MOSLEY: MY OFFER to PACQUIAO STILL STANDS.

By Ed de la Vega, DDS Sat, 01 Aug 2009 http://philboxing.com/news/pix/mosley.and.dr.ed.090731.250w.jpg Los Angeles, Ca:- Thursday night at the Club Nokia where Golden Boy Promotions held a fight card, I had an opportunity to ask Shane Mosley the proverbial question- “Do you have a message for Team Pacquiao?” Mosley, with his ever charming smile said, “Tell them, what I offered are still on the table. The ball is in their court.” With what is recently being reported on various news outlets regarding the still unsigned contract between Coto and Pacquiao, plus all the petty politics behind the scene, surely a Pacquiao-Mosley can still happen in November. It’s potentially a more dangerous fight for Pacquiao, but at least many of the advantages that Team Pacquiao seeks from the Coto camp will be there. But they really worth it? It depends who you ask. First, there is the belt, an item that is so necessary (contrary to Arum’s statement that “no one cares about it”) to cement the legacy of Pacquiao as the greatest boxer in our generation. No man has ever had belts in 7 different divisions. Pacquiao has that enviable position to do just that with a win and a belt in the welterweight division. Second, the issue about weight will no longer be there. Unlike Cotto who insist on a 145 lbs fight contract, Mosley is willing to meet Pacquiao at any “catch-weight” between 141 and 147”, the “recognized welterweight weight range.” Third, Mosley is willing to take a great purse cut. Even a mere 40% is acceptable to him. Not too many boxers holding a belt will accept such a purse split if their belt is on the line. Fourth, although not much has been said about it, the sanctioning fee may not be an issue as much as it is with Coto. Fifth, for whatever it is worth, a Pacquiao victory over Mosley will be a whole lot more meaningful that one over Cotto. Cotto according to some may still be dangerous, but he is “damaged goods.” The beating he took from Margarito took its toll and that certainly showed when he fought Joshua Clottey. He barely escaped with a win. Some said he even lost that fight. Therefore, a victory over Mosley will uplift the Pacquiao legacy as the best “poud4pound boxer” even more than one over Cotto. So why not just put up a Pacquiao-Mosley instead? Well, that is easily said than done. Boxing is a business first and entertainment, second. The old man Bob prefers a Pacquiao-Cotto because it will be to his sole advantage. He has both Pacquiao and Cotto under his wings so it goes to reason that if the two will agree to fight, Arum makes tons of cash. On top of that, if Cotto can have the fight on his terms, he may be persuaded to re-sign with Arum. Read:- more money for the old sly fox. On the other side of the coin, if the fight is between Pacquiao and Sugar Shane, then Arum must share the loot with the Golden Boy Promotions. Certainly, if he can avoid that, Arum will go long ways to do so. With what is played out on the media, Arum may not have the next Pacquiao fight totally his. He may be forced to share it with his arch nemesis, GBP. Ouch! The fact that he announced the Pacquiao–Cotto bout prematurely and sans signed contracts shows that Arum is again up to his usual tricks of the trade. If nothing else, it kept the Mayweather-Marquez off the news front. But it appears that Arun may have bitten more than he can chew and if he has to spit it out, GBP will come out the winner. So will Mosley. As for Pacquiao, no matter what, he still wins. Thus, a Pacquiao-Mosley could still happen in November.