Media Day at Wild Card Boxing Club for Pacquiao vs Mosley fight
A standing room only crowd of national and international media packed the Wild Card Boxing Club Wednesday to interview the 5’6.5″ Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2) and five-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach about Pacquiao’s May 7th, WBO welterweight title defense at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, against three-division world champion, 5’9″ Sugar Shane Mosley (46-6-1).
The Pacquiao versus Mosley fight is the main event of a four-fight telecast that will be produced and distributed live by Showtime PPV beginning at 6 p.m. PT. The energetic Pacquiao trained for more than two hours immediately following his equally long interview session.
Quotes from promoter Bob Arum, boxer Manny Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach:
Bob Arum: “Nobody can count Shane Mosley out. He’s a dangerous fighter. He’s bigger than Manny, strong and still has his speed. He has never been stopped. He can take anyone’s best punch. You can’t hurt him.
“Manny has trained harder than I have ever seen. He’s in the same condition as he was before he fought Miguel Cotto. My matchmakers said Shane would make the most entertaining fight for the fans. For pure name recognition Shane Mosley is the best fighter for marketability.’’
Manny Pacquiao: “I’m in top condition for the fight. I’m just excited to fight and beat people up. I never compare myself to anybody. I don’t look at my accomplishments compared to anyone. I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished.
“Shane can still fight. He’s fast and he’s training hard. It’s hard to rate him against the others. This time he’s determined to shock the world. It’s going to be a good fight. My concern is what fight we can give to the fans.
“Mosley is bigger than me, he’s fast and his hand speed is still there. He’s faster than most of my past opponents. He’s also preparing hard, so we never underestimate our opponent. I’m just going to punch him and do my best. If the knockout comes, it comes.
“In the ring I can tell right away what his style is and I can adapt to it. I’m adjusting to life as a politician. It’s different in training but I can stay focused on both. I never distract myself. I’m always in full force in the fight, full force in training. I’m ready for the fight. I’m only 144 pounds.
“I don’t know who I’ll fight next. Juan Manuel Marquez is good for me – he’s not too big.
When asked about Floyd Mayweather Jr. he replied, “For me, there’s a chance. It’s up to him if he wants to fight. He’s trying to wait for me to get older.”
Freddie Roach: “I’m excited about this fight because we know that Shane is going to bring it. Manny has had maybe his best camp ever and he’s in tip-top shape. He’s still hungry, and is training harder now than when he first started. There is no way he is taking this fight lightly and he’s definitely ready for Sugar Shane.
“Since we can’t wait for the No. 1 guy – you know who I mean – to stop running away from us, we have to fight who’s available. We got this offer and it made sense. Mayweather likes to say he’s better than Sugar Ray Robinson, but I think it is more important for him to keep the zero on his record than it is to fight Manny.
“The fight with Sugar Shane will not be easy. But my prediction is that Manny will win by knockout and become the first boxer to stop Mosley.
I know when I first started working with Manny that he was something special. But eight world titles? No one could have expected that.’’
When it comes to respectability and consideration of others, Manny Pacquiao stands heads and shoulders over guys like Jalen Rose.
Addendum: At the media event was Jalen Rose of ESPN, who’s been in hot water lately after making disparaging remarks about Grant Hill and Duke University and then being arrested on March 11, after turning his Cadillac SUV on its side while driving under the influence of alcohol.
As the saying goes, “If you live in a glass house, it’s not advisable to throw stones.”
