The After Math on Pacquiao-Mosley

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Photo by Tom Casino

Manny Pacquaio again has been more than just a fighter but an entertainer. That can be tough when the man in front of you runs and runs with no thought of standing and fighting. Shane Mosley, a living legend looked like a tomato can with arms. A ring veteran with a size advantage over the significantly smaller Pacquaio played defense the entire night. Pacquaio continued to chase Mosley and often attempted to throw combos and get inside on the taller man. The only ring smarts and craftsmanship Mosley employed was throwing quick jabs and rights to break up Manny’s not stop assault. Besides those defensive punches we saw more of a marathon runner than a fighter whose known as one of the great Sugar’s.

Pacquaio did his best, but unfortunately was not able to knock the running man out. I hate to talk about a great like this, a man whom I’ve watched since I was a kid, but the Shane Mosley we have seen in the past 4 fights (Mayorga, Mayweather, Mora, and Pacquaio) is more of a name and a body than a threat. He still has power, he still has his smarts, but he can no longer pull the trigger. Mosley, who still may see prime time programming time if he chooses to continue may become a test for younger stars such as Andre Berto, Mike Jones, and Victor Ortiz. Maybe he moves up in weight. Or Mosley could make the smartest move of his career and call it quits. Please do not continue on like our friends Evander Holyfield and Roy Jones Jr. It is quite tough and rare to see an older man continue and look phenomenal. Shane Mosley is special, but in boxing you need to be more than special to continue fighting at the elite level (Bernard Hopkins is the exception, one of a kind).

Honestly, no one has recently looked good against Pacquaio. It seems virtually impossible to look good against this monster. But Shane wouldn’t engage. He did and will always have a punchers chance, but that only matters if he chooses to punch. I do not blame him for looking bad against Pacquaio, I blame him for not wanting to attempt to pull the trigger. The only thing we want to hear from Mosley now is whom he would put his money on if Mayweather-Pacquaio happens, not about his blood blisters and feeling short in the fight.

Pacquaio looks great, and I think we will all continue to buy his fights. I am hopeful to see a third fight with Marquez or a fight with Zab Judah.

Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images

On the undercard, I was impressed by Jorge Arce. From the beginning of the fight, Vazquez’s style was exhausting and exposing which was used against him by a very good veteran. Vazquez who would have made a very big jump in popularity status on the basis of a win fought a good fight and will be able to rebound. Arce showed that even though he is old in ring years that he is still hungry and again champion.

One of my favorite boxer’s, Kelly Pavlik, made an expected comeback performance. Although he did not look spectacular, I believe those 10 rounds, although slightly unentertaining, were perfectly acceptable for his first fight in 13 months. I do not see him hanging with the top of the 168 division right now, but I do hope for a promising comeback for this usually very game and entertaining warrior.

All in all, it was a good night of fights. Vazquez-Arce being my favorite fight is definitely up there with other FOTY candidates such as Maidana-Morales and Berto-Ortiz. I look forward to the rest of the month and the great fights scheduled.

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