I want Pacquiao now, Mosley insists

By ALEX P. VIDAL / PNS
October 1, 2010

BOSTON, Massachusetts  –  Win or lose against Antonio Margarito, boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao might still end up facing the fading but veteran American terror Shane Mosley instead of the much-fancied Floyd Mayweather in his first fight in 2011.

This became apparent after Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KO) disclosed his management team will begin negotiating with Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum in October this year for a possible crack at the Filipino’s lucrative name in another blockbuster showdown.

Mosley, 39, has been hot after the heels of the best boxer pound-for-pound from General Santos City in the Philippines since 2009 and is unfazed by his lackluster performance against Sergio Mora (22-1-2, 6 KO) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California last September 18 where he was criticized for being “over the hill.”

The former world welterweight king, who boasts of two victories over Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas, salvaged a 12-round draw against Mora in what many experts believed was a fight dominated by the former “Challenger” winner.

If Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KO) wins against Margarito on November 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Mosley said he is willing to fight the 31-year-old Pacquiao in the light middleweight division. If Pacquiao loses, Mosley would be comfortable he said to tangle with Pacquiao in the welterweight division.

Mosley knocked out Margarito for WBA super welterweight title on January 24, 2009 at the Staples Center. The scandal-ridden match resulted in the stripping of Margarito’s license after it was discovered he loaded his fists with hardened substance.

Margarito (38-6, 27 KO) however sideswiped Mosely for the right to face Pacquiao on November 13 when negotiations to bring on unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. to fight the boxer-cum-lawmaker in a rich title match bogged down for good.

This was after he outpointed Roberto Garcia for WBC international light middleweight title Aguascalientes, Mexico last August 5, 2010.

Mosley came close to toppling Mayweather in their title fight but lost by unanimous decision on January 5, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.