By Lem Satterfield
Manny Pacquiao's five-time Trainer of the Year, Freddie Roach, has often discussed it. Even the eight-division titlists' adviser, Michael Koncz, has broached the subject.
But rarely has the 32-year-old Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts) publicly addressed the notion of his potential for becoming the first man to score a knockout against the 39-year-old, five-time titlist Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) in defense of Pacquiao's WBO welterweight belt on May 7 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
Mosley has twice lost to the late former two-time world champion Vernon Forrest, and twice to ex-champion, Winky Wright, with Forrest appearing to have come closest to stopping Mosley by flooring him in the first round of their initial clash.
Mosley has, on his record, a failed bid to win the WBA welterweight crown following a in a November, 2007 loss to Miguel Cotto, whom Pacquiao dethroned as WBO king by 12th round stoppage in November of 2009.
In May, Mosley staggered unbeaten Floyd Mayweather in the second round of an eventual, one-sided, 12-round unanimous decision loss.
But no one has knocked Mosley unconcious or forced Mosley to succumb to defeat by having the referee to call a halt to his bouts in order to protect him from punishment.
"I'm not just focused for that knockout, but we just work hard. If the knockout comes, then it comes. You know, we prepared ourselves that we're fighting 12 rounds," said Pacquiao, during Wednesday's national conference call with the media.
"If the knockouts come, then it will come, and I'm excited for that. But what my concern is right now is that for the fight," said Pacquiao. "I want to show that we can give the people what they want and give a good fight to the fans. I want them to be happy with my performance."
Roach, however, was more direct, saying that he wants Pacquiao to do what Mayweather did not.
"Shane's a tough guy, and a very durable guy, and it would be a great feather in Manny's cap to be able to stop him and to just prove to the world how much better he is than that other guy [Mayweather] that couldn't stop him," said Roach.
"So I think that with Manny, we're going to fight at a fast pace, and I don't know if he will be prepared to fight at at that pace," said Roach. "But we're going to forced the action and we're going to go for it this time. If it comes, then it comes, but I think that Manny is definitely the guy to do it."