Shane Mosley: “I know what I am getting into as I prepare to face Pacquiao”

What’s good Shane, Thanks for the call. I am watching the video of Berto/Ortiz presser right now it looks like Berto is second guessing himself in the staredown. Have you seen it yet?

SM- No, I haven’t seen that yet. When was the presser?

It was this past Friday, March 18th at the Foxwoods. Berto’s face expression looks like what it did when you two were facing off when your fight was supposed to happen. I’m sure you remember that right?

SM- [Laughing] Yeah I remember that. I kept thinking to myself that this kid was really afraid of me. That fight between Ortiz and Berto is going to be a real good fight though. Berto looks to be real strong, but I tell you what, Ortiz is a lot stronger than people give him credit for.

But Shane, Ortiz is coming up in weight to have his first 147 pound fight against a strong speedy fighter like Berto. Am I under estimating Ortiz by thinking that Berto is going to have his way against Ortiz?

SM- Well don’t get me wrong, Berto is a fighter that has a lot of great qualities but he is also a fighter that has a lot of insecurities because of the way that he has been matched. Berto is also the type of fighter that has doubts because of his chin, which is why he wasn’t so eager in facing me and he knows that Ortiz is a very strong fighter that is also fast himself so all that is coming into play in Berto’s mind.

So what comes into play in your mind as you get ready to face Manny Pacquiao?

SM- I know what I am getting into as I prepare to face Pacquiao. A lot of other fighters that faced Pacquiao in the past looked at their fights with Pacquiao and thought only size. They figured that just because they were bigger than Pacquiao that they could beat him. The difference between them and me is that I am much faster than Pacquiao’s last opponents and I know that the way to beat him is to take his heart away.

Pacquiao is such a busy powerful vollume puncher, and I know that you have seen very active fighters across from you your entire life like the Zack Padillas of the world. But what do you say to those that say that sparring with a Zack Padilla when you were in your 20’s is not the same as fighting Pacquiao now that you are 39 years old?

SM- What I say to that is that the experience that I’ve gained in sparring and fighting that certain style for all those years can never be forgotten. At times being so busy in there can also work against you. Just look at Marquez, the style that Marquez has will always give Pacquiao problems and why do you think that is?

I feel that Marquez gives Pacquiao problems because as Pacquiao fires away, Marquez is right there punching with him by unloading combinations. You got to keep a born fighter thinking to force him into retreat mode.

SM- That’s it.. you got to back him up and attack his body at will because I have been watching a lot of his fights and Pacquiao does not take shots to the body very well. Marquez hurt him to the body in the second fight and Margarito also hurt him, I am just not sure why Margarito didn’t keep going to Pacquiao’s body after that. This is why I say that you got to go out there and take his heart away.

How upset were you when fight fans and media members were mad that Pacquiao will be facing you instead of Floyd Mayweather Jr.?

SM- It didn’t really bother me because I was getting the fight that I have always wanted. Besides if Mayweather really wanted to fight Pacquiao it would be taking place right now. But you see Floyd doesn’t really like facing southpaws at all.

So is that why Pacquiao/Mayweather has not happened yet?

SM- That could be a reason. All I know is that with me, I am a real fighter so it don’t matter to me if you are bigger, stronger, or a southpaw. I will get in there and fight because that is what I signed up for when I entered the fight game. This is what I am. That’s why I respect fighters like Pacquiao because he is also a fighter. I just know that after I beat Pacquiao that Mayweather and his fans are going to say well you see Floyd beat Shane and Shane beat Pacquiao so Floyd can beat Pacquiao also. Because in this sport, styles make fights. I feel that I have the style to beat Pacquiao and I also have the heart as well. Floyd is a very smart boxer but at times he is too defensive and if he were to fight Pacquiao the judges could award Pacquiao the fight because Pacquiao could be out working him. I’m not saying that Pacquiao can beat Floyd but all I’m saying is that styles make fights so we will not know what will happen until you sign on and face the man.

What makes Mayweather such a hard person to beat? I could be looking too much into it but it seemed to me that Floyd was forcing you to over think thus forcing you to have too much nervous energy that ended up winding you. Was that the case?

SM- I t was a lot of stuff going on that I would rather not get into right now. All I can say is that Floyd is a very good defensive fighter with great footwork and a good jab. It’s not a great jab but it’s accurate and being in there with him I was able to see the things that make him very good. I was also able to see some things that can be exploited so trust me when I tell you that if Floyd and I get to meet again, you will see me beating him.

I have always been a big fan of yours but the flicking jab that you use bothers me because it’s more of a stay off me jab, you should use it as a dagger jab. Meaning you should stab them with it. But I guess your flicking jab works because Robert Guerrero has told me about how much it hurts. Would you agree that a hard stiff jab must be on display in order to help you defeat Pacquiao?

SM- [Laughing] Ghost, yeah Robert Guerrero and I have sparred many times before and everyone that I face can tell you about how it may look like it’s not damaging but it really is. And yes, I will be using it often because when Marquez and Cotto flashed the jab in Pacquiao’s face it was working out pretty good.

Will you be looking to get some pointers from Bernard Hopkins for this fight, because Hopkins has a great record when facing southpaws?

SM- Yes, I will be talking with Bernard a lot. Naazim also trains Hopkins as you already know so they talk often so yeah for sure you can bet that I will be talking to Hopkins. I’m just going to keep working hard with Naazim and come fight night everything will come together.

Who do you think will win if Sergio Martinez were to face Floyd Mayweather?

SM- I think Sergio may be too big for Floyd. besides Sergio is a southpaw and a slick one at that so Floyd may not want to do that.[Laughing] Floyd may be a little bit more skilled than Sergio by a hair but Sergio is the stronger fresher fighter right now. I don’t think the fight will happen because ..well you know.

Alright Shane, well I know that the cards are stacked against you heavy and you are a huge under dog so my brother tells me that he is placing it all on the line so he can get that nice flashy ride.

SM- [Laughing] That’s what’s up. You got a smart brother, tell him thanks for the support, I won’t let him down. What ride is he looking to get?

Not sure, but if I were him I would get the brand new A8..Out here in Phoenix you got a lot of fans..Any closing thoughts before I let you go?

SM- Yes that A8 is a really nice car, and it’s really fast. I like that. I want to say thank you to all my fans and supporters. And since you are in Phoenix, I know that there are a lot of my Mexican fans out there and fans in general. So since Pacquiao is the Mexicutioner, I will get him back. Azucar..Alright man I will see you out in Vegas. And please fight fans from every where, I encourage you all to follow me SugarShaneM on Twitter.

Source: http://www.diamondboxing.com/