By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk
This is a massive fight for both Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, on Saturday night – both in the manner it is generating huge interest from the public in the US as well as in its commercial success – yet the biggest prize on the line for the two athletes themselves, is a meeting with Manny Pacquiao. All roads lead to Pacman after this.
For all hubris around Mayweather, Pacquiao stands at the next crossroads, marked ‘destiny’. If Mayweather believes his greatness is to be etched into time, he must take the road which leads to the face off with the most popular boxer on the planet, and, at present, its No 1 exponent, weight-to-lifeforce, in a ring.
For there is no escaping the Pacquiao fight waits in the wings. It would be unfair to call this a semi-final, but it is approximating that standing. Mayweather-Mosley, the pair of them prize fighters among the best anywhere in the sport from the past 15 years, is money-rich, but it is a contest of US bragging rights. Of Las Vegas bragging rights. Pacquiao versus the winner is the world watching. And the No1 pound for pound crown is then on the cloth.
A tedious, defensive points win for Mayweather could damage the sport, and heap criticism on Mayweather, but the styles don’t shape that way in this fight. Mosley is rarely in a tepid contest, has speed, guts and belief, as against Mayweather’s guile, speed and fistic ingeniousness.
Mayweather may put on a show, to demonstrate to fans that he can shine against Mosley. That becomes more likely because he knows Manny Pacquiao is waiting in the wings. It is the opportunity for Mayweather – who has a major financial deal for this fight which could earn him between $40 and $60 million US dollars – to showcase himself and increase his bargaining power before Mayweather-Pacquiao negotiations begin again in earnest.
That is if he wins, of course. Should Mosley triumph (and he is a 4-1 outsider) it is a given that he will face Pacquiao. In some senses, Mosley could be more dangerous for Pacquiao than Mayweather. Pacquiao’s style suits Mosley. The American showed why against Antonio Margarito. I’m not saying that Mosley would beat Pacquiao, because the Filipino’s speed could do for him, but it is possible.
Even if Mosley loses – and it is a close contest – there is a possibility that Mosley could be approached to meet Pacquiao if Mayweather plays hardball.
Make no mistake – Mayweather’s ego is enormous and to feed it he will need to defeat Pacquiao to leave the world in no doubt that he is the No 1 pound for pound fighter of this era. Unless he does so, opinion will remain divided forever.
No one wants to call Mayweather-Pacquiao ‘The Richest Fight of All Time That Never Happened’.
Mayweather’s fight with the Filipino wrecking machine is already geared up to be one of the greatest in history. Mayweather-Mosley, a major marketing success in itself, is all well and good. But Mayweather’s cunning plan could have been etched this way deliberately. Win well, win in dramatic fashion, and the heats is on Pacquiao.
Mayweather is boxing’s superstar of this generation, while Pacquiao has something divine about him. Mayweather, undefeated, a multi-division world champion, and following in the line of accession from Sugar Ray Leonard to Pernell Whittaker, to the present day. So much at stake in this fight – but all roads lead to Pacman.
Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk
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