Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be first pick, Juan Manuel Marquez wouldn’t be a bad choice either but Shane Mosley is certainly not the man the world wants Manny Pacquiao, the undisputed pound-for-pound best boxer on the planet, to fight next.
However, it appears very likely that Pacquiao will announce a May 7 bout with the 39-year-old former welterweight title holder during his birthday celebrations in the Philippines on Friday.
Mosley was booed during his woeful September draw with reality television celebrity Sergio Mora following a unanimous points loss to Mayweather in May.However, he appears to be first choice for Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum, who is in the Philippines and has said the choice of opponent will be down to Pacquiao.
Mexican Marquez looked back to his best in defeating Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis this year following a defeat by Mayweather. Marquez’s two previous fights with Pacquiao, a draw and a split decision victory for the Filipino, were nothing short of thrilling and a third fight would be attractive.
Pacquiao’s reputation has gone through the roof following his jolly up the weight divisions. His ability to bring with him the power he had at featherweight to leave opponents at light-middleweight in trouble is phenomenal but he could possibly damage that reputation by taking a fight with Mosley.
What is there to be gained in bashing another inferior opponent for 12 rounds other than a shed load more money to throw in the bank?
Pacquiao outclassed Antonio Margarito to win the vacant WBC light-middleweight title last month, the eighth division in which he has claimed a world title but the Mexican wasn’t worthy of a title shot in his second fight back following a one-year ban for wearing illegal hand wraps.
Before that Pacquiao humiliated Joshua Clottey for 12 rounds, the Ghanaian offering minimal offence and content to survive the contest with both hands covering his face. Was he a worthy opponent having suffered losses to Miguel Cotto, who Pacquiao stopped in the final round, and Margarito?
To be fair to Pacquiao, his first choice has always been Mayweather but the pair have not been able to negotiate terms and the Filipino has been forced to take other fights and while he has been able to showcase his talents in beating the lower class of fighter, it seems the boxing public have had enough.
ESPN’s respected boxing correspondent Dan Rafael posted on Twitter: “Not only don’t my Tweeples (Twitter followers) support a Pacquiao-Mosley fight, they’re venomous in their hatred for it. Does ANYONE want to see it? If so speak”
PHOTO: Supporters of Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao pose for a picture during the unveiling of Pacquiao’s statue at the Manila Bay seafront November 26, 2010. The bronze statue was erected in honour of his achievements in boxing.
Source: blogs.reuters.com
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