By Roy Luarca
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:13:00 05/05/2011
LAS VEGAS—A decade ago, Manny Pacquiao was in the same position where Shane Mosley is in now—underdog.
Pacquiao was even given little chance of pulling off a shocker against Lehlo Ledwaba, when they tangled for the International Boxing Federation super bantamweight title at the MGM Grand.
Pacquiao, who accepted the fight as a substitute for Enrique Sanchez in just two weeks’ notice, was listed a 20 to 1 underdog in his first fight in the United States
But Pacquiao, unfazed by Ledwaba's reputation, came out swinging and eventually stopped Ledwaba in the sixth round.
Mosley, who's aiming for the Filipino's World Boxing Organization 147-pound crown, is given odds of from 6 to 1 up to 8-1, to stun Pacquiao when they clash on May 7.
Unlike Pacquiao, however, Mosley had nine weeks to whip his 39-year-old body back into tip-top shape.
Having been there, Pacquiao knows the raging feeling going through Mosley's mind.
“Exactly that’s what I mean, Mosley is not an easy opponent," Pacquiao said during the final press conference for the Pacquiao-Mosley showdown on May7. “He’s the kind of fighter whom you can’t underestimate.”
Pacquio sees the Mosley who beat Oscar De La Hoya in 2000 and in 2003 and stopped Antonio Margarito in 2009, not the Mosley beaten by Floyd Mayweather Jr. and salvaged a draw against Sergio Mora in 2010.
Asked about his failure to knock Margarito out, Pacquiao said it was useless going after it (as he had victory in the bag).
Pacquiao, however, reiterated that he still had a killer instinct.
Although he always appeared friendly to his opponents, Pacquiao admitted that he got angry with De La Hoya after the former Golden Boy of boxing sent him signed gloves, before their collision in 2008, with the inscription: I’m gonna knock you out.’’
The opposite, of course, happened with Pacquiao making De La Hoya, who was also a big favorite, quit on his stool and eventually retire in 2008.
Pacquiao also reiterated his desire to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. or anybody put in front of him by his promoter (Bob Arum) as long as there's no problem in negotiation and promotion.
Mayweather Jr., asked about the Pacquiao-Mosley fight, said he would not mind losing the millions intended for him if Shane Mosley won against Manny Pacquiao.
“I want Shane to win,” Mayweather told FightHype.com on Tuesday. “Everybody says, `Well, if Shane wins, what about your money? `I don't worry about that. I get things outside the ring that I'm generating major income from.”
Of course, Mayweather is also saddled by court suits and tax problems from the Internal Revenue Service.
Although he's been scratched off the pound for pound list due to a year of inactivity, Mayweather hasn't expressed any desire to return to the ring.
Especially against Pacquiao, whom he chided for fighting his leftovers—Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Mosley.
Pacquiao, however, was more impressive in his domination of De La Hoya and two-round knockout of Hatton.
While Mayweather was a clear winner over Juan Manuel Marquez, the flamboyant American checked in two pounds over the contracted weight of 144 pounds.
Mayweather, who got rocked by Mosley in the second round before using his defense and counterpunching skills to hack out a unanimous decision victory offered Mosley an advice on how to deal with Pacquiao, who supplanted him as pound-for-pound king.
“I would go back to the old Shane, so he can be on an even playing field.”
Sort of admitting, that Mosley is in for an uphill battle against Pacquiao.
According to the ever-proud Mayweather, he won't watch Pacquiao-Mosley, even on pay-per-view.
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