Pacman Meets the Press
Wednesday was Pacquiao’s turn to meet the press, and the difference between him and Shane Mosley was like night and day…
Wednesday was Pacquiao’s turn to meet the press, and the difference between him and Shane Mosley was like night and day. Mosley seemed serene, if not resigned, Tuesday afternoon, whereas Pacquiao and his crew acted like it was a party. Bob Arum had to use all his considerable authority to get Manny and the boys to calm down.
Mosley’s 46-6-1 record speaks for itself. He’s got 39 KOs to his credit. He’s been knocked down twice but never stopped. Facts are stupid things, and hope reigns eternal, so many think the May 7 bout will end in a knockout.
“We’re not really focused on the knockout,” said the 32-year-old Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs). “We work hard and if it comes, it comes. We have prepared ourselves to fight 12 rounds.”
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, doesn’t underestimate Mosley. “Shane’s a tough guy and durable,” he said. “It would be incredible if [Manny] stopped him. It would prove that he’s better than the other guy (Mayweather) who couldn’t stop him. We’re going to force the action and go for it this time.”
“Shane Mosley is still strong,” said Pacquiao, “and he moves like a 29-year-old or a 30-year-old. He is the kind of fighter that you cannot underestimate. He is bigger than me and stronger and of course he is a former pound-for-pound champion.”
A reporter asked about Mayweather, who hasn’t fought for a year, except with women and the law. Pacman took it in his stride: “It’s hard to judge him. I don’t know what his reason is for not fighting me. I really don’t have an idea why or what the reason is that he won’t fight me.
“If he’s waiting for me to get old, I’m just waiting for that time.”
Roach is one of boxing’s philosopher princes. A professor with tenure at the School of Hard Knocks, he never says anything stupid, wrong, or foolish:
“Nazeem (speaking of Mosley’s trainer Nazeem Richardson) knows how to get to his fighters. He gets the best out of his people. It’ll be a big challenge to come up with a better game plan than he does.
“Manny will fight at a fast pace and I don’t know if Shane is going to be prepared to fight at that pace,” Roach said. “In the Margarito fight he looked great and Margarito has an aggressive style like Manny.
“And the way we are going to attack him is going to be a little more scientific of course.”
