MANILA, Philippines — What makes Manny Pacquiao tick will make Pacquiao sink.
This was the bold prediction of Shane Mosley, the US puncher who faces the Filipino star on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“Being that Manny is a top, tough fighter. He’s very fast and moves very well, punches very well, and he’s very explosive, that will probably be his downfall,” Mosley told Fanhouse.
“Being so explosive and so willing to be in a fight. That will be his downfall in the fight,” stressed Mosley, adding that his “speed and my hitting power and my physical strength are going to be a factor in the fight.”
Mosley is even taking a cue from his and Pacquiao’s fight with Mexican mauler Antonio Margarito.
“Watching the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito, I was kind of surprised at how many times Margarito was able to hit Manny Pacquiao, being that when me and Margarito fought, he didn't land that many shots on me,” said Mosley.
Mosley stopped Margarito in nine rounds in January 2009 when everyone thought Margarito was invincible, while Pacquiao took all of 12 rounds to beat him just late last year.
“I didn’t get that many bruises or lumps or anything. That was just very surprising. And I know that Margarito, being able to land those types of shots, I should be able to land some good shots as well, being that I’m a lot faster.”
Not only that the 39-year-old Mosley stressed.
“I hit extremely hard. Even some cruiserweights that I’ve sparred with They will tell me how heavy and how hard my shots are.”
Pacquiao has opted to keep his mouth shut but will be compelled to deliver some peppery quotes when he and Mosley come face-to-face in a five-city press tour Top Rank chief Bob Arum is staging beginning February 10 in Beverly Hills.
From Los Angeles, the traveling circus will go to Las Vegas, New York, Washington and possibly San Francisco.
After the tour, both fighters will begin to prepare for training camp with Pacquiao holding the first half of his eight-week buildup in Baguio City and Mosley retreating to Big Bear, California.
Nick Giongco, Manila Bulletin
