Pacquiao looking ahead after keeping Mosley on the run

Manny Pacquiao lands a punch on Shane Mosley in the ninth round of lopsided bout in Las Vegas.
Manny Pacquiao lands a punch on Shane Mosley in the ninth round of lopsided bout in Las Vegas. (Associated Press)
Associated Press
Posted: May 09, 2011

LAS VEGAS - Manny Pacquiao returned to his corner before the 12th round to an unfamiliar soundtrack of steady boos rising from the MGM Grand Garden crowd.

The fans weren't jeering their beloved Filipino congressman. They were incensed that Sugar Shane Mosley apparently was scared to fight him.

"I told him in the last round, 'You've got to knock this guy out, because it's embarrassing,' " Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said. "He told me, 'Coach, I'm trying, I'm trying.' "

Mosley was in full retreat from the opening round against Pacquiao, backpedaling and scrambling to avoid getting knocked out.

Pacquiao, who won his 14th straight fight by lopsided unanimous decision, has seen this embarrassing strategy before. Most everybody agrees Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been dodging Pacquiao for the past year, only outside the ring.

If Mayweather declines another chance to fight Pacquiao in the most anticipated matchup in boxing, Pacquiao will keep busy with his congressional duties until his next fight in early November - yet even his promoter acknowledges it's tough to imagine any opponent but Mayweather posing problems for Pacquiao.

"The problem is, and this is becoming a pattern, Manny doesn't allow any opponent to fight his fight," Bob Arum said. "He takes every opponent out of his fight because of his speed and power. You've got to understand what you're watching now. You're watching a phenomenon, the greatest fighter that I've ever seen. Nobody can compete with him. He'll take every fighter out of his game, every single one."

Pacquiao knocked him down in the third round and never stopped chasing him, but Mosley survived on his feet and even got credit for a bogus knockdown in the 10th. Roach said Mosley tarnished his legacy.

"He backpedaled the whole night," Roach said. "He never took one step forward to try to press the action. His jab is in mothballs. I never saw it. His legs are gone. It wasn't shocking, but I expected more. I like Shane, he's a nice guy, but he'd better quit before he gets hurt."

Pacquiao's camp was looking ahead to the three main candidates for the next fight. Mexican star Juan Manuel Marquez apparently is Arum's first choice. If Marquez doesn't like the deal, Arum will turn to bruising 140-pound champ Timothy Bradley or veteran Zab Judah.

Roach would prefer to fight Mayweather, but if Mayweather still won't answer Pacquiao's calls, Roach hopes they'll face Marquez.

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