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By Jake Donovan - Depending upon whom you ask, news of Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley agreeing to terms for a May 7 showdown is a dream come true or the worst possible scenario.
Popular opinion leads far more towards the latter. When you think about who wins and who loses in the aftermath of Tuesday’s announcement, it’s easy to understand why.
The winners from this event do not make for a very extensive list.
Mosley obviously benefits more than anyone else. Winless since his ninth-round knockout of Antonio Margarito in January 2009, it was unclear as recent as two months ago what was in store for the 39-year old as he approaches the twilight of his career.
The fight comes more than a year after he all but demanded such a showdown, at one point even going so far as to meet Pacquiao at a weight closer to 140 lb. than at the welterweight limit. Patience proved to be of virtue – that and the revelation that he wasn’t obligated to fight exclusively under the Golden Boy Promotions banner, despite serving as a minor stakeholder in the company.
Chances are that even had he landed the fight in 2009 like he wished, Top Rank would’ve never offered him anywhere near the package he will receive for this fight – a $5 million guarantee, plus a piece of the pay-per-view upside.
Even more so than Mosley, the city of Las Vegas has been longing for a superfight that will bring fans and revenue to its declining economy.
Once known as the fight capital of the world, Sin City played host to just one blockbuster event this year – Mosley’s landslide loss at the hands of Floyd Mayweather, Jr, who has since buried himself in legal troubles which could potentially end his days as a factor in today’s boxing landscape. [Click Here To Read More]
Popular opinion leads far more towards the latter. When you think about who wins and who loses in the aftermath of Tuesday’s announcement, it’s easy to understand why.
The winners from this event do not make for a very extensive list.
Mosley obviously benefits more than anyone else. Winless since his ninth-round knockout of Antonio Margarito in January 2009, it was unclear as recent as two months ago what was in store for the 39-year old as he approaches the twilight of his career.
The fight comes more than a year after he all but demanded such a showdown, at one point even going so far as to meet Pacquiao at a weight closer to 140 lb. than at the welterweight limit. Patience proved to be of virtue – that and the revelation that he wasn’t obligated to fight exclusively under the Golden Boy Promotions banner, despite serving as a minor stakeholder in the company.
Chances are that even had he landed the fight in 2009 like he wished, Top Rank would’ve never offered him anywhere near the package he will receive for this fight – a $5 million guarantee, plus a piece of the pay-per-view upside.
Even more so than Mosley, the city of Las Vegas has been longing for a superfight that will bring fans and revenue to its declining economy.
Once known as the fight capital of the world, Sin City played host to just one blockbuster event this year – Mosley’s landslide loss at the hands of Floyd Mayweather, Jr, who has since buried himself in legal troubles which could potentially end his days as a factor in today’s boxing landscape. [Click Here To Read More]
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