Philippine Sports News and Updates

Shane Mosley is now agreeable to challenge Manny Pacquiao at 142 pounds. Earlier Freddie Roach, Pacquaio's trainer, dared Mosley to face the pound-for-pound king at 142 but he said he cannot fight at the weight lower than 145.

After the Mosley-Margarito match early this year, Shane Mosley has made known his desire to face the current pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines.

Freddie Roach, the multi-awarded trainer of Pacquiao dared Mosley to face Manny at 142 pounds. Mosley said he cannot fight at the weight lower than 145 pounds.

Mosley, who is pushing 38, surprised boxing fans yesterday with his announcement of his decision to accept Pacquiao’s challenge to go down to 142 for a chance to fight him later this year. Mosley is holding on to a 147 pound title.

Mosley’s decision to challenge Pacquiao at 142 could be disastrous for the aging boxer. Although he is far superior to the current pound-for-pound king in terms of reach, height and built, he will be a picture of a dehydrated fighter if he finally accepts Freddie Roach’s challenge.

“There are conflicting reports from the Pacquiao camp an upcoming fight between me and Manny Pacquiao. I want it to be known that I want to fight Pacquiao and I want to fight him now,” Mosley was quoted.

“I’m willing to meet at a catch weight to make that happen. I know this is what Freddie Roach wants as well, as he has previously stated this to press,” he said.

A catch weight could mean 143 lbs, give and take. But whether or not Mosley’s 147 lb title would be at stake is a different matter. What’s important to him is the fight.

Shane Mosley’s popularity soared when he won over Antonio Margarito of Mexico early this year with a stunning knock out. Boxing fans saw a different Mosley in that fight with his fast movement and powerful punches despite his age.
If the Mosley-Pacquiao match up happens, it would be a similar fight with the Pacquiao-de la Hoya match.

It may be recalled that thousands of Pacquiao fans from around the world objected to the Pacquiao-de la Hoya match- up, calling the fight a ‘mismatch of the century’. Mosley and de la Hoya have about the same weight, reach and built. Pacquiao showed the world that he is capable of fighting and winning over a taller and much bigger fighter with his stunning victory over de la Hoya.

About four other top rated boxers are salivating to face Manny Pacquiao for the chance to share the mega purse that the match will generate. These include Mayweather, Cotto, Valero and Marquez.
No answer or reaction has been heard from Freddie Roach who dared Mosley on the weight issue and Bob Arum of Top Rank who is promoting Pacquiao fights.

• DigitalJournal.Com
• Philippine Sports Central