Live: Manny Pacquiao vs Shane Mosley

Welcome fight fans, it’s finally time for the main event from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Manny Pacquiao vs “Sugar” Shane Mosley, 12 rounds for the WBO Welterweight Championship. We’ll update this post at the end of every round but please check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for real-time updates. Charice is singing the Filipino national anthem as things are getting underway.

Tremendous undercard with Mexico’s Jorge Arce upsetting Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. to earn the WBO super bantamweight strap. It was an extremely close action fight heading into the championship round with Vazquez scoring a knockdown in the 4th on a perfectly timed left hook. We had the Puerto Rican ahead slightly when Arce hurt him with a left uppercut and followed with a constant barrage that eventually compelled Wilfredo Vazquez Sr. to throw in the water bottle to save his son and end the fight.

Kelly Pavlik looked extremely rusty in dispatching the previously unbeaten Alfonso Lopez in his first fight since losing the middleweight championship to Sergio Martinez one year ago. Kudos to Pavlik for overcoming his personal demons to get back in the ring; he sported a number of new tattoos including one on his back that reads “Last Call” in a nod to his two stints at the Betty Ford Clinic. Here’s hoping with a little work he can regain his championship form.

Tyrese up first with the national anthem and Jamie Foxx just followed with “America the Beautiful,” now it’s time for the Pacman hype video. If you’ve been watching Showtime recently then you already know the drill. Shane Mosley walks out to “Mama Said Knock You Out” performed live by LL Cool J. Pretty smooth.

Arena goes dark and AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” comes on. Then “Eye of the Tiger.” Pacquiao knows how to make an entrance, but we’re going to have to give it to Sugar Shane on this one. Survivor is a bit of a cliche, even if they get the real former lead singer. Jimmy Lennon Jr. is about to do his thing so we’re basically all set.

Round 1:  We’re underway, Manny in blue shorts and yellow gloves, Shane wearing black and gold. Both men look in premium condition, Shane is noticeably larger. Cautious start from both fighters, Manny showing healthy respect for Shane’s power.

Both men sizing each other up, solid body shots landed by both men. Pacquiao for the most part standing right in front of Mosley and staying at a distance. Not a lot of action in the opening round. Score it for Shane.

Round 2: Second round going much the same way, Pacquiao is being a little too cautious in our book. Right now Shane is controlling the pace of the fight and firing those one-two combinations. Pacman unleashes a combo that wake up Shane. Still mostly in the center of the ring, but Pacquiao starting to fire more. Crowd chanting Manny’s name. Barrage from Manny backs up Shane. Give that round to the Pacman.

Round 3: Pacquiao coming forward more now and gets caught by a Mosley right. But Manny keeps coming, lots of head movement, slipping right and left to get closer to Shane.

Pacquiao runs in and catches Shane with a vicious straight left to drop Shane. Mosley is wobbled and barely survives to the end of the round by holding and running around the ring. It was a jab followed by a straight left that did the damage. 10-8 round for Pacquiao.

Round 4: Pacquiao has Shane hurt and on the run. He’s landing that straight left at will and it’s making an impact. Mosley may be too slow. Shane catches Manny with the right but Manny isn’t fazed. He skeeps coming and Mosley is forced to tie up to avoid getting blasted.

Now that Shane has felt Manny’s power he’s not so eager to stand in front of him. Shane lands some good shots towards the end of the round and it’s almost too close to call. We’ll give it to Pacman because his punches speak louder.

Round 5: Relatively quiet round though Mosley is getting a few more shots through Pacquiao’s defense. Another round for the Filipino for staying busier.

Round 6: Shane doesn’t really look like he’s trying to win this fight as much as last the entire 12 rounds, which is a disappointment. I can’t question the guy’s heart but his lack of offense is getting a little tedious. Pacman trying to compensate by darting in and Shane catches him with a right. It’s still the Filipino’s fight and Shane is getting to the point where only a knockout can save him. Score the sixth for Pacquiao.

Round 7: Pacquiao stills talking Shane and there are smatterings of boos in the crowd. Pacman responds by attacking Shane. We need some action here folks, there are more than a million households that coughed up $55 for this fight. Perhaps this is a crafty way for Mosley to lure Manny into taking more risk, but more likely the knockdown has seriously shaken Shane’s confidence. Manny keeps piling up the points and will likely start looking for the stoppage soon.

Round 8: Antonio Tarver just said Shane Mosley is retreating and that’s really the only way to describe what’s going on. Shane is not on the bike but he’s damn close in a fight that’s he’s losing by any rational person’s scorecard. Manny is doing his best to make it a fight but this has turned into an ugly contest quickly. Scoring is unnecessary at this point, but for posterity Pacquiao wins the 8th.

Round 9: Mosley using his jab more this round but also on the receiving end of several straight lefts from Pacquiao that find their mark. Shane trying to stand in front more but still no sustained attack or combinations. Al Bernstein is correct that this isn’t the best Pacquiao we’ve seen but it’s more than enough to take care of Shane Mosley. Another round for the Pacman.

Round 10: Mosley appears hurt again, complaining about a head butt. Manny hits the deck; it was really a push by Mosley, but Kenny Bayless scores it a knockdown for Sugar Shane. Manny coming harder now and the crowd is incensed. He hits Shane with some hard lefts and Mosley gets on the bike again. An even round.

Round 11: Pacman coming hard and Mosley is just running at this point. Pacman tastes blood and wants to be the first to stop “Sugar” Shane. Mosley lands a counter-right but it’s not enough to stop the Filipino phenom. Pacquiao is moving, probing, looking for an opening to get in and end the night. Pacman wins another round but will likely be unsatisfied unless he gets the KO.

Round 12: The fans are screaming for Manny to close the show and he’s doing his best to oblige. Mosley comes forward for an instant but quickly reverts to his defensive mindset. Manny sticks to the basic one-two combination with his straight lefts slowly reshaping Shane’s formerly handsome visage. The final bell sounds to boos from the capacity crowd at the MGM Grand. Pacman wins the 12th and the fight going away in our view.

Unanimous decision for Pacquiao. Judges: Trowbridge: 119-108 Moretti 120-108 Ford 120-107. We had it 119-110. Not exactly the fight we were all hoping for. Here’s hoping Pacquiao winning was enough to appease the crowds. Not sure his performance was weak enough to entice Floyd Mayweather Jr. into the ring, but he wasn’t the world-beater we’ve seen before either. He apologized for his legs getting tired in a characteristically humble post-fight interview.

It’s doubtful Mosley will ever fight at this level again. He said Pacquiao had power that he’s never felt before and we believe him. Shane has enjoyed a Hall of Fame career and should probably hang up his gloves and focus on training Shane Jr. while he still enjoys all of his faculties. With the $5 million he earned for this fight he should be able to set himself up nicely.

Thanks for spending your Saturday evening with us folks. Please come back often.