'Mosley worse than Clottey'

LAS VEGAS – Expressing disgust over Sugar Shane Mosley’s performance, celebrated trainer Freddie Roach said yesterday the three-division world boxing champion should retire for refusing to engage Manny Pacquiao in their 12-round bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here.

Roach, who worked Pacquiao’s corner, was visibly exasperated as Mosley turned tail whenever the Filipino icon launched an attack. Even Mosley’s cornerman Nazeem Richardson was frustrated, admonishing his fighter for refusing to mix it up after he suffered a third round knockdown.

It was a case of Mosley running scared. 

“Mosley was worse than (Joshua) Clottey,” said Roach, referring to the Ghanaian who went 12 rounds with Pacquiao covering up in a defensive shell. “I expected more from a former world champion. He didn’t come to fight. He didn’t want to get hurt. I think he’s a shot fighter. It’s over for him. Anytime a fighter shows up not willing to fight, he should pack it in.”

Mosley had promised a competitive duel. He didn’t keep his word. Sugar Shane threw a right straight that caught Pacquiao’s attention early in the first round but had little else to show the rest of the way. Pacquiao floored him with a left hook in the third but Mosley, shaken badly, managed to survive. His eyes were glassy and legs rubbery but he held on miraculously.

Pacquiao now goes down in history as only the second fighter to floor Mosley. Vernon Forrest did it twice in the second round of their fight in 2002. Floyd Mayweather Jr., Oscar de la Hoya and Fernando Vargas were never able to deck Sugar Shane.

Asked if there was something Pacquiao could improve on, Roach said he’ll need to work on cutting the ring off. “I didn’t see much of that,” he said. “Manny followed Mosley around instead of heading him off. But that was because Manny’s left calf was tight starting the third round.”

Pacquiao admitted his left leg tightened up and restricted his lateral movement. He said the pain in the leg persisted until the last three rounds. Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, who was also in Pacquiao’s corner, eased the pain by massaging the calf muscle in between rounds.

“It happens,” said Ariza. “The pain was coming from the front of the left calf muscle. Manny complained about it but I don’t think it mattered. Manny fought through the pain and Mosley never knew of the handicap.”

Roach said Pacquiao’s next opponent could be Juan Manuel Marquez who was spotted taking photos of the Filipino icon with his cellphone during the fight. He mentioned that Marquez has asked if Pacquiao could agree to a catchweight limit of 144 pounds to defend his WBO welterweight title. The welterweight division has a weight limit of 147.

“Marquez is not in a position to make demands,” said Roach. “But I don’t see a problem Manny making 144. If Marquez makes any money demands, he’s crazy. Everyone wants to fight Manny.”

Pacquiao weighed in at 145 pounds for the Mosley bout. The heaviest he has scaled for a fight was 145 3/4 for the Clottey fight in Arlington, Texas, last year.