It's official -- PACQUIAO vs. MOSLEY on May 7, 2011

[DeeezNuuuts83]

All I can say is time will tell, because at this rate Pac is losing a lot of fans.  Floyd agreed to Top Rank's ridiculous terms of getting fined 10 million dollars for every LB over 147, but they couldn't handle the drug testing.  It is what it is, we're not going to move away from our arguments, all there is left to it is that time will tell. 

But Pacquiao “losing” fans isn't really his fault.  Any opponent other than Mayweather is a disappointment to the boxing world, but that's on Mayweather too, who is probably losing even more fans.  I didn't expect people to be thrilled with the Clottey and Margarito fights, but he at least gave the fans something with one of those two fights putting him at a huge disadvantage.  You can say what you want about Margarito, but the fact that he came in weighing 17 pounds more than Pacquiao on fight night says a lot, but him still getting beat the fuck up says even more.  I'd say it's much more impressive to do that (while collecting another belt in an unprecidented eighth weight division) than for him to have fought Marquez again.

Look at the terms of the first round of negotiations from an unbiased view, examining facts:

Did Top Rank include a $10 million fine for Mayweather for every pound over the welterweight limit of 147?  Yes.
Has Mayweather always been at or below the weight limit for a fight?  No, he went beyond the agreed catchweight of 144 pounds against Marquez.
Has Mayweather ever had a problem of weighing in at the 147 pound limit?  No, as even against De La Hoya at super welterweight/junior middleweight, he only weighed in at 150, four pounds below the next division's weight limit.

It's just extra insurance to ensure that Mayweather doesn't come over the welterweight limit (not a catchweight) seeing how he obviously had an issue once at weigh-ins, though making 147 generally isn't a problem for him to begin with, so it shouldn't matter much to him anyway.  But on the other hand:

Did Golden Boy (on Mayweather's behalf) request additional drug tests beyond what is required by the state athletic commissions of Nevada, California, Texas, New York or any other state that hosts big boxing matches?  Yes.
Has Pacquiao ever failed a drug test?  No.
Have any of the Mayweathers or anyone from Golden Boy presented any evidence that Pacquiao is on PEDs?  No.
Have any of the Mayweathers or anyone from Golden Boy presented any evidence showing that urine tests are insufficient?  No.

Besides, who cares if Pacquiao doesn't want to take blood tests?  He doesn't and shouldn't have to, especially considering he's passed every urine test.  People can talk about him not wanting to have blood drawn because he feels it weakens him, but let him have his superstitions.  There are athletes in other sports who wear the same pair of socks all season and all sorts of other ridiculous things that they do (or don't do).

But that doesn't really matter anyway since in the second round of negotiations, Pacquiao agreed to blood testing anyway.  So stop blaming Pacquiao for fights that you think are lackluster.  Have your favorite boxer man up and just fight him, if you don't want to see Pacquiao fight Mosley and didn't want to see Pacquiao fight Clottey and Margarito.  It's ironic that a guy who calls himself “Money Mayweather” and claims to be the greatest boxer of all time is turning down a guarantee of $50 million (which would be his biggest purse ever) along with the opportunity to at least make an argument to support his claim by taking on a fight with someone else who has made his own argument, if not a stronger one, for why he's a candidate for being the greatest boxer of all time.

[D-Nice]

Mosley is a dangerous fighter who seems to put on his best performances when he is the underdog. This sounds like it could be a good one.

^this. Manny better hope that right hand of Mosley loss some of it's sting from the Mayweather fight and is more Mora then Margarito. If not, Manny might go to sleep. For as many punches as he throws he takes quite a few also (see Marquez fight, also Erik Morales)

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

Mosley is a dangerous fighter who seems to put on his best performances when he is the underdog. This sounds like it could be a good one.

^this. Manny better hope that right hand of Mosley loss some of it's sting from the Mayweather fight and is more Mora then Margarito. If not, Manny might go to sleep. For as many punches as he throws he takes quite a few also (see Marquez fight, also Erik Morales)

Yeah, Manny will have fight a very smart fight. Mosley, P4P, is one of the most powerful punchers....I would say...ever. He rocked Mayweather in their fight, but then stopped punching after that. The reason he could never get off on Mayweather after the big punch was he started looking for the KO with one big shot rather than throwing combinations. You cant do that with Mayweather or he will make you look bad. But at one point in his career, Mosley had the highest KO percentage of any champion in history when he was 38-0 with 35 KO's. Crazy.

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

All I can say is time will tell, because at this rate Pac is losing a lot of fans.  Floyd agreed to Top Rank's ridiculous terms of getting fined 10 million dollars for every LB over 147, but they couldn't handle the drug testing.  It is what it is, we're not going to move away from our arguments, all there is left to it is that time will tell. 

But Pacquiao “losing” fans isn't really his fault.  Any opponent other than Mayweather is a disappointment to the boxing world, but that's on Mayweather too, who is probably losing even more fans.  I didn't expect people to be thrilled with the Clottey and Margarito fights, but he at least gave the fans something with one of those two fights putting him at a huge disadvantage.  You can say what you want about Margarito, but the fact that he came in weighing 17 pounds more than Pacquiao on fight night says a lot, but him still getting beat the fuck up says even more.  I'd say it's much more impressive to do that (while collecting another belt in an unprecidented eighth weight division) than for him to have fought Marquez again.

Like I said, people have come to expect too much from Pacquiao. If he doesnt fight Mayweather...or Klichko, then its a weak fight lol. Educated boxing fans know about Margarito and Clottey. These are two fighters that have historically been ducked by other big name fighters. Not because they are just scared. But because they are dangerous fighters who can make you look very bad in the ring and the risk outweighs the reward. Clottey is a fighter who simply cannot be hurt. His defense is very good and he has a steel chin. Same reason no one ever wanted to fight Winky Wright, but Clottey was a much better offensive fighter than Winky. IMO Pacquiao was his only REAL defeat (and he said it himself too). He did lose to Margarito, so it is fair. But he was dominating Margarito until he hurt his hand. After that he could only paw with that hand and had to fight one-handed. His loss to Carlos Baldomir was bullshit. He was the better fighter that night and gets DQ'd for a low blow when there was never even a warning before that point. And with Cotto, I still think he beat Cotto. But at the time, Cotto was hot...and boxing politics will not allow an African fighter with not a huge following to take down the next big Puerto Rican star (at the time) by decision. Only uneducated fans were discrediting Clottey. Paul Williams was ducking him, shit, No one wanted to see this guy.

As for Margarito, we all know how much he was ducked. By Floyd as well. Like I said, these are bigger guys who typically taking shots from much bigger fighters than Pacquiao...and delivering punches on much bigger fighters than Pacquiao. People arent realizing that what he is doing is insane for boxing. Nothing we have seen in our lifetime. He should technically be taking on smaller guys (his size) and just destroying them ala Mike Tyson in his prime. But at least he is doing something a little more interesting and taking on bigger men. It does create more drama for the fight because u realize this bigger fighter might be able to drop him if they get the chance. But there has to be a limit.

Either way. Pussy ass Mayweather needs to get in the ring. Like I said before, he can earn more respect by losing to Pacquiao than he has earned his entire career. People would at least say he had the heart to get in the ring. Mayweather can say he is all about the money, but he is walking away from the biggest payday of his career (by far). He can say he is the best, but he is walking away from the fight that could prove it (because no one thinks he is the best anymore). He could be involved in one of the biggest fights in boxing history, and win, lose or draw...it will help his legacy. Unless he gets completely destroyed...but I dont see that happening.

[Sikotic™]

Where is this fight planned to go down? I know Mosley has fought quite a few times in LA so if that's where they're doing it, I might rob a bank so I can get some decent nosebleed seats for $500 a pop.

[D-Nice]

Mosley is a dangerous fighter who seems to put on his best performances when he is the underdog. This sounds like it could be a good one.

^this. Manny better hope that right hand of Mosley loss some of it's sting from the Mayweather fight and is more Mora then Margarito. If not, Manny might go to sleep. For as many punches as he throws he takes quite a few also (see Marquez fight, also Erik Morales)

Yeah, Manny will have fight a very smart fight. Mosley, P4P, is one of the most powerful punchers....I would say...ever. He rocked Mayweather in their fight, but then stopped punching after that. The reason he could never get off on Mayweather after the big punch was he started looking for the KO with one big shot rather than throwing combinations. You cant do that with Mayweather or he will make you look bad. But at one point in his career, Mosley had the highest KO percentage of any champion in history when he was 38-0 with 35 KO's. Crazy.

And Manny's defense is not half as good as Floyd's so Shane will have alot more opportunites to hit him and hit him often. Sitck and move, stick and move

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Where is this fight planned to go down? I know Mosley has fought quite a few times in LA so if that's where they're doing it, I might rob a bank so I can get some decent nosebleed seats for $500 a pop.

MGM in Vegas... Manny's first time back there since he fought Cotto in November 2009.

And Manny's defense is not half as good as Floyd's so Shane will have alot more opportunites to hit him and hit him often. Sitck and move, stick and move

But Floyd's offense isn't half as good as Pacquiao's.  Shane might have more opportunities to hit Manny than he did against Floyd, but he will also get hit much more than he got hit against Floyd, and rest assured they'll be harder punches.  Also, while Floyd was landing clean, effective punches, none of them were really hurting Shane that much... he was just getting beat to the punch and wasn't quick enough to dodge.  But if he was huffing and puffing like that dodging Floyd's low punch output (and I do think he wasted a lot of energy with his upper body movement in the earlier rounds), how tired do you think he'll be trying to dodge five-punch combos thrown back to back to back, especially when the punches that connect are the kind that have been putting people to the mat (i.e. Marquez, Diaz, Hatton and Cotto) or turning people's faces into ground beef (i.e. Diaz, De La Hoya, Cotto and Margarito)?

Also, Mayweather would've been put on his ass if he hadn't grabbed onto Shane's arm the way he did in the second round.  He knew he was in trouble, especially when you notice that he had switched from his normal position to having both hands protecting his face toward the end of that round.  Luckily for him, Mosley ran out of gas and basically gave the fight away.  And don't forget that even Cotto scored a UD victory against a younger Mosley.

[DeeezNuuuts83]

I was reading that Arum suggested that Marquez (who has no credibility yet at welterweight) should fight Berto (who has no credibility yet as a winner against a big-name fighter), and that the winner would be a legitimate contender for Pacquiao's next fight.  I think that's fair.

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

I was reading that Arum suggested that Marquez (who has no credibility yet at welterweight) should fight Berto (who has no credibility yet as a winner against a big-name fighter), and that the winner would be a legitimate contender for Pacquiao's next fight.  I think that's fair.

I like that idea, but Arum isnt in control of that happening anyways. I like Berto alot. I think the only problem with him is that he doesnt have the name recognition yet. In the boxing world he is known. But thats about it. Fuckin Floyd...it sucks that we are even talking about this shit lol. We should be talking about the upcoming Pacquiao/Mayweather fight...and possible rematch...and possible rubber match, etc.

[D-Nice]

Where is this fight planned to go down? I know Mosley has fought quite a few times in LA so if that's where they're doing it, I might rob a bank so I can get some decent nosebleed seats for $500 a pop.

MGM in Vegas... Manny's first time back there since he fought Cotto in November 2009.

And Manny's defense is not half as good as Floyd's so Shane will have alot more opportunites to hit him and hit him often. Sitck and move, stick and move

But Floyd's offense isn't half as good as Pacquiao's.  Shane might have more opportunities to hit Manny than he did against Floyd, but he will also get hit much more than he got hit against Floyd, and rest assured they'll be harder punches.  Also, while Floyd was landing clean, effective punches, none of them were really hurting Shane that much... he was just getting beat to the punch and wasn't quick enough to dodge.  But if he was huffing and puffing like that dodging Floyd's low punch output (and I do think he wasted a lot of energy with his upper body movement in the earlier rounds), how tired do you think he'll be trying to dodge five-punch combos thrown back to back to back, especially when the punches that connect are the kind that have been putting people to the mat (i.e. Marquez, Diaz, Hatton and Cotto) or turning people's faces into ground beef (i.e. Diaz, De La Hoya, Cotto and Margarito)?

Also, Mayweather would've been put on his ass if he hadn't grabbed onto Shane's arm the way he did in the second round.  He knew he was in trouble, especially when you notice that he had switched from his normal position to having both hands protecting his face toward the end of that round.  Luckily for him, Mosley ran out of gas and basically gave the fight away.  And don't forget that even Cotto scored a UD victory against a younger Mosley.

Oh I have no doubt Floyd's offense is as good as Manny. I think Manny's offense at times is overrated due to the actual punch output he has. The reason you wont see Floyd open it up and let his hands go is because he is a defensive fighter by nature 1st and foremost. He will not put himself in a position to be countered by being offensive. Like it or not that's him. But look no further than the Gotti fight to see his combos and offense on display.

And he did have Mosley hurt a couple times in that fight in the later rounds. Maybe if he did let his hands go a lil bit more he would have possibly got a stoppage. I think if Shane picks his spots against Manny, he has the speed and definitely the power to knock Manny on his ass and steal the fight. Question is can he be the young Shane 1 more time.

[DeeezNuuuts83]

I like that idea, but Arum isnt in control of that happening anyways. I like Berto alot. I think the only problem with him is that he doesnt have the name recognition yet. In the boxing world he is known. But thats about it. Fuckin Floyd...it sucks that we are even talking about this shit lol. We should be talking about the upcoming Pacquiao/Mayweather fight...and possible rematch...and possible rubber match, etc.

True, but it was just a suggestion by Arum, one that makes sense.  If Berto wins, he'll get more name recognition by having beaten a ranking pound-for-pound boxer, one that Pacquiao had trouble with in years past.  If Marquez wins, he'll prove that he can be competitive in the welterweight division.  Regardless of who would win in such a fight, the credibility that either fighter would get by coming out with a victory would generate more of a buzz for a fight with Pacquiao compared to if they had fought him instead of Mosley.

But yes, we shouldn't have to be having this discussion, if Floyd would've just accepted the fight from the get-go, haha.

Oh I have no doubt Floyd's offense is as good as Manny. I think Manny's offense at times is overrated due to the actual punch output he has. The reason you wont see Floyd open it up and let his hands go is because he is a defensive fighter by nature 1st and foremost. He will not put himself in a position to be countered by being offensive. Like it or not that's him. But look no further than the Gotti fight to see his combos and offense on display.

But there's no actual proof that Floyd's offense is as good as Manny's.  If it were, he'd have a better KO percentage instead of just winning by points as often as he does.  If you compare every common opponent they've had, Manny has typically won more convincingly or at least beat them up worse.  A win is a win, but very rarely does Mayweather make any bold statements with his victories anymore.  The Gatti fight was over five years ago, so that doesn't really say much about his offense now, especially when you look at how much less aggressive Mayweather has become in recent years.  Five years ago, Manny got smacked around by Morales.  Four years ago, he KO'd him twice.  And in the past two years, he's been beating up welterweights.  Fighters change, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse.

And he did have Mosley hurt a couple times in that fight in the later rounds. Maybe if he did let his hands go a lil bit more he would have possibly got a stoppage. I think if Shane picks his spots against Manny, he has the speed and definitely the power to knock Manny on his ass and steal the fight. Question is can he be the young Shane 1 more time.

Mayweather could've also had a stoppage against a much smaller, slower Marquez.  But he didn't, and it wasn't because he was putting Marquez's well-being in his list of priorities.  But I agree with you about Mosley possibly being a big problem, if he can bring his A-game.