Who's Next for Mayweather? Cotto, Pacquiao or Mosley?

Don’t out think the room. We are all guilty of it sometimes and I was guilty as can be when I picked Juan Manuel Marquez to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. In retrospect. What the heck was I thinking? Floyd was bigger, faster, stronger, and better.

Last night Mayweather Jr. returned to the ring with an excellent boxing display. He pretty much won every round over an over matched but game Marquez. Now the question is where does Mayweather go from here. Does he wait for the winner of Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto? Or does he fight Sugar Shane Mosley? Let’s take a look.

Pacquiao-Cotto winner
If Manny Pacquiao beats Miguel Cotto, it would set the stage for what would be the biggest ‘Money’ fight in boxing. It would be a match-up of the 2 best fighters of the decade. And it would draw in a huge mainstream crowd. Pacquiao’s determination, power and speed would make it a fantastic match-up. Mayweather’s great defence and bigger size would make things very difficult for Pacquiao. This would be the biggest fight in the sport. The sort of draw that boxing needs to have at least once a year.

Now if Miguel Cotto wins it would still be a big event. But it would be a let down from the anticapated Pacquiao showdown. Cotto’s body punching, underated skills, and power would make it interesting. But Floyd would definitely have the advantages going in.

Sugar Shane Mosley
For diehards fans this may be the best match-up. It would Floyd’s first legitimate fight against against a great welterweight. And the 1st fight against against a future hall of famer his own size.(De La Hoya non-withstanding) This fight has been talked about since 1999 but yet it has never happened. It is probably the best fight ‘NEVER’ to happen of the last decade.

Much has been said about Shane turning down Mayweather in 2006 when a fight was proposed. But with a Oscar De La Hoya fight looming with Money Mayweather, it never came about.

The truth of the matter is Floyd Mayweather Jr. Leonard Ellerbe and Al Haymon (Mayweathers’s Management Team) want no part of Mosley. They are flat out afraid to fight Mosley. They will hide behind the excuses that Mosley ‘can’t draw’, and how Mosley is ‘B-side’. But the truth of matter is on paper Mosley is the toughest fight for Floyd, and Floyd has always avoided perceived tough fights. Roger Mayweather and Floyd Sr. are on record saying Mosley would be the toughest fight Floyd Jr could take. Floyd and his advisors care about making the easiest fight rather then securing a legacy and that is sad. If Floyd had any Manny Pacquiao or Shane Mosley in him it would make him a more liked fighter.

Who Should Floyd Fight
He should fight them all. But he won’t. I think Floyd will say ‘No’ to Shane Mosley out of fear. He will come up with some excuse that his fans will buy hook line and sinker. Floyd fans can say what they want but their man is afraid of Shane Mosley. Then he will wait for the winner of Pacquiao-Cotto. He will ask for 60-40 once Pac wins. Which he should not get. Eventually they will probably get down to 50-50. And we will probably have Mayweather and Pacquiao in April or May of 2010. Floyd perceives Pacquiao as an easier fight because of size. But he may be sorely mistaken.

Floyd and his people should not underestimate Pacquiao.

Source : Boxing24.com

Pacman camp eyes Mosley at 143 lb

MANILA, Philippines - Shane Mosley is suddenly back in the picture.

Manny Pacquiao’s lawyer, Franklin Gacal, yesterday said if Miguel Cotto insists on the catchweight of 145 lb, the Filipino boxing icon might be forced to consider Mosley as his next opponent.

“We will not agree to 145 pounds. And if Cotto insists, we’ll go for Mosley,” said Gacal from Davao City.

Top Rank president Bob Arum wants Pacquiao to face Cotto, the reigning WBO welterweight (147 lb) champion from Puerto Rico, on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas. But no deal has been forged yet, not on the date, weight or purse.

“No definite date yet or any other details have been agreed upon,” said Pacquiao the other day.

Pacquiao, 30, said he wants to fight on Oct. 17 but Arum explained that it wouldn’t be a good date because of the Major League World Series, and that it would be hard to compete with the mother of all baseball games.

“Regarding the date, maybe we can give in to what Bob Arum wants although Manny really wants to fight in October. But there’s the baseball thing so maybe we can agree on November,” said Gacal.

Both Pacquiao and Cotto are under Top Rank, and it should have been easier for Arum to seal the deal. But again, the weight issue, Gacal added, is turning out to be a real weighty issue.

“Manny will be giving up too much if he agrees to fight Cotto at 145. We want him at 143 and if he insists otherwise, then we’ll look at Mosley if Mosley is still available,” said the Filipino lawyer.

“Cotto is an inch taller than Manny and definitely he’s heavier. He’s got a bigger body, too. I think Manny will be short-changed if he agrees to 145. And it should be us dictating the terms, not Cotto,” said Gacal.

Mosley, the WBA welterweight champion, was so eager to face Pacquiao he said he’d fight at 144 lb, and settle for 40 percent of the purse. But the native of Pomona, California, had given up on the fight when it seemed all’s well for a Pacquiao-Cotto fight.

“Mosley said he’s willing to fight Manny at 144. Maybe we can drag him down to 143. So if Cotto insists on 145, we’ll got for Mosley,” Gacal added.

At 5’9” Mosley is easily two inches taller than Pacquiao, but the American champion will be 39 by September. Cotto will turn 29 in October.

Mosley is under Golden Boy Promotions, whose president, Oscar dela Hoya, recently played a round of golf with Cotto at the Bahia Beach Resort and Golf Club in Puerto Rico.

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Pacquiao-Mosley at 144 lb not advisable

Here's a news article from PhilStar.com

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao should avoid falling into the trap being laid out for him by Shane Mosley.

One of Pacquiao’s advisers – Rex “Wakee” Salud – issued the warning after Mosley said he’s ready to stake his WBA welterweight crown if he gets to face the Filipino champion at a catch weight of 144 lb on Oct. 17.

It was also reported that Mosley has agreed to a 60/40 split in favor of the reigning pound-for-pound champion, and on the inclusion of a rematch clause in the fight contract, in case he wins over Pacquiao.

Salud said it’s all too good to be true.

“Manny may be too small for Mosley if he agrees to fight at 144 pounds. Baka naman makawawa tayo (We may end up short-changed),” said the boxing figure from Cebu.

“It’s Mosley who needs Manny so he should agree to what Freddie Roach (Pacquiao’s trainer) wants and that’s 142. Or at least, maybe they can make 143. But not 144,” added Salud.

Mosley, a 37-year-old American, can stake his WBA title if he fights Pacquiao at a catch weight of anywhere from 140.1 lb to 147 lb which is the welterweight limit.

Salud said Pacquiao should only agree to fight Mosley if it’s 142 or 143 lb. The Pinoy icon is also looking at Miguel Cotto as his next opponent, and the decision may come later this month.

Even Gerry Peñalosa, the former world bantamweight champion, said it wouldn’t be wise for Pacquiao to fight Mosley at 144 lb.

“Baka mahirapan masyado si Manny kay Mosley kapag 144 (Manny may have a very difficult time with Mosley at 144),” said Peñalosa.

He said Mosley, who started his career in 1993 at 136 lb (Pacquiao made his pro debut in 1994 at 106 lb), can make 144 for the weigh-in and climb the ring a monster at 154 or even more.

“Baka mapiga ng kaunti sa pagkuhang timbang sa 144 pero madali makaka-recover (He might squeeze himself a bit to make weight but can easily recover),” said Peñalosa of Mosley.

Salud recalled that for the Oscar dela Hoya fight last December, Pacquiao only weighed 142 or five lb lower than the weight limit agreed upon.

And for the Ricky Hatton fight last month, Pacquiao only weighed 138 or two lb lighter than the limit.

“That’s Manny’s comfort zone, to weigh in at 138, 140 or 142 lb. If he agrees to 144, that will give Mosley all the comfort he needs,” Salud said.

Mosley said he can try and make 144 and then he plans to climb the ring against Pacquiao at 154 lb or anywhere he’s comfortable at without sacrificing his speed.

Mosley asked Roach why they can’t fight him at 147 lb just like Dela Hoya and the three-time Trainer of the Year simply said Mosley is not Dela Hoya.

Mosley is coming off a big win over Antonio Margarito last January. In that fight, the fighter from Pomona, California looked like a budding superstar, showing great speed and power to win inside nine rounds.

“Iba si Mosley kay Oscar (Mosley is not Oscar),” Salud added.

Author : Abac Cordero

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