ShareThisMosley down in six.
This is the bold prediction of award-winning trainer Freddie Roach on the fight of his ward world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao against American three-division champion Shane Mosley.
The fight, which takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, on May 7, has drawn one of the biggest boxing crowds with more than 15,000 tickets already sold out many weeks ago.
And to be able to see personally the fight, boxing afficionados have fallen prey to brokers and scalpers who are taking advantage and are selling tickets at fantastic prizes.
Prompted by Freddie Roach’s prediction, Mosley boasted that he would knock down the world’s pound-for-pound king in their title bout for World Boxing Organization welterweight crown.
No way, Roach then countered, adding: “I’m not going to let that happen.”
Roach’s statement was made after the Filipino record holder of eight world championship belts in different divisions nearly knocked down a sparring partner in their training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
Roach, however, admitted that Mosley will be one of Pacquiao’s toughest opponents but quickly added they will be ready for any type of fight.
Pacquiao himself declared that he will not allow Mosley to knock him down and win.
“Mosley will come to win, there’s no question about that. A win against me will be big for his career, but I am not going to let that happen. I have been preparing for any type of fight,” Pacquiao stressed to Eddie Alinea.
“Alam naman natin na hindi ganuon kabagal si Mosley, hindi gaya ni Margarito. May bilis siya, may lakas at magulang din kasi dating kampeon. Pero hindi talaga ako makapapayag na mapatulog niya gaya ng prediksyon niya,” Pacquiao said.
“By the way, nasabi ko ito sa isang nag-interview sa akin—I am dedicating this coming fight sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan. Iniaalay ko rin ito sa lahat ng naging biktima ng nakaraang tsunami sa Japan,” he added.
According to Eddie Alinea’s report, strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza backed Pacquiao’s words, saying his ward nearly docked a youthful spar mate last Thursday.
“Yeah, Manny is really pushing himself through his training regimen. He almost knocked down his sparring partner,”Ariza said.
Fight promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank disclosed that there is a big demand for tickets for the fight, prompting brokers and scalpers to take advantage.
“People are making so much money from this fight,” said Arum.
He said: “People are waking up in the morning saying ‘I want a ticket to the fight’ and they would pay any amount to get one.”
Tickets for the fight priced from $150 to $1,000 were sold to the public two months ago and were immediately gobbled up by boxing afficionados and supporters of the two fighters.
According to Arum, Internet sellers are making huge profits by selling the $150 tickets at $350 and the $1,000 tickets to as much as $3,800.