Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley: Don't Believe the Hype

By James Foley

Shane Mosley can hurt Manny Pacquiao.

How often have you heard that since the reigning pound-for-pound champion decided to take a fight with a guy coming off of a stink-fest draw and a decisive loss to the pound-for-pound No. 2 guy?

"Shane Mosley can hurt Manny Pacquiao," uttered by some as a disclaimer and others as an endorsement, but it's basically like saying "in a boxing ring, anything can happen." Hell, a guy parachuted into the ring once. Bizarre scenes unfold in boxing rings ALL the time. So why can't we suggest that Mosley, a solid puncher in his prime who knocked out many worthy foes in the past, has something more than the hopeless "puncher's chance" that his last two performances suggest?

Because it's cheap, that's why.

Anyone can say "I wouldn't rule him out, if he hits Manny with a big right, he could hurt him." It's a low-risk, high-reward argument to make. If the odds hold up, and Manny lives up to his billing as a 7-to-1 favorite and growing, then you say "Shane just couldn't connect on a clean shot, oh well." No one calls you out. But if Mosley pulls the miracle, then you're the guy who just predicted the impossible. You're a genius! Well, not me. I pretty much ruled out Shane Mosley in this fight the minute I heard it was made.

First of all, the Pacquiao-can-be-hurt-by-a-big-guy argument has been made in several of his last few fights.

De la Hoya didn't have as much left as we thought he did. Cotto landed some big hits in the first couple rounds, but Manny absorbed them and took advantage of his offensive-minded opponent's vulnerability and landed with some vicious counters, dropping Miguel twice. Hatton was supposed to be a big-hitter. Margarito "could hurt" Manny was an oft-heard refrain leading up to that fight. And what happened? Margarito hit Manny with solid shots on a few occasions. And Manny gave him a violent beating in return.

I respect Shane Mosley immensely for what he's accomplished in the ring. He's a sure-fire Hall of Famer, one of the best of his generation and one of the classiest gentlemen outside of the ring that the sport has ever produced. But in my mind, the Mayweather fight was, or should have been, the last hurrah for Sugar Shane. Floyd's supreme defensive skills and speed turned that affair into a one-sided romp, with Mosley either too tired or too slow to engage Floyd beyond the second round.

Watching the Mora fight, which I actually thought Shane narrowly won, it seemed clear that Mosley was not at the peak of his powers. I don't see what he brings into this fight with Manny that makes this a competitive bout.

Experience? Manny's been fighting on a world-class level for almost a decade.

Power? Mosley might throw a bigger punch, that's debatable, but Manny throws a lot of them, and usually connects from all angles with overwhelming accuracy.

Speed? If the Mosley who was in the ring against Floyd and Mora shows up on May 7th, Manny will run circles around him.

So...why bother even watching it? Because I'm a boxing addict, Manny Pacquiao is fighting—the best in the world and always a pleasure to watch—and yes, Shane Mosley could hurt Manny Pacquiao.

It's a boxing ring, anything can happen. Don't say I didn't tell you so, when it does.

Source: bleacherreport.com

Cotto vs Mayorga Full Fight Replay

Watch the full fight replay of Cotto vs Mayorga. Miguel Cotto vs Ricardo Mayorga is promoted by Top Rank Promotions and Don King Promotions.

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Photos: Cotto vs Mayorga Fight

Below are the photos of Cotto vs Mayorga during their fight on March 12, 2011 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Miguel Cotto won by TKO in the 12th round. All photos below are owned by Top Rank Promotions/Chris Farina.

Patient and calculated Miguel Cotto breaks down Ricardo Mayorga for late TKO

Chris Robinson

Moments ago inside of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, Miguel Cotto successfully defended his WBA junior middleweight crown with a 12th round TKO over game but outmatched Ricardo Mayorga. This fight wasn't electric but Cotto did his part and can now look towards a prosperous future.

The first two rounds of the fight were fought at a calculated pace from each man as Cotto took the lead and landed more consistently. Many expected Mayorga to come roaring out of the gates but he actually was very timid.

In the third a visibly irritated Mayorga baited Cotto, motioning him to come to the corner and swing away, but Miguel kept his composure and continued fighting a disciplined fight. The fight wasn't nearly as action-packed as many expected as Cotto seemed content on slowly picking Mayorga apart.

Mayorga began to open up a little bit in the 4th although many of his punches were blocked by Cotto. Towards the end of the round Mayorga had his best moments as he swung wildly at Cotto, landing a few grazing shots. Cotto took the punches well and simply smiled at his foe.

The fifth was pretty entertaining as Mayorga again motioned for Cotto to come and get him by leaning against the corner. Cotto obliged and began cracking the Nicaraguan with some fine uppercuts that definitely caught the 38-year old's attention. Mayorga would attempt to answer back but his punches didn't land with the same frequency.

Round six was another Cotto round but in the seventh Mayorga woke up, at least towards the end, staging a hellacious onslaught towards the end of the stanza. Cotto was copping some clean shots and began noticabely backpedaling for the first time in the fight.

Mayorga started strong and finished strong in the eighth but the two minutes and forty seconds in between was all Cotto. Mayorga was showing every bit of his age and Cotto again had success picking him off with stinging uppercuts.

As the championship rounds approached the fight began to seem like a replay as Cotto controlled the action for the majority of the time while Mayorga would occasionally swing for a home run shot without much success.

In the twelfth round Cotto ended the night by landing a crippling left hook that caught Mayorga flush on the chin. Mayorga was shaken and seemed to have a delayed reaction as he took a knee moments later. He would rise but Cotto jumped on him to finish the contest just moments later as Mayorga opted not to continue.

Continue now can set his sights on rematches with either Antonio Margarito or Manny Pacquiao, the only two men to defeat him. Margarito was in attendance and was greeted with a cheer of boos when he was flashed on the overhead monitors.

Cotto and Margarito appear to be headed for a July face off in either New Jersey or Las Vegas.

Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at Trimond@aol.com

Source: examiner.com

Undercard: Zbikowski vs Bryant Highlights

Watch this Zbikowski vs Bryant highlights video. This is one of the undercard fights of the Cotto vs Mayorga championship match.

Undercard: Powal vs Wolak Highlights

This is the highlights video of Pawel Wolak vs Yuri Foreman an undercard in the Cotto vs Mayorga fight.

Hall of Fame trainer rejuvenates Cotto's career

By Steve Carp

In the bowels of Yankee Stadium, Miguel Cotto was getting dressed, having just beaten Yuri Foreman to win the WBA super welterweight title.

As Cotto finished dressing, his trainer, Emanuel Steward, came by, put his hand on Cotto's shoulder and said to him, "You're back!" Cotto looked at Steward, winked and said, "We're back!"

After being trained by his father and uncle for his most of his career, Cotto brought in Steward, the Hall of Fame trainer whose Kronk Gym in Detroit turned out dozens of great fighters, most notably Thomas Hearns, to get him back to the top.

Cotto had taken savage beatings the past few years, and after almost every fight, his routine included a trip to the emergency room. With Steward in his corner, Cotto looked like a new fighter.

He had renewed speed, and he dominated Foreman on June 5. Cotto didn't have to go to the hospital after beating Foreman, and it wouldn't be a stretch to say Steward might have saved and extended Cotto's career in the ring.

Steward will be in Cotto's corner again tonight when he defends his WBA title against Ricardo Mayorga in the 12-round main event of the Top Rank-Don King Promotions fight card at the MGM Grand Garden.

"He is a great trainer, and we work very well together," the 30-year-old Cotto said. "Having Manny Steward on our team, he doesn't just work with Miguel Cotto. He works with the whole team. We are grateful to Manny for the way he teaches us to be better."

The 38-year-old Mayorga (29-7-1, 23 knockouts) said he will start a new streak tonight and send Cotto (35-2, 28 KOs) to University Medical Center.

Steward said that will not happen.

"No more hospitals," he said. "We'll be partying after we knock Mayorga out."

Steward said he didn't want to change Cotto. Instead, his plan was to get him back to using the skills that made him a feared fighter at 140 and 147 pounds.

"The first time I met with him was in Dallas before the (Manny) Pacquiao-(Joshua) Clottey fight" last March, Steward said. "I couldn't believe how slow he was on his feet. I got him to drop his hands and just move around. He moved good, and I said, 'Maybe we got something here.'

"What he did against Foreman was just scratching the surface. Someone showed me a clip on YouTube when he was 17 years old, and he was moving like a young Sugar Ray Leonard. He was unbelievable. He said to me, 'I want to box that way,' and he's back on his toes, using that footwork. He obsessed with moving."

When he agreed to train Cotto for the June fight with Foreman, Steward demanded complete control of the training camp. No one interfered, and the result was one of Cotto's best performances in his 10-year pro career. Things have gotten better as Cotto prepares for Mayorga.

"I trust him," Cotto said. "When he tells me something, I listen because I know he knows what he's talking about."

Steward said the key to Cotto's success is using his left jab and coming in with the hook. "Everything works off the jab," Steward said. "We've got him throwing that jab, and he's got speed, power and precision."

Cotto, who is a 10-1 betting favorite at the MGM properties' sports books, said he's not sure how much longer he'll continue to fight. But with Steward in his corner, he might stick around awhile.

"I feel like I've had a great career," he said. "It's been very productive. I know it's near the end, but I feel like it's the beginning. I feel great, and I feel like I have a lot left before I go."

■ NOTES -- According to Nevada Athletic Commission figures, Cotto's purse tonight is $1 million while Mayorga's is $50,000. Mayorga is making $500,000 for the fight, but he owed his promoter, Don King, money from a lawsuit King had won against him a couple of years ago. ... Both fighters weighed in at 154 pounds Friday. There were no incidents at the weigh-in. ... Also on tonight's card, Miguel Vazquez (27-3, 12 KOs) defends his IBF lightweight title against Lenny Zappavigna (25-0, 17 KOs). Vazquez-Zappavigna is scheduled for 12 rounds.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.

Source: las vegas review-journal