Manny, money, Mosley and Marquez

One day, Shane Mosley is not a viable opponent for Manny Pacquiao. The next, he is the best possible challenger for the eight-time world champion. Suddenly, all the machinery is in motion, and we’re moved along with it like a heavy flood of lahar through Central Luzon. We want to see Pacquiao fight, and because he’s wiped everybody out in so many weight classes, we care increasingly less who the opponent is. We’re hungry for the next cliffhanger in the telenovela.

Mosley, who will turn 40 this September, has been vocal about his desire to face Pacquiao. And considering that Floyd Mayweather has his own external problems to deal with and may face incarceration, the only other reasonable name out there, whether they will acknowledge it or not, is Juan Manuel Marquez. Bob Arum has done a great job of making it appear that it won’t be a good fight, and many of us are prone to believe him. But Marquez is the closest thing to a tough match-up there is, based on records after his last fight with Pacquiao.

Mosley has an impressive record of 46 wins, 6 losses and a draw, but has only fought four times in the last three years: once in 2008, once in 2009, and twice in 2010. In 2008, it took Sugar Shane twelve rounds to knock out Ricardo Mayorga for the vacant WBA inter-continental light middleweight belt. Prior to that, he lost a close 12-round unanimous decision to Miguel Cotto.

After the Mayorga bout, Mosley went down in weight to challenge Antonio Margarito for the WBA welterweight diadem, winning by TKO in the ninth round against the tall and skinny Mexican. Mosley led all the way on the scorecards. Then there was that lackluster performance against Mayweather, wherein Mosley lost by a lopsided unanimous decision. Mosley was ahead in the first three rounds, then went downhill from there. Mayweather was actually criticized for taking the fight, when he could have had Pacquiao, Cotto or Margarito, among others.

Mosley followed that defeat up with a sloppy split draw over an overweight and undefeated Sergio Mora. Mora came into the weigh-in at 157 pounds, and was ordered to give one-fifth of his purse to Mosley. By all accounts, it was a dull fight unworthy of a champion with the crowd actually booing by the third round. Granted Mosley should have won that fight if not for the disagreement among the judges, but it was far from entertaining.

The fact of the matter is, Mosley has won as much as he has lost since 2007. Does all this make him an appetizing fight for a Manny Pacquiao, or does it really matter? Do we just want to see Pacquiao in the ring again, regardless? I wouldn’t mind seeing Pacquiao fight Mosley. But would it excite me? Not really.

Now let’s look at Marquez.

After the split decision loss to Pacquiao (owing to a greatly-timed knockdown by Pacman in the third round), the Mexican has won four of his last five fights against quality opposition. First, he moved up in weight, and in his debut as a lightweight, carved up the intimidating Joel Casamayor. The Cuban was dreaded in lightweight circles, having compiled a record of 36 wins, only two losses and one draw at that point. Covering the fight for The Filipino Channel, this writer saw Marquez hardly hurt throughout, and hitting Casamayor with uncanny precision. Casamayor’s face was a bloody mess at the end of the match. Take note that “El Cepillo” had won his last five fights right before meeting Marquez, three of those wins coming by way of knockout, including a 10th-round demolition of Michael Katsidis.

Next, Dinamita faced off against Juan Diaz for the vacant WBA and WBO world lightweight crowns. It was a very close contest as evidenced by the scorecards, until Marquez finished off the former champion in the ninth round. So in his first two bouts in a higher division, Marquez had impressive wins against former world champions.

His next contest was the farce against Floyd Mayweather. Rather than meet Marquez on equal terms, Pretty Boy Floyd came in over the stipulated weight, paid the fine, and bullied Marquez. Mayweather just built a huge lead and was never threatened. But what was most impressive was that Mayweather could not knock Marquez out, though he did send him to the canvas in the second round. This was followed by a rematch with Diaz. After an even first four rounds, JMM had to work doubly hard to hammer out a close unanimous decision to keep his belts, with a swollen right eye as the price he had to pay.

Lastly, Katsidis came knocking in November, hoping to annex the WBA, WBO and The Ring Magazine belts Dinamita owned. The Greek-Australian brawler, who fought in Cebu two years ago, did his Ricky Hatton rampaging bull routine, but this didn’t faze the champion, who also fought furiously in the opening rounds. For a while, it looked like Katsidis’ plan would work, as he knocked Marquez down in the third. But Marquez also turned up the heat, and the fight was marked by many staggering exchanges, until ultimatey, Katsidis could take no more. Referee Kanny Bayless stepped in to stop the carnage.

Comparing what Mosley and Marquez have accomplished the past few years, it’s clear that a third Marquez fight would be a more exciting option for Pacquiao. There is no way it would be boring at all, as what has been presumed. But then again, fight fans aren’t in control of the negotiations. On another note, I wouldn’t be surprised if they keep Pacquiao fighting until the next elections in 2013, just to make sure he gets a higher office. Everybody’s got to make a living, I suppose.