lpinoy
05-12-2011, 02:36 PM
Pacquiao-Mosley "Super-Fight"? Not Quite…C/P
By Beau Denison
May 12, 2011
Boxing fans were left disappointed for what they yearned for and what they expected to see was a battle between two great fighters matching their skills and ring savvy in an all out battle. The proposed “Super-Fight” between WBO Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and challenger “Sugar” Shane Mosley fell far short of it’s promotion and not even close to a “Super-Fight”. Frankly other then the third round it was relatively boring.
Pacquiao and Mosley both professed confidence in their abilities and game plans leading up to the fight. Each gave the fans the belief that they would be victorious. Mosley at age thirty-nine underwent extreme training to recapture the physical shape, skills and, confidence of his youth. Pacquiao stating that he would not be deterred due to outside influences attempting to quell concerns shared by his trainer Freddie Roach.
Media hype was at it’s best somehow it all averaged out to this; “Sugar” Shane could win by early knockout. If not the “Pac-Man” would take out Mosley in the mid-to late rounds.
Well we didn’t see that. What we did see was a battle of mutual respect… After the fighters engaged or clinched they were both touch gloves before continuing. This was consistent in every round throughout the fight. If the victor was to be judged by friendship or respect I’d call it a draw!
The fight began as a feeling out process and Mosley did enough to gain at least one round of the first two. In the third round both Pacquiao and Mosley became more aggressive. During one exchange Pacquiao landed a straight left to the exposed left side of Mosley’s face. The punch landed flush and had enough power to knock Mosley down for the third time in his career. Mosley recovered and fought defensively the rest of the round.
The punch Pacquiao threw was totally unexpected by Mosley and quite frankly considered to be impossible by many. The punch landed squarely flush to Mosley’s left side. You’d expect a southpaw to land cleanly on the right side not on the left. Somehow, Pacquiao has the ability to know where the punch will land before the opportunity is given to him. Mosley moved to the punch…
After the third round Mosley was completely on the defensive for the rest of the fight and fearful to take risks. Only an error by Referee Kenny Bayless in round ten by calling a knockdown of Pacquiao by Mosley briefly raised excitement in the crowd. The knockdown was clearly a push and not caused by any aggressive action by Mosley and became completely irrelevant.
The fight after the third round is hardly worth mentioning, Pacquiao winning a unanimous decision to retain his title. Boos of disappointment rang out from the crowd throughout the fight. The continued touching of gloves two, three, four times every round only fueled the disappointment and anger of Boxing fans.
During the post-fight interviews Pacquiao expressed that he had caught Mosley with a lucky shot in the third round and that Mosley was very fast. He would have been more aggressive but in the middle rounds his legs began to tighten and he couldn’t move. Mosley stated that he fought the best and he had never been hit with such power. Mosley also offered that he didn’t believe that age was a factor and that he felt that he boxed well. He refused to take risks for fear of giving a chance to Pacquiao for a knockout.
Thoughts of Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya must be haunting Mosley now. What’s worse the Pacquiao was not the “Pac-Man” as in the De La Hoya fight. Pacquiao gave a less then stellar performance.
“Sugar” Shane must answer serious questions. Is it over at age thirty-nine? Can he or the Boxing world believe in him again? Is there anything left to prove? Should he risk further damage not only physically but to his legacy?
As for Manny Pacquiao, listen to your trainer’s concerns… Decide whether you wish to continue as a fighter in the sport of Boxing. Yes your future may be in the political arena, making records or, other interests but realize the following statement; If the “Pac-Man had met the “Sugar” Shane in his prime this article may very well have been quite different.
By Beau Denison
May 12, 2011
Boxing fans were left disappointed for what they yearned for and what they expected to see was a battle between two great fighters matching their skills and ring savvy in an all out battle. The proposed “Super-Fight” between WBO Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and challenger “Sugar” Shane Mosley fell far short of it’s promotion and not even close to a “Super-Fight”. Frankly other then the third round it was relatively boring.
Pacquiao and Mosley both professed confidence in their abilities and game plans leading up to the fight. Each gave the fans the belief that they would be victorious. Mosley at age thirty-nine underwent extreme training to recapture the physical shape, skills and, confidence of his youth. Pacquiao stating that he would not be deterred due to outside influences attempting to quell concerns shared by his trainer Freddie Roach.
Media hype was at it’s best somehow it all averaged out to this; “Sugar” Shane could win by early knockout. If not the “Pac-Man” would take out Mosley in the mid-to late rounds.
Well we didn’t see that. What we did see was a battle of mutual respect… After the fighters engaged or clinched they were both touch gloves before continuing. This was consistent in every round throughout the fight. If the victor was to be judged by friendship or respect I’d call it a draw!
The fight began as a feeling out process and Mosley did enough to gain at least one round of the first two. In the third round both Pacquiao and Mosley became more aggressive. During one exchange Pacquiao landed a straight left to the exposed left side of Mosley’s face. The punch landed flush and had enough power to knock Mosley down for the third time in his career. Mosley recovered and fought defensively the rest of the round.
The punch Pacquiao threw was totally unexpected by Mosley and quite frankly considered to be impossible by many. The punch landed squarely flush to Mosley’s left side. You’d expect a southpaw to land cleanly on the right side not on the left. Somehow, Pacquiao has the ability to know where the punch will land before the opportunity is given to him. Mosley moved to the punch…
After the third round Mosley was completely on the defensive for the rest of the fight and fearful to take risks. Only an error by Referee Kenny Bayless in round ten by calling a knockdown of Pacquiao by Mosley briefly raised excitement in the crowd. The knockdown was clearly a push and not caused by any aggressive action by Mosley and became completely irrelevant.
The fight after the third round is hardly worth mentioning, Pacquiao winning a unanimous decision to retain his title. Boos of disappointment rang out from the crowd throughout the fight. The continued touching of gloves two, three, four times every round only fueled the disappointment and anger of Boxing fans.
During the post-fight interviews Pacquiao expressed that he had caught Mosley with a lucky shot in the third round and that Mosley was very fast. He would have been more aggressive but in the middle rounds his legs began to tighten and he couldn’t move. Mosley stated that he fought the best and he had never been hit with such power. Mosley also offered that he didn’t believe that age was a factor and that he felt that he boxed well. He refused to take risks for fear of giving a chance to Pacquiao for a knockout.
Thoughts of Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya must be haunting Mosley now. What’s worse the Pacquiao was not the “Pac-Man” as in the De La Hoya fight. Pacquiao gave a less then stellar performance.
“Sugar” Shane must answer serious questions. Is it over at age thirty-nine? Can he or the Boxing world believe in him again? Is there anything left to prove? Should he risk further damage not only physically but to his legacy?
As for Manny Pacquiao, listen to your trainer’s concerns… Decide whether you wish to continue as a fighter in the sport of Boxing. Yes your future may be in the political arena, making records or, other interests but realize the following statement; If the “Pac-Man had met the “Sugar” Shane in his prime this article may very well have been quite different.