Pacquiao picks Mosley over JMM

FROM: ABS-CBN NEWS

MANILA, Philippines – Newly-crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight king Manny Pacquiao said he is willing to face former champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley.

Pacquiao said a battle against Mosley may turn out to be a more interesting fight than with his other rival, Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico.

“Magaling naman si Shane Mosley, eh (Shane Mosley is a good fighter),” the 8-division champion told ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo.

He added that the former World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion has a wider fan base compared to Marquez.

“Marquez? Siguro walang manonood... walang pay-per-view (Marquez? Nobody might watch us… no pay-per-view),” said Pacquiao.

Mosley has been chasing Pacquiao since the Filipino won over Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto in 2009. After Pacquiao’s win over Mexico’s Antonio Margarito, Mosley reached out to promoter Bob Arum to negotiate the fight despite being a shareholder of Golden Boy Promotions (GBP). GBP is the business rival of Arum’s Top Rank promotions. Marquez, meanwhile, has already fought Pacquiao twice.

The first fight was in May 2004 when the match ended in a draw despite Pacquiao scoring 3 knockdowns over Marquez.

A rematch took place in March 2008 when the Filipino champion again decked the gutsy Mexican for a split decision.

Both fights ended in controversial fashion.

Floyd in Pacquiao’s mind

However, if Pacquiao were to choose, he’d rather pick a fight against unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“’Yun ang mas maganda (That’s the better fight),” said the pound-for-pound champion.

Pacquiao earlier said that he has already achieved everything he wants in boxing even without fighting Mayweather.

“For me, if the fight happens, it happens. If not, I'm okay because I really don't need him. I’m satisfied with what I did in boxing with all the achievements that I have. I’m satisfied and happy. I thank God for everything he gave to me,” said the Filipino boxing superstar.

Promoters had exerted efforts to arrange a Pacquiao-Mayweather clash.

But the two boxers couldn't reach a deal last January, prompting Arum to arrange a Pacquiao bout against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey in March.

When negotiations with the Mayweather camp broke down again months later, Arum turned his attention to Mexico’s Margarito as Pacquiao's next opponent.

However, one complication to a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight is the American's battery case. The former pound-for-pound king was accused of beating his former girlfriend, Jose Harris, in front of their children. Pacquiao has said he’d readily accept the challenge if Mayweather calls out his name. “Mayweather? Walang problema (Mayweather? No problem, I’ll fight him),” said the Filipino champion.