Patience and selective punching key for Mosley to beat Pacquiao
Published:If Shane Mosley can maintain a watertight defence and retain the patience of a saint, then it is not out of the question that he could secure the biggest win of his boxing career and beat Manny Pacquiao.
Mosley is the heavy underdog at 6/1 in the boxing odds to become the new WBO welterweight champion and is given little chance in many quarters of upsetting the PacMan.
This price may be a bit short, but taking the 9/1 that he wins the fight by KO may be worth a small punt.
It is virtually a given that 39-year-old Mosley is unable to win the fight by decision, as he will not throw enough punches in each round to sway the judges and will struggle to come close to matching Pacquiao’s electric pace.
However, Mosley has proven in the past that he can take shots as he has never been stopped, while he certainly has the power to trouble a fighter who will step into the ring much smaller.
Therefore, the key for Mosley and his trainer Nazim Richardson is to identify a gameplan that fits his strengths and the best approach could be sticking to his counter-punching roots.
Mosley has long been regarded as a counter puncher and if he can pick the right shots he can certainly rock Pacquaio, as he did with Floyd Mayweather in the second round of their showdown last year.
Pacquiao’s will want to retain the middle of the ring and particularly in the early stages, he will want to move in, throw some combinations and then back out again before Mosley can react.
If Mosley is on the ball he could sneak some destructive punches, this could have an effect and allow him to back Pacquiao onto the ropes, which is where he will be most at risk.
Waiting patiently and carefully selecting shots is a strategy has worked against Pacquiao in the past, most notably by Juan Manuel Marquez.
A £30 stake on Mosley beating Pacquiao by knockout would return £270. New customers can sign up here for a free £30 bet.
