Pacquiao vs. Mosley

It’s now 18 days before fight night. I know the Filipino people are confident of a Pacquiao win, but having been reading articles about Mosley and Pacquiao during the last few months, I feel jittery, because I am of the impression that this is the most difficult fight of Manny Pacquiao. Especially when I read the article in today’s issue of the Philippine Star.

Comparing Pacquiao with Mosley: Mosley has a one-punch knockout power. Mosley’s knockout rate is 85 percent compared to Pacquiao’s 73 percent. Mosley is the first African-American whom Pacquiao will face. He’s the only fighter to defeat Oscar dela Hoya twice; Pacquiao defeated Dela Hoya only once. Mosley is the only boxer who was able to knock down Margarito while Margarito went the distance with Pacquiao. Mosley has never been knocked down while Pacquiao was floored five times in his earlier fights. Mosley fights like Juan Manuel Marquez. Although Pacquiao won against Marquez, he had difficulty in two bouts. Mosley is comfortable fighting in the 147-pound division. He has weighed over 142 pounds for 22 bouts since 1999, while Pacquiao has fought in only four fights weighing over 142 pounds since 2008. Although Mosley is older than Pacquiao by seven years, that is not an issue because according to Nazim Richardson, Mosley’s trainer, there are fighters who remain competitive at 46. Mosley has more experience. Mosley turned pro in 1993, and Pacquiao in 1995, has boxed 376 rounds in 53 fights, while Pacquiao has boxed 329 rounds in 57 fights.

Pacquiao is fully aware of these advantages of Mosley, that is why time and again he was saying that he was not taking Mosley lightly although the fight odds are in his favor.