ShareThisLOS ANGELES — It is American former three divisions champion Shane Mosley for the next opponent of Filipino world pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao on May 7 at MGM Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacquiao Vs Mosley
Earlier, Pacquiao, now a congressman representing Saranggani province in Mindanao, ruled out early retirement from boxing as requested by his wife and mother, pointing out that he is still for three more fights.
Many supporters of both fighters welcomed fight while others egged Pacquiao to give a chance to Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez for their third fight. Pacquiao and Marquez had won a piece in their two outings and the third would determine who is the better fighter of the two champions.
Marquez fought Pacquiao to a draw in a 2004 featherweight championship fight and lost a split decision in a 2008 junior lightweight title fight.
Other boxing afficionados claim that Mosley has the poorest rating of the three earlier proposed to fight him – he, Marquez and undefeated American welterweight Andrei Berto.
Promoter Bob Arum announced the fight at 147 lbs. after meeting Pacquiao during his birthday celebration and Mosley later for the World Boxing Organization welterweight title.
“We came to a meeting of the minds,” Arum said.”I believe it will be an exciting fight. Shane knows how to fight and how to deal with the speed. Manny is in for a hellacious fight. I really believe styles make fights.”
Arum added: “Mosley is very dangerous, he’s a very slick fighter, very experienced. Manny’s style is made to order for Shane. It should be a very, very interesting fight.”
Arum said it was Pacquiao who picked Mosley “because Mosley is better known than the other two.”
He added: “It is a name selection. He picked the guy that is known to more people because that is going to generate interest in the fight.”
Mosley, 39, is 46-6 with one draw and 39 knockouts while Filipino superstar Pacquiao, 32 is 52-3 with two draws and 38 knockouts.
Pacquiao has won 13 fights in a row, having not lost in nearly six years in a span that has seen him dispatch such boxing stars as Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Pacquiao has claimed world titles in eight weight classes, the only fighter to do so. Most recently, he took the World Boxing Council super welterweight belt from Margarito last month.
Mosley has lost twice and struggled to a draw in his past five fights, falling to Puerto Rico’s Cotto in 2007 and unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. last May before a draw against American Sergio Mora last September.
Arum had wanted Mayweather for Pacquiao in what could be a richest fight in boxing history but the American former pound-for-pound king disliked the fight, even throwing a mouthful to the Filipino hero.
Mayweather, 33, was arrested again at a Las Vegas casino last week on a misdemeanor battery charge after he allegedly assaulted a security guard at his gated community.
In the meantime, Mayweather is now facing jail terms for alleged maltreatment of his former wife in Las Vegas. He is set to go to court nxt year.