Trainer Freddie Roach, however, has sounded a note of caution about the danger the American brings with the power he possesses in both hands.
Such is the inexorable rise of the 32-year-old Filipino Congressman both inside and outside the ring, Mosley, a modern legend of the ring himself, has been consigned to an also-ran in the year’s first super-fight.
History would suggest, however, that to rule out the unexpected is unwise in boxing.
Mosley may be 39 years old, but has the fastest hands Pacquiao, a world champion in eight weight divisions, has faced as a 147lb fighter.
“My greatest concern is that Manny likes to attack, and if he makes a mistake and attacks without setting Shane up, he’ll walk into dangerous counter shots,” explained Roach, who flagged up Mosley’s right hand and left hook as the shots they are wary of.
“When Shane iron the ropes, Manny needs to move in angles as we have prepared. Shane will try to sucker him into a counter shot. No question about that.”
Pacquiao (52-3-2), unbeaten for six years in thirteen contests – twelve of those world title fights – will earn $20 million dollars for his night’s labour. Mosley (46-6-1) will earn half that amount.
There is also a rematch clause, blocking Mosley from carrying the belt to the door of Floyd Mayweather, who has been ubiquitous in word and thought, but not in person, in the throng of excitement in the week’s build-up.
Pacquiao against Mayweather is the contest boxing craves, yet the Las Vegan resident refuses to be drawn to front up to the Filipino at present. The showdown may never happen.
Remarkably, Pacquiao intends to give a concert at his base, in the Mandalay Bay Hotel, with an eight-song repertoire, when the fight is over.
The fight is sold out at the MGM Grand Arena. So too, is the concert. Pacquiao remains the consummate entertainer.
“Manny has been doing two hour workouts every day this week, and then heads for band practise late in the afternoon. He is relentless. I don’t know where he gets all his energy from.
"I have never known anyone like him,” said the fighter’s trainer Freddie Roach. “His pain threshold in training is limitless. The only thing I can put it down to is that he feels the weight and expectation of a nation on his shoulders and it drives him on.”
Mosley, who has the opportunity to etch his name into history with a victory over the Filipino, explained: “It’s going to be a terrific fight.
"We are both warriors, we are both winners, and when you get two winners in there together, you get one hell of a fight. This is going to be a blockbuster, a legend-making fight.”
Nazim Richardson, Mosley’s trainer, believes his charge’s experience should be noted. "What we have to understand is, as old as Michael Jordan might be now, he can beat most of us here one-on-one.
"He could probably start right now for any team in the NBA. Sugar Shane Mosley doesn't have to match Manny Pacquiao, because Mosley brings all sorts of weapons to the plate. Don't count a man out because of his age. He brings great experience.”
Mosley, who has never been knocked out, will be very dangerous in the first three rounds, and can still pull the trigger if he hurts Pacquiao, who I expect to fight cautiously, in the early part of the fight.
However, if Pacquiao is on his game, he should break Mosley down by the middle rounds onwards, and if he exerts his relentless attacks, could win by stoppage in around the seventh or eighth round.
The bell will be tolled on the televised card for the passing of Sir Henry Cooper, at the behest of Bob Arum, Pacquaio’s promoter, who brought Muhammad Ali to London to face Cooper in 1966.
Pacquiao v Mosley is live on Sky Sports 2 from 2am in the UK
Such is the inexorable rise of the 32-year-old Filipino Congressman both inside and outside the ring, Mosley, a modern legend of the ring himself, has been consigned to an also-ran in the year’s first super-fight.
History would suggest, however, that to rule out the unexpected is unwise in boxing.
Mosley may be 39 years old, but has the fastest hands Pacquiao, a world champion in eight weight divisions, has faced as a 147lb fighter.
“My greatest concern is that Manny likes to attack, and if he makes a mistake and attacks without setting Shane up, he’ll walk into dangerous counter shots,” explained Roach, who flagged up Mosley’s right hand and left hook as the shots they are wary of.
“When Shane iron the ropes, Manny needs to move in angles as we have prepared. Shane will try to sucker him into a counter shot. No question about that.”
Pacquiao (52-3-2), unbeaten for six years in thirteen contests – twelve of those world title fights – will earn $20 million dollars for his night’s labour. Mosley (46-6-1) will earn half that amount.
There is also a rematch clause, blocking Mosley from carrying the belt to the door of Floyd Mayweather, who has been ubiquitous in word and thought, but not in person, in the throng of excitement in the week’s build-up.
Pacquiao against Mayweather is the contest boxing craves, yet the Las Vegan resident refuses to be drawn to front up to the Filipino at present. The showdown may never happen.
Remarkably, Pacquiao intends to give a concert at his base, in the Mandalay Bay Hotel, with an eight-song repertoire, when the fight is over.
The fight is sold out at the MGM Grand Arena. So too, is the concert. Pacquiao remains the consummate entertainer.
“Manny has been doing two hour workouts every day this week, and then heads for band practise late in the afternoon. He is relentless. I don’t know where he gets all his energy from.
"I have never known anyone like him,” said the fighter’s trainer Freddie Roach. “His pain threshold in training is limitless. The only thing I can put it down to is that he feels the weight and expectation of a nation on his shoulders and it drives him on.”
Mosley, who has the opportunity to etch his name into history with a victory over the Filipino, explained: “It’s going to be a terrific fight.
"We are both warriors, we are both winners, and when you get two winners in there together, you get one hell of a fight. This is going to be a blockbuster, a legend-making fight.”
Nazim Richardson, Mosley’s trainer, believes his charge’s experience should be noted. "What we have to understand is, as old as Michael Jordan might be now, he can beat most of us here one-on-one.
Mosley, who has never been knocked out, will be very dangerous in the first three rounds, and can still pull the trigger if he hurts Pacquiao, who I expect to fight cautiously, in the early part of the fight.
However, if Pacquiao is on his game, he should break Mosley down by the middle rounds onwards, and if he exerts his relentless attacks, could win by stoppage in around the seventh or eighth round.
The bell will be tolled on the televised card for the passing of Sir Henry Cooper, at the behest of Bob Arum, Pacquaio’s promoter, who brought Muhammad Ali to London to face Cooper in 1966.
Pacquiao v Mosley is live on Sky Sports 2 from 2am in the UK
