Mosley out of the Pac Race.

By Ronnie Nathanielsz WORLD Boxing Association welterweight champion Shane Mosley is out of the picture as far as Manny Pacquiao is concerned. Although trainer Freddie Roach was provided a list of eight names by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum’s matchmaker Bruce Trampler, www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports learned that Mosley has been stricken off the list. Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz believes Miguel Cotto and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are the top choices for an Oct. 17 bout, if it can be done. Koncz said Pacquiao was scheduled to leave for Los Angeles either on Tuesday or Wednesday to receive the award for Fighter of the Year for the second time from the Boxing Writers Association of America. He will join Freddie Roach, who, for the third time, will be cited as Trainer of the Year. Pacquiao was also slated to appear on the CBS’ Early Morning Show on Friday and watch the Cotto-Joshua Clottey WBO welterweight title fight on Saturday at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Koncz said it would be ideal if a deal could be done with Mayweather Jr. for an October fight, although it seems unlikely since he faces Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18, even if Arum believes he is not a cinch to win. Arum said he would lay down the various options available to Pacquiao and let Pacquiao, Roach, Koncz, lawyaer Franklin “Jeng” Gacal and Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez decide with the Pacman himself making the final decision. Roach is not inclined to recommend any of the heavier fighters, who may agree to come down a couple of pounds, but would then put on a lot after the official weigh-in. This would place Pacquiao at a major disadvantage since he would weigh around 138 pounds as he did for the Ricky Hatton fight. http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=sports1_june10_2009