The national anthems of both the United States and the Phillipines are played prior to the commencement of the highly anticipated WBO welterweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 6, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Manny Pacquiao will be facing off against Shane Mosley. Both fighters display confidence in pre-fight interviews as well as respect for each other's abilities and the fight promises to be a good one.
When asked who she thought would win, Chicago retired pro boxer Rita Figueroa says, "I don't know. I think it's going to be a close fight. I don't think it's going to be easy."
Two-time Chicago Golden Gloves Champion Kerstin Brookmann disagrees, predicting a Paquiao victory with the fight ending in the fourth or fifth round. "I could be totally wrong though," she allows.
"I think Mosley's tough," says Chicago black belt Charles Parrott, "I think it'll be a late stoppage or a decision," he declares, but Parrott still sides with the favorite, Pacquiao.
"I think Mosley will win," black belt Mike Figueroa inserts quietly, obviously in the minority. Twelve rounds will tell as Chicago waits with the rest of the United States and the Philippines to find out.
You know you've hit the big time when you have your own rappers to sing live and walk you into the ring.
Shane Mosley, 46 - 6 -1, 1 ND, 39 KO's enters the ring lead out by LL Cool J there is an ACDC (recorded) transistion and then Manny Pacquiao, 52 - 3 - 2, 38 KO's enters with Eye of the Tiger sung by Jimi Jamison who leads him to the ring, singing the song live. So far this match is very music heavy with both national anthems as well as America the Beautiful sung live and both fighters entering to entire live songs.
The anticipated match finally begins with both fighters probing and feeling each other out. Both attempt to step in with some jabs, but both move out of the way. Mosley lands a nice jab. Pacquiao lands three clean punches. Both throw swift punches and miss. Mosley finally lands a solid right hand to the body, Pacquiao responds with his own solid left to the body. So far the fight is a chess match. Neither fighter is taking chances. Round one ends with no clear domination.
Round two begins with quick probing jabs from each. Both fighters seem to be trying to find a way to reach their opponent without putting themselves at a disadvantage. Pacquiao starts throwing some combinations, but no clear landing. Mosley catches Pacquiao with a nice one two combo but Pacquiao responds with a one two three combo that lands. Pacquiao tries to get in, but Mosley is able to avoid him thus far and keep him outside. Pacquiao does get a jab, cross, hook combination in before the bell rings and lands at least two out of the three.
Mosley catches Pacquiao with a few punches right off in the beginning of the third round and then a few seconds later backs him up with a nice right. Pacquiao throws a flurry, but neither is dominating yet. Pacquiao eventually gets a combo in and backs Mosley up and then knocks Mosley down quickly. In the slow mo replay, it looks like Pacquiao's foot coult have been behind Mosley's causing him to trip and fall. Pacquiao now has the mental edge. He capitalizes on it and gets in and lands his signature quick combinations. Mosley tries to go back to the chess match pace they had before, but the fight has changed. The round ends with Pacquiao having an edge.
The crowd is more energized as the fourth round begins and more vocal. Mosley continues to move and try to keep Pacquiao out with his jab and Pacquiao feints and continues to try and get in. Mosley appears to trip and gets knocked down again, he appears frustrated now and annoyed. Pacquiao continues to try and get in and is so far not finding it easy but eventually does land a few nice punches. It can't be helpful to Mosley's moral that the crowd goes nuts when Pacquiao lands even the smallest clear shot. Mosley lands at least one punch of a three punch combination, Pacquiao counters with a few flurried combinations of his own, but nothing lands incredibly clearly. The fight is heating up, but still more of a chess match as the bell rings on the fourth round.
At the beginning of round five Pacquiao lands a right hook cleanly. Pacquiao lands a body shot. Mosley is doing a good job of keeping Pacquiao from getting inside and devastating him with combinations, but Pacquiao is still landing more punches than Mosley, who is very defensive so far. Pacquiao continues to get in and land occasional punches. Mosley seems to be afraid to take a risk. He is defending many of Pacquiao's shots but landing very very few of his own.
Mosley gets a few jabs inside at the top of round six but is still mainly defensive and eventually Pacquiao lands a few punches of his own. Pacquiao is out throwing Mosley and consequently scoring more often despite Mosley's defensive strategy. Although Mosley doesn't seem hurt by anything that Pacquiao is landing, Pacquiao is scoring much more often. Pacquiao continues stalking Mosley and taking advantage of the occasional holes in his defensive strategy. Pacquiao starts becoming more offensive and lands a few more punches. The sixth round ends. Mosley is going to need to take a risk to turn the fight into his favor.
Round sevven kicks off. Mosley seems to be trying to land his jab before doing anything else, but Pacquiao is fast and avoids or blocks the jab most of the time. When he is able to get around the jab, he scores a few punches. Pacquiao scors with an uppercut and a hook, although they're not dead on, they're more than Mosley is throwing, who seems to be sticking with just the jab. Pacquiao occasionally gets inside the jab, throws a few quick punches and gets out without allowing Mosley the counter punch opportunity. The seventh round ends without Mosley taking any chances.
We're over halfway through the fight and some of the crowd is beginning to boo as the fighters enter the eighth round with Mosley still fighting defensively. Pacquiao continues to find holes in the defenses and is scoring more and more often. Pacquiao is starting to get slightly more aggressive. One wonders if Mosley is more concerned about not getting knocked out, as he never has been, than making this a good fight. He's taking absolutely no chances and Pacquiao is starting to wear him down and finding more and more holes in his defense. Mosley lands one clean hook to Pacquiao's head but doesn't follow up. The crowd boos as the round ends due to the inaction in the fight so far.
The ninth round begins and the crowd hopes for more. It would be sad if the undercard fight was more exciting than the main event, especially with all of the fanfare. Pacquiao is trying to get more offensive, but Mosley is continuing to play his incredibly defensive game. Mosley lands one jab cleanly, but doesn't follow it up. Pacquiao's punches aren't landing as cleanly as normally, but he is still landing punchs and throwing more than Mosley. Fifty seconds before the end of the round Pacquiao does land a few very solid punches on Mosley. Pacquiao is obviously trying to up the intensity. He finally does get in with a combination with ten seconds to go.
Round ten begins with Pacquiao obviously trying to be more aggressive. He's backing Mosley up, but to Mosley's credit he does respond by throwing a few more punches. Pacquiao finally gets into a position to throw his signature flurries, but Mosley quickly retreats into defensive mode. Mosley finally takes a risk and throws some punches and Pacquiao gets a knockdown. It could have been a slip, but the refs count it as a knocked down, he smiles incredulously as the ref gives him the count. If nothing else, this has inspired Pacquiao to go after Mosley and starts aggressively chase him with combinations. The crowd begins cheering as Pacquiao literally runs after Mosley in the ring and the round ends. The replay shows that Mosley had stepped on Pacquiao's foot, causing him to loose his balance and fall over.
The eleventh round begins and we see a different Pacquiao. He's no longer willing to play this defenive game, he's goin gafter Mosley with a vengence, no longer allowing him to keep him out. Pacquiao lands a solid one, two, three combo right in Mosley's face. Mosley is further irritating by putting his left glove against Pacquiao's head as if he's holding him away. Pacquiao continues to chase Mosley around, going for blood. He's pissed and it shows, the crowd loves it, finally getting their money's worth in the final rounds. Unless he can get a miracle knock out, Mosley has lost this fight, the only question now is how bad will he lose. The slow motion replay shows Pacquiao grinning as he punches Mosley cleanly in the face.
The final round begins and Pacquiao's energy is palpable. He is after Mosley now, no longer being nice. Mosley comes forward and backs Pacquiao up, but Pacquiao actually laughs while in the clench. Pacquiao is still having trouble getting in, but when he does, he lets Mosley know with no mistake. Mosley is just trying to keep from getting knocked out as he continues his defensive game. Pacquiao is still pissed and frustrated that he's not able to get in and really punish Mosley. The round ends and several of the crowd continue to boo Mosley's completely scared and defensive fighting. It is slightly disappointing as this could have been a very good match.
No one is surprised when Pacquiao retains his championship title by unanimous decision. It's a shame that Shane Mosley chose not to bring this fight to Pacquiao, obviously more concerned with not being knocked out.
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