Oscar De La Hoya twice.
Headed towards the Boxing Hall of Fame when he retires, Mosley holds a 46-5 record with 39 knockouts. He traces his roots to Pomona, California.
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So who is the scribes’ pick for the Labor Day encounter—Pretty Boy Floyd or Sugar Shane?
Abac Cordero of the Philippine Star believes it will be Sugar Shane, “because he wants to take on Pacquiao more than Mayweather does,” while Quinito Henson of the same paper predicts a Mayweather victory by unanimous decision.
Dennis Eroa and Virgi Romano, sports editor of Libre and Abante Tonite, respectively, agree with Quinito, for different reasons. So does Francis Ochoa, Inquirer assistant sports editor.
“I choose Mayweather because I want Pacman to give him a lesson in humility and courage,” Dennis said.
For Virgi, Mayweather’s cunning and guile are the two factors that will be working in his favor.
“Magulang, eh,” said Virgi who is married to a boxer.
Francis explains his choice with two magic words: “Shoulder roll.”
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Like Abac, Gerry Ramos of People’s Journal and Roy Luarca of PDI predict a Mosley triumph.
“Age may be a factor working against Sugar Shane, and perhaps also his long layoff (Mosley has not fought since January of last year, while Mayweather’s last fight was in September, also of last year), but he has the style to beat Mayweather. Besides, I think it’s time for Pretty Boy Floyd to shut up,” Gerry said.
All afternoon Saturday, I tried to get hold of Roy Luarca to ask him to elaborate on the text message he sent earlier that day.
Roy said Mosley’s motivation is that he is out to prove something. Or maybe he has a score to settle.
What about you, who’s your pick?
Source: sports.inquirer.net
