By Kirk Jackson: Photo credit: Tom Casino/Showtime – Entering boxing’s block buster fight of the year, taking place Saturday May 7th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, 4-1 underdog Sugar Shane Mosley will be pitted against P4P superstar Manny Pacquiao.
The odds accurately reflect the aging star’s chances of winning this fight. Coming off forgettable performances his last two outings, a lackadaisical effort which resulted in a draw against Sergio Mora, and an one sided beat down by the hands of Floyd Mayweather.
Despite his shortcoming last year and entering the fight as the older fighter, Mosley does have a chance for the monumental upset.
Possesses many physical advantages, Mosley will also be under the guidance of the savvy ring strategist Naseem Richardson.
Mosley is the naturally bigger and stronger fighter, having fought at higher weight classes for a longer period of time compared to Pacquiao.
Mosley possesses more punching power, and still has quick hands, not too far off from the hand speed of Pacquiao.
Mosley also has a seven inch reach advantage, which would allow him to effectively use the jab if he chooses to.
Although though Mosley is towards the end of his career, his weaknesses easier to expose and his skills and athleticism eroding day by day, he still has the experience.
So with that in mind, Mosley will have to do is play to his strengths.
As mentioned earlier Mosley has the reach advantage posing a 74 inch reach while Pacquiao has a reach of 67 inches.
Mosley has to use his jab. As displayed in the first fight against Erik Morales, both encounters against Juan Manuel Marquez, and briefly against Miguel Cotto, Pacquiao can be controlled with a jab.
If the slow iron clad hands of Antonio Margarito can land some jabs and even some combinations against Pacquiao, I imagine the much quicker Mosley can as well.
Pacquiao is easy to hit, especially with jabs, uppercuts and overhand right hands.
Although Pacquiao does have great lateral movement, seeming to effortlessly move around the ring at times, there is a high degree of the accessibility to his chin.
Pacquiao is not much of a defensive stalwart and one of the ways for Mosley to limit Pacquiao’s offense is to utilize his jab.
Jabs are the key to this fight for Mosley. Strong jabs, swift jabs, whichever they may be he has to make them count.
Mosley can also use his body builder physique to out muscle the smaller Pacquiao and rough him up in the trenches on the inside.
Smother punches while clinching, something similar he did to Antonio Margarito a few years back.
With these advantages in mind to go along with his power, Mosley can pull it off.
Mosley is going to have to use his full arsenal, be intelligent and implore the proper strategies in order to be effective.
It is interesting fight from an entertainment standpoint, because both fighters Pacquiao in particular, are aesthetically pleasing fighters.
Offensive minded, crowd pleasing pugilists, forgoing the thought of defense.
But with that comes grave consequence, and Mosley can capitalize off it. The question is whether he will capitalize and add another victory to an already hall of fame career?