By Dennis Principe: Whatever weight Manny Pacquiao will be fighting in you can bet he will always be instantly considered as the top fighter of that division. A champion in four weight classes and a recent conqueror of one of the best fighters of all time in the welterweight class, Pacquiao is again getting serious challenge and this time, current 147 kingpin Sugar Shane Mosley is the one waiting for the Filipino boxing sensation to again tinker with the possibility of moving up in weight. Thursday last week Mosley was the main guest of the daily morning Philippine radio show “Sports Chat” where the newly-crowned welterweight king reiterated his readiness to brawl with the world’s top pound-for-pound kingpin sometime in the near future.
Mosley said Pacquiao will surely be in for a tough night as the American world champion claims the Filipino icon is set to face a bigger, stronger and determined fighter.
“I’m a whole different specimen. I’m kinda like a Manny Pacquiao but in a bigger form,” Mosley told the show in an overseas telephone interview. Pacquiao though is set to challenge British superstar Ricky Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas while Mosley is still relishing his recent success after dethroning Mexican Antonio Margarito.
The 37-year-old Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) said he is still four or five years away from calling it a career and that his recent wins prove he still has what it takes to rule the sport.
“I’m looking to clean out the whole welterweight division. Everyone in my way I’m looking to destroy. I’m going to be the king of 147 and remain there for a while,” said Mosley who also stopped former champion Ricardo Mayorga last September 2008.
Pacquiao cemented his legacy as one of boxing’s all-time greats by annihilating fellow great Oscar De La Hoya in a one-sided eight round stoppage December of last year in Las Vegas in a bout set at the welterweight limit.
The win over De La Hoya made Pacquiao a formidable welterweight campaigner and a potential marquee match-up for Mosley.
“That’s what I really want to achieve. To prove that I’m still here and I’m the best in this division so I want to meet the best,” said Mosley.
Mosley meanwhile is hopeful the controversy involving Margarito and issues about handwraps will not adversely affect his victory.
“I hope the hand wrap issue won’t overshadow my win. I still won the fight and he didn’t hit me that many shots,” said Mosley.
Margarito had his boxing license revoked for one year by the California State Athletic Commission along with trainer Javier Capetillo who testified he accidentally implanted hard pads into the front of Margarito’s gloves before his fight January 24 against Mosley.