In the third round when Manny hit a hard left and followed it up with a right hand under the cheek bone, Mosley was trying hard to focus his eyes just like an auto focus camera trying to get an image in total darkness. It also indicated that the boxing was over. Athletics had just started and one wonders if steeple chase is what they had in mind. Detractors will always say that Mosley was old but when will these people actually rationalize that even an old retired man will fight if he feels he can win. The fact is that Mosley realized in his third round enlightenment what the future held for him. Unfortunately he wasn’t the first one to get enlightened. Floyd seems to have heard that divine voice long time ago.
In all fairness, this is the time one really feels like sounding harsh. Manny was not what fans expect him to be and that unfortunately is a fact. There is no justification, not even cramps, in the kind of actions we witnessed in the ring. For a change, I was impressed by the friendly gestures of fighters not only in the main draw but also on the undercard but Manny – Mosley touching gloves and hugging like long lost friends was a bit too much.
It’s true that in Asia we consider it an insult and bad manners beyond reprieve not to return a good gesture even if it comes from our enemies. It’s also true that Mosley seemed to offer a touch glove at the start and end of every round topping it with a hug to Manny at the beginning of 12th round. It looked as if Mosley was trying to make sure that one day he would have the story to tell to his grandchildren about how he hit the small Manny Pacquiao with his fists. It is surprising that the cards scored 82 punches for Mosley. I reviewed the tapes to see the generosity of the judges and honestly could not count 82 Mosley punches whereas one could easily count more than 820 back steps every round after the third.
Lighter side apart, Manny should not have reciprocated the friendly gestures. Boxing as a sport has civilized a lot since the pugilism of the Greeks where hand wraps were glued with stones and sharp shingles to inflict maximum pain and dying in the bout was an honor but it will cease to be the sport that it has become if the show of compassion like Manny – Mosley is visible in the ring. When will the fierce rivalry of Nadal and Federer combined by the respect for the other be visible in Boxing? Why should Amir Khan say that there will be no fight with Manny? Boxing needs to transcend the narrow mindset and develop as a sport. If Amir and Manny can hit each other in practice – why not for the championship? That would be better match up than any other fight that is out there for Manny.
Marquez trilogy is on the cards. Would it be worth it? Except for the interest in seeing Manny in action, hardly is there anything that would be pulsating in this fight. Marquez lost the first two fights and these looked too close only because of Manny’s benevolence. The third is going to be lights out for the Mexican who has dared to dream. Would it interest the fans – well unless of course we would want to see Marquez offer his gloves to Manny just like Mosley did? If that ever happens, one thing Manny needs to practice and root deep in his boxing muscle memory is the ring is not the place to show the richness of the orient culture. Boxing is not an oriental game like the martial arts where the opponents bow in front of their opponents at the start and the end of the fight.
Manny needs to realize that he need not be knocked down (even if it is an error) to be excited, he need not be hit to get hurt and aggressive. If we analyze his fights in last 4-5 years (the time when Manny has peaked physically), he has knocked out only those opponents who have shown their will and grit to hurt him bad. Ricky Hatton being on top of that list and facing the fastest KO. All others who have not hurt him including Marquez, have made Manny to lift the foot off the pedal and behave in the way where his compassionate inner self gets displayed even in the boxing ring. This strategy would be the only real threat for Manny’s supremacy as the pound for pound king. The way he sweats in his practice, the only person who can beat Manny is Manny Pacquiao. Floyd will only need to bring out the softer side of Manny in the first few rounds and rest will be easier than most of us expect.
Source: ringsidereport.com
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