LOS ANGELES — Shane Mosley felt slighted that oddsmakers have installed him a whopping 7-1 underdog in his bid to unseat Manny Pacquiao from his lofty perch on May 7 in Las Vegas. “The odds? I am not a betting man and I don’t like to bet,” said Mosley, who also faces the daunting task of knocking the WBO welterweight crown off the Filipino’s head at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Mosley has shrugged off the assessment of the Vegas bigwigs, boasting that he will have the last laugh.
“But I will make sure I won’t be on the losing end of the stick.”
Latest odds show Pacquiao as -625, while Mosley is +425.
“(The odds) should be somewhere near even,” said the 39-year-old three-division world champion from the city of Pomona here in California.
Mosley’s lowly estimation in the eyes of oddsmakers has something to do with his lackluster showing against Sergio Mora last September and versus Floyd Mayweather four months earlier.
Mosley battled Mora to an unpopular draw, while Mayweather beat him soundly although Mosley had his chance early after staggering Mayweather but failing to finish him off.
But Mosley believes those type of fighters weren’t the kind who would bring out the best in him but a guy like Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, a dare-devil puncher who relishes in toe-to-toe action, is a different story, according to Mosley, who has problems dealing with defensive-minded foes like Mora and Mayweather.
“Manny loves to fight and that’s what I like about his style.”
Bob Arum, who has been Pacquiao’s promoter since late-2006, acknowledges Pacquiao’s pugnacious nature could backfire against somebody like Mosley, making this fight highly-interesting in the eyes of ring aficionados.
Mosley knows a loss against Pacquiao would not necessarily put an end to his storied career but it will definitely mean the end of mega paydays, making the May match a must-win.
Nick Giongco, Manila Bulletin
