Boxing Updates: Latest Boxing Event

Sugar Shane Mosley finally gave up on chasing the Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao for a mega fight.

The recognized welterweight champion Shane Mosley reportedly ordered his promoter Golden Boy Promotions to stop negotiating for the fight with Manny Pacquiao. He then told his promoter to look for other opponents for him. Andre Berto, Paul Williams, Joshua Clottey or Kermit Cintron are the fighters in his current wish list. Mosley must have figured that it would be futile for him to pursue a fight with Pacquiao when almost everything is pointing to a Pacquiao-Cotto match.

“Shane says he will be the last man standing, anyway,” Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, told The Los Angeles Times. “Shane’s legacy is intact, and it is not dependent on a Pacquiao yes or no.”

Meanwhile, Mosley’s trainer Naazim Richardson, also expressed his desire for Mosley to eventually face Pacquiao. Naazim sees this as an opportunity to figure out Pacquiao’s fighting style.

Naazim Richardson complimented Manny Pacquiao, saying that Pacquiao is actually a bigger fighter physically than most people think. He added that other guys often underestimate Pacquiao, thinking that he is a small man. “Cotto keeps saying he’s the bigger man, but that’s going to be his downfall because if they make him suck down to 142-143 lbs., then his strength becomes his weakness because he is the bigger man and that is a lot of weight for him to cut,” he added.

Naazim Richardson had trained Mosley for his fight against the Mexican boxer Antonio Margarito last January. Mosley won the fight as an underdog knocking out the Margarito in the ninth round. Besides Mosley, Naazim had also worked at the corner of the light heavyweight Bernard Hopkins.

Hopefully, before Pacquiao retires from boxing, Mosley would be able to get a fight with him, but for now, he should chose his next opponent wisely. Kermit Cintron is his safest opponent. He might even have a chance against Andre Berto. But if I were Mosley, I would go for Paul Williams, especially if he can get up to $3 million out of the bout.

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Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday, said he is accepting the challenge of Sugar Shane Mosley. But the current pound-for-pound king emphasized that he would only accept the challenge if both their camps would come into an agreement regarding the terms of the fight.

Manny’s decision about choosing his next opponent for October 17 was mainly based upon weight issues and money matters. Pacquiao, the current reigning super lightweight champ, wants to set a catch weight should he fight Mosley, the welterweight champ. In addition to that, Manny would not settle for anything less than a 60-40 split.

On the other hand, Mosley is willing to go down as low as 144-lbs. to make the Pacquiao-Mosley matchup. Mosley said: “I feel I am the best fighter in the world and I am willing to prove it by fighting Manny Pacquiao at a catch weight.” And in terms of Mosley’s share in money, he claims to be easier to negotiate with, unlike Floyd Mayweather, Jr. He states that money would not be an issue for a Pacman fight, and that he will not use this issue to prevent the fight from happening.

Ring Magazine writer Michael Rosenthal said the 37-year-old Mosley has not fought below 146 pounds since 1999, when he stopped John Brown in the final defense of his 135-pound title. “Sugar” has already fought above 147 pounds 10 times and four times at exactly 154 pounds.

“I definitely want to do this. It would be historical, a fight I think boxing needs,” Mosley said.

Mosley said he was shocked over the Filipino boxing star’s phenomenal win against Hatton, conquering the British champion with a picture perfect left hook to the jaw to end their May 2 bout in Round 2.

“It opened my eyes, surprised me a little bit, the way he hurt Hatton with different types of shots. I think Hatton caused some of the problems himself by throwing caution to the wind and keeping his chin in the air,” said Mosley.

“But that does not negate the fact that Pacquiao had the power to do that. It was a shocker to me,” he added.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said he prefers the matchup since Mosley has the tendency to come directly to his opponents.

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Manny Pacquiao is on top of the ranks, therefore, he should be the one dictating the terms. Whether he decides to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Sugar Shane Mosley or Miguel Cotto, it will still mean business.

Manny Pacquiao wants to fight this October, that means, Mayweather will not be ready to fight him. Mayweather will be fresh from a fight against Juan Manuel Marquez this June. In addition to that, Mayweather Jr. demands a 60-40 split in his favor, which makes this dream match less likely to happen. Mayweather has to realize, with respect, that he is no longer the attraction. Mayweather is a great boxer, but Pacquiao has the control of who he wants to fight.

The Cotto vs. Pacquiao fight is also rather vague, since Cotto is not interested in fighting at a  catch weight. He was already happy to leave 140, so why should he go back? He doesn’t need to suck weight anymore. However, there is still the possibility that his decision will change, because of all the money and glory that is always at stake in a Pacquiao fight. In addition to that, Pacquiao would be asking a lot of himself to fight someone as large as Cotto. Cotto might have too much strength and size for Pacquiao.

Bob Arum, the promoter of both Pacquiao and Cotto, obviously knows that a fight between Cotto and Pacquiao would likely be a blockbuster, although it is pale in comparison between Hatton-Pacquiao, De La Hoya-Pacquiao, or a possibility of a match between Mosley-Pacquiao or Mayweather-Pacquiao.

On the other hand, Sugar Shane Mosley is eager to fight Pacquiao. Unlike Cotto, he is very much willing to meet at a catch weight to make the fight happen. Mosley needs either Pacquiao or Mayweather, but he can not fight Mayweather for the same reason that Pacquiao can not fight Mayweather. Which leads us to Manny Pacquiao vs. Sugar Shane Mosley. This will be a fight where he may be able to make money more than he could ever imagine.

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