By Kirk Jackson
There are many reasons why boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao will emerge victorious Saturday, when he faces three division star Shane Mosley for the WBO Welterweight Championship at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
A major factor is recent activity and momentum. Pacquiao is riding a 12 fight win streak over the last five years. Mosley has three victories, two defeats and a draw over the last four years.
Comparing the two, Pacquiao has been the more active and successful fighter over the past few years.
Mosley’s last two fights were definitely poor showings. Whether it is a combination of the quality of opposition or old age is debatable, the fact is did not good spectacular in those respective fights against Floyd Mayweather and Sergio Mora.
Photo: Tom Casino/ Showtime
Mosley’s defensive discrepancies will also play a major role in how this fight turns out. Mosley is definitely easier to hit now, does not possess the same lateral movement he once had, and is not much of a counter puncher by nature.
It’s a likely possibility he will be a sitting duck inside the ring against a fighter ferocious like Pacquiao.
Facing an aggressive all out offensive fighter like Pacquiao, a few elements are crucial in order to have success.
Lateral movement, keeping the attacking fighter off balance is key, effective counter punching, timely clinching and smothering of punches, and a great jab can all be utilized to stop the force of a fighter like Pacquiao.
Unfortunately for Mosley because of father time and his overall style as a fighter, he is unable to do most of those elements just mentioned.
I can’t remember that last time I saw a consistent strong jab from Mosley; you would probably have to go back to the Lightweight days, which was over a decade ago.
Mosley lost a great deal of his lateral movement which understandably happens when you come up in age and has never been known as a counter puncher or a technical boxer.
Mosley does have a great chin, amazing heart and is still an extremely fasted handed fighter with uncanny athleticism.
But athleticism can only take you so far, because as you get older, athleticism fades.
With slower reflexes, Mosley can’t dodge the punches he used to in his younger years, and his stamina and punch output is also on the decline.
And as mentioned earlier, Mosley is not really a technical boxer. He is more of a brawler, which plays into Pacquiao’s hands.
Pacquiao is a little bit faster hand speed wise, and has the mobility to bounce around the ring as he pleases which allows him freedom to implore various strategies for this fight.
As iron chinned Mosley is, Pacquiao packs a punch and a person can only take some much damage until they succumb to the persistent output Pacquiao is capable of putting out.
Another thing to keep in mind is it’s hard to slip and roll punches coming from a relentless pugilist, especially if they as flaring from a variety of different angles.
Those are the dangers that await Mosley this upcoming Saturday when he faces Pacquiao in the one of the biggest events of the year.
Anything can occur in this combat sport, a single punch can completely alter the outcome of a fight. No one should ever be counted out especially a future hall of famer in Mosley, but more than likely, it will be a combination of different factors to go along with a combination of punches that allow Pacquiao to prevail.