Top five reasons not to count Mosley out against Pacquiao

Most boxing fans are acting like the Pacquiao vs. Mosley resultswere determined as soon as the two fighters signed their contracts. Manny Pacquiao is a 5:1 favorite, and justifiably so, but they fight the fights for a reason. From Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston to Buster Douglas vs. Mike Tyson and scores of other fights throughout the history of boxing, to bouts like Jason Litzau vs. Celestino Caballero and, just days ago, Orlando Salido vs. Juan Manuel Lopez, the underdogs pull off the surprise plenty in the squared circle.

Now, whether or not you actually believe that Shane Mosley will defeat Manny Pacquiao is a different story. But if you were inclined to lean in that direction, and perhaps wanted to lay some money down on the outcome, here are the top 5 reasons you shouldn't count out Sugar Shane against Pacman.


1. Power is the Last Thing to Go: Power is always the last thing to leave a fighter; just ask George Foreman. Mosley has 39 KOs in 46 career wins, and make no mistake about it, the power is still there. If he is able to land a flush overhand right or left hook, Pacquiao is going to be in trouble.

2. Chin of Steel: Mosley has never been stopped in any fight, and he's hardly been hurt. His first fight against Vernon Forrest was the only time Mosley has been rocked. Pacquiao won't be able to so easily damage Mosley as he did, say, Miguel Cotto or Ricky Hatton. Combined with Mosley's game changing power, these two attributes will keep him in the fight throughout the evening.

3. Big Fight Experience: Few fighters have more big fight experience than Shane Mosley. While somebody like Joshua Clottey froze on the big stage against Pacquiao, that's an impossibility for Mosley after literally dozens of big time contests, including two fights each against Oscar De La Hoya, Vernon Forrest, Winky Wright and Fernando Vargas, and his very own stint atop the sport's pound for pound rankings while he was in his prime.

4. Big Man Experience: Another factor working in Mosley's favor is that he has a load of experience against big fighters, full junior middleweights and beyond. He has been fighting at welterweight since 1999, and the fighters who traditionally give him the most trouble are fighters who are simply larger than he is. Wright is 5'11" with a 72" reach and Forrest was 6'0" with a 73" reach, while Pacquiao is just 5'6.5" with a 67" reach, and has a much smaller range of experience competing against full-fledged welterweight fighters.

5. Speed Isn't Shabby: Mosley's speed isn't the blazing, jaw dropping speed that it was when he was a lightweight terror, but he is by no means slow. He's still faster than the majority of top level fighters in the division, and you could make the argument that Pacquiao hasn't faced anyone with Mosley's speed in his career, even if it is the 2011 incarnation of Mosley.

So do I think that Mosley will shock the world? Well, no, I believe the fight should never have been made. Regardless though, Pacquiao vs. Mosley is very much a match-up of two legends. If you wanted to take a chance on Mosley or you just wanted a few reasons to have some faith and root for your man, there you go.

  source: jake emen