PACQUAIO - MOSLEY: THE KNOCK-OUT THAT NEVER WAS

PACQUIAO – MOSLEY:
THE KNOCK-OUT THAT NEVER WAS

By Doods A. Amora, PEE

The drama lasted for 12 full rounds. But the anemic ending left the 16,500 sea of people in attendance at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas and the millions of humanity around the world unfulfilled.

Suspenseful of a knock-out to unfold.., but the knock-out never came.

THE SUSPENSE OF AMBIGUITY

True to its form and substance, the tension of ambiguity was not there as it was certain that Manny Pacquiao would win.

As to ‘when the knock-out should take place’ was the thing of suspense in the figments of imagination. That’s what the full pack attendance and the expected large PPV numbers are all about.


Enthralling the much ballyhooed fable of the so-called “African-American Street Fighting Style” can supposedly bring on the table; the boxing world projected a fierce, live and interactive fight amidst a compelling exchange of powerful punches that both protagonists are known for. For a future Hall of Famer who has made a profession by zapping the wits out of his aggressive oppositions, Mosley promised to “shock the world”.



Lopsided, as it all was.., a relatively boring fight. But then among many other recent fights, Manny Pacquiao has just concluded a ‘finishing school’ on Mosley. No doubt it was another great performance; in fact it was a vivid 'exit interview' for one (Mosley) in his path to retirement. But an uncooperative salsa partner kept the Filipino hard-hitting boxing icon from showcasing fully his brilliancy. For not biting the bullet, Mosley was booed repeatedly while Pacquaio’s beat drums went wild to peak proportions. The disparity between the two gladiators was obvious from the opening round, with Mosley’s tentativeness promptly besieged to deal with the puzzle of Pacquiao's speed and fluidity. Of course, it was so expected but Mosley himself was strong, fast and shifty. When everyone thought of him as washed out, he twisted history by knocking out the bullstrong Antonio Margarito in a manner beyond expectations.



Yet, it was not even close. Pacquiao widely outgunned Mosley in almost all departments, landing 182 punches out of 552 shots as against Mosley’s 82 of 260 or a disparity of some 100 blows that reached its mark. But, that was far from the Pacman’s normal stats.

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COMPARING MOSLEY WITH CLOTTEY

Mosley and Clottey had something in common. Both refused to dance the tango with the pound-for-pound kingpin. In Pacman’s fight against Clottey, Pacman threw 1,231 shots and connected on 246. On the other hand, the Ghanaian Hitter threw a total of 399 shots connecting 108. Compare that to Mosley’s measly 82 of 260 - it shows that the stationary Clottey even in his all-night-long turtle shell defense was more active than Mosley.

But knowing that Mosley is quicker, more agile and more of a volume-puncher than Clottey - it could only mean that Mosley was more scared and frozen to lock horns with the Filipino than Clottey. Same as Clottey, Shane Mosley never had the confidence to engage Pacquiao in a brawl despite Pacquiao giving Mosley repeated lures, if not, opportunities to rumble. Over the hill, although this was Mosley’s 21st title fight, the wear and tear from his 54 fights had been exposed especially after the third round knock down.


THE THIRD ROUND KNOCK DOWN

Within the closing minute in the third round, a thunderous left straight knocked down Mosley kissing the canvas. It was the third case in his entire career. Vernon Forrest did it twice and Pacquaio this time. Mosley must have tasted the acidic venom of the piercing blow of the man known to be a 'small guy' but a 'giant killer'.


‘This could be it!’ Shane must have thought of that, because after the third round, Mosley became a mere shadow of his old self. “Shocking the World” was not after all meant to be a war but to have preserved himself from a sure knock –out.

Then Mosley ran adeptly all night. And as Mosley continued evading himself in a mix; Pacquaio although in less frequency, consistently landed big punches. It then appears that the African-American was killing the clock, no matter if Pacquaio continuously heaped up points. He knew he cannot win, anyway.


Pacquaio on the other hand was visibly disappointed because he found himself in an unsatisfactory lesser output. At 552 punches in 12 rounds, or a 46 punches-per-round average is ‘underwhelmingly’ uncharacteristic of him.

Mosley’s trickery thus voided Pacquiao of the opportunity to become the first to stop him and spirited away the precious knock-out frenzy awaited by the boxing world. It also deprived Manny and Coach Freddie Roach of the opportunity to execute the “Bruce Lee Trap” that he and Pacquiao prepared and mastered in the gym. Mosley hardly threw his signature overhand right - cautious to get hit by a perfect counter left. That’s the specific Jeet Kune Do strike he must have been afraid of.


THE TENTH ROUND “KNOCK-DOWN”

The 10th Round saw a shocking string of the fight when Mosley stepped on Manny’s lead foot and pushed Pacquiao to the canvas. Referee Kenny Bayless ruled it a knockdown, though replays revealed it to be something else. Pacquiao appeared to be in temporary disbelief but the inequality of the ersatz knockdown, ignited a furious attack bulldozing Mosley for the knockout as the crowd erupted. Mosley backpedaled feverishly, absorbing ‘bad intention' cluster bombs along the way. It was the first time an angry Pacquaio seen fighting with fists of fury.

But Pacquiao’s surges lasting for 2-1/2 rounds in the pursuit of the knockout couldn't terminate an elusive challenger who was in full retreat throttle as the crowd unleashed a wave of boos, clearly crazy over Mosley's unwillingness to come and face the battle.

As the final bell rang, Judges Dave Moretti and Duane Ford scored it 120-108 and 120-107, respectively. It means a full shut-out to them – meaning further that Mosley did not win any round. But Judge Glenn Trowbridge had it at 119-108 after giving Mosley the 10th round when Kenny Bayless ruled Mosley’s push and foot stepping as a knockdown.

My own score card showed 118 – 108 giving the first round even while just for the sake of the sport, heeding Referee Kenny Bayless’ erroneous call of a Pacquaio knock down.

Understandably, Judges Moretti and Ford must have disregarded the erroneous call. Referee Bayless himself acknowledged the error and apologized to Roach.



THE AFTERMATH

Now richer by $ 20 to $ 30 million, Pacquiao was seen visibly unscathed when he appeared in coat-and-tie in the post-fight press conference, raised his win-loss-draw record to 54-3-2 with 38 knockouts. Mosley on the other hand, now entitled to $ 5 to $ 6 million paycheck, wore dark shades to hide his reddened eyes but not his swollen face, fell to 46-7-1, with 39 knockouts.

“I don’t think he tried to win the fight. And when you get to that point in boxing, it’s time to call it a day.” Coach Freddie Roach said of Mosley.



SIDEBAR:

The event was witnessed live via ppv with the hosting of some of the NEW CESEEPS FAMILY. The roars of Noel Fernandez and his brother Cesar, Roldan Lastima, Rodrigo Quimada, Loyde Alcoseba, Burds Burdador, Ringo Sanchez, George Patacsil, Roger Garcia, Edward Baring and Doods Amora, all of them electrical engineers, formed part of the tradition of CESEEPS family.


DOODS
May 9, 2011