Kill ‘Em With Kindness

Don’t be fooled into believing that Pacquiao is meek and mild. There’s a reason why he’s expected to separate “Sugar” Shane’s body from his spirit come Saturday. Strangely enough, the nicer he is, the more vicious he becomes inside of the squared circle. With a record of 52-3-2 (38 KOs), the Pac Man is pretty capable of handing out a savage beating or two. The eight-division world champion – a record breaking feat – has been known to beat opponents beyond recognition. Ask Antonio Margarito’s right eye if you need clarity on the situation. Ask Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton’s now defunct boxing careers that had eulogies sung by Pacquiao’s fists.

Manny Pacquiao doesn’t just beat you, he changes your life. But remember, he isn’t much of a trash talker; he just lets everyone else do it for him.

“If the knockouts come, they come,” Pacquiao says. “That’s a bonus for me.”

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach has a different view on the matter. Knowing that Mosley has never been stopped, not even by the other guy who claims he’s the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, adds incentive.“ It would be incredible for Manny to be the first one to stop him and just prove to the world how much better he is than that guy that couldn’t stop him,” Roach said recently.

“That guy” is none other than Floyd Mayweather Jr. – the man who, for some reason, won’t sign on the dotted line to face Pacquiao in a fight the world is clamoring to see. The opportunity to outdo the most boastful boxer in the business is quite the tantalizing dish. Mayweather went the distance with De La Hoya, Pacquiao beat him into an 8th round submission. Mayweather knocked out Hatton in 10 rounds, Pacquiao sent Hatton’s carcass crashing to the canvas in two. Quiet as kept, Mosley is another challenge that the Filipino plans on passing with flying colors. Maybe that’s why Mayweather won’t fight him.

“It’s hard to judge him. I don’t know what the reason is. If he doesn’t ever want to fight me, no problem,” Pacquiao says regarding Mayweather. It’s the first time you can sense just a little frustration in Pacquiao’s voice. But then he cracks a smile to diffuse the tension.

“I’m happy.”

Photos by Chris Cozzone