12 DAYS TO GO
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 25 Apr 2011
?Sugar? Shane Mosley, who will try to wrest Manny Pacquiao?s World Boxing Organization welterweight crown 12 days from now , looks the more serious of the two combatants going into the homestretch of their preparations for their May 7 (May 8 in Manila) confrontation at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
While the Filipino 147-pount belt-owner is scheduled to appear in several entertainment shows in Los Angeles where he has pitched camp, Mosley plans nothing of that sort in the next week before driving of flying to the City of Sin early next month.
Such an extra curricular activity chief trainer Freddie Roach doesn?t approve of.
Boxing's pound-for-pound king, for instance, has been set to again appear at the "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Thursday evening (Friday in Manila) to serenade his fans as arranged by members of his team.
Unlike in his first three guestings in the popular television show, the eight-division champ is bringing along song-writer and singer Dan Hill, the same guy who had invited him to record the 1970s hit ?Sometimes when We Touch? with him.
Pacquiao, who prides himself as a recording artist, an actor and even a columnist, first appeared in the same show before his fight against Miguel Cotto in November of 2009. The last time he was on the show, Pacquiao sang "Imagine" by the Beatles alongside comedian Will Farrell November last year prior to his 12th-round triumph over Antonio Margarito.
Count several more appearances when Team Pacquiao sets foot in Las Vegas and one will know why Roach isn?t smiling they he did in the first weeks of preparations he declared as almost without distractions.
The Sarangani Congressman though has pronounced himself ready for the fight as early as last week following a rigid and rigorous six-week training that started in Baguio City.
Ditto for Mosley, who virtually warned his title rival from complacency by announcing that he will have the stronger drive to win comes their Las Vegas showdown.
And he has reasons to be. First, outside of the millions he expects to gain, he has almost nothing to lose but his life and career.
In an interview during Easter Sunday with FightHype.com, Mosley said that except for shedding more pounds, nothing more stands to obstruct him from his attempt to, precisely, save his career and earn his place in the Hall of Fame with his dignity intact.
The Pacman, therefore, cannot afford to be less hungry for a knockout win and be mentally complacent climbing up the canvas on May 7 however hard he stretched himself in training to condition his body and whatever affirmations his team would tell him.
Shane told Ben Thompson of FightHype that he is serious in coming on fight night at his strongest even as he vowed to dominate and force the issue against Pacquiao inside the first five rounds. He admitted though he is concerned that after round five, he would have nothing left in his ?reservoir? to turn the tide and make it possible not to suffer a knockout defeat that would be the first in his colorful career to a fighter known to have the best combination of crushing power and speed.
While boxing fans predict a sensational victory, they reserve such projection to the boxer who is completely prepared and motivated enough.
Everything is looking good. My boxing is looking good and excited to come here and fight,? the challenger told Thompson, revealing that he was weighing from 152 to 154 and a hands down to make it the 147-pound limit comes fight night.
Mosley expressed elation hearing the odds, which started at 10-1 in Pacquiao?s favor, had been down to 6-1.
?That?s good, it means they?re getting the picture, I guess,? he said. Odds are going to come down even further at weigh-in,? he remarked. ?Vegas is going to be on fire.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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