Was Pacquiao's performance really unimpressive?

[Taeth]

When you take into account the style matchup, and that Shane was moving away, was Manny's showing unimpressive? Do people forget his second fight wtih Barrera or when he fought Jorge Solis. It's difficult for Manny to dominate guys who move with fluidity. His hoping style causes for him to not because to adjust the same way once he commits to charging forward. Unless he's driving a guy back with a barrage of punches and they are trying to cover it, it's rare to see Pacquiao land effective combinations against a backpedaling opponent. I'm impressed with this fight because Mosley wasn't able to land that much on Pacquiao, he didn't find Pacquiao off balance the way he was expecting, the openings weren't there the way they had been against CLottey and Margarito. Manny did a much better job getting his hands back. Also the back that he hurt a much bigger iron chined Shane Mosley, who is also faster than either Barrera or Solis. I honestly don't see how people aren't impressive by his end of the fight, and don't expect him to be an expert of running down opponents until he learns to walk in behind the jab a little better. Without a little more adaptable footwork Manny won't be able to keep a guy on the ropes, or corner them.

[CFH]

It wasn't an exciting fight, but I don't think Pacquiao was unimpressive. He dropped Mosley and then had to deal with a highly-skilled, veteran opponent whose sole goal seemed to be to survive to hear the final bell. Pacquiao won every round, I don't see how that is unimpressive.

[Beanflicker]

No matter how you spin it or slice it, Manny was unimpressive. But to be fair to Manny, he was behind the 8-ball from the beginning because Mosley had no business being in there in the first place (not to disrespect Mosley, but he was coming off a decisive loss to Floyd and a performance so bad against Mora that even his hardened fans were calling for him to retire).

The only way for Manny to really impress would be to do what no one else had and finish Mosley. A boring decision against a guy who everyone agrees is washed up does NOTHING for his legacy IMO.

[marbleheadmaui]

It was clearly a step backwards to the pre-Diaz days. Manny moved in straight lines, his right hand was wild and his balance erratic as hell.

[captainanddew]

It was clearly a step backwards to the pre-Diaz days. Manny moved in straight lines, his right hand was wild and his balance erratic as hell.

agreed. And quite a bit of lunging.

[Master]

Pac's weakness is taking the lead as JMM knows only too well. Manny looks vulnerable and amateurish when he tries to lead and exposed. Shane tried that tactic but if Manny upped the pace he would have stopped Shane. When Manny got mad he basically beat up Shane but he did not do it enough and coasted fighting within himself. So yes he was unimpressive.

[armyash]

I'd say manny was unimpressive for sure. Mosley was more shot than bin laden.

It's not that he looked dreadful it's that what was in front of him he should have put him away especially after the knockdown. At his best he would have been all over him like flies on sh*t.

his balance did not look great, his co-ordination did not look great there was no urgency, no killer instinct. Where were the blistering combinations. If he could make DLH quit a couple years ago how could he not stop this Mosley.

Mayweather did beat a more ambitious Mosley.

I am giving Pac the benefit of the doubt though, Mosley was so friendly and respectful in the build up perhaps Pac didnt go in with the feeling that he needed to bang him out.

Also Pac does seem to have a lot more going on outside the ring nowadays and whatever you think he cant give 100% of his focus to every aspect of his life it's just not possible not enough hours in the day.

Pac needs an opponent to instill that fear/sense of urgency/motivation in him so we see Pac back to his blistering best.

And we know there is only a couple fighters out there who can do that, if those matches cant or wont be made we could very well see him call it a day at the top of his game legacy intact, reputation near flawless.

[GAME]

The whole point of the fight was to see if he could do something Floyd couldnt - Stop Shane. Pac failed and it wasnt even a good fight either because fans were walking out in the later rounds. Whatever way you look at it, it was a bad performance and Pac must feel the same because he came up with the leg cramp excuse.

Lesson to be learned is no more washed up fighters. He has to fight guys who come to win and they will bring the best out in him.

[KananKrus]

Manny Pacquiao was in pursuit mode a good portion of the fight against an opponent scared shitless, in full retreat, and if only for humilty's sake, will otherwise just beg for his safe passage...

Manny going in attack mode in a straight line... of course!

It would look highly ridiculous, harhar! going side to side, angles... expending all that extra effort, against an already twained Mosely! Please, spare... Why bother, with the volume movement, with a tamed pussy?

[Pavlik]

Manny Pacquiao was in pursuit mode a good portion of the fight against an opponent scared shitless, in full retreat, and if only for humilty's sake, will otherwise just beg for his safe passage...

Manny going in attack mode in a straight line... of course!

It would look highly ridiculous, harhar! expending all that extra effort, against an already twained Mosely! Why bother? Pussy!

mosley made me do the impossible, i actually think tony margarito makes him look like a pussy. i'm still dumbfounded om how tony took those shots without getting dropped.

[Julius Rain]

It was an off night for pac. Not at his best but still won every round plus knocking shane down.

It was almost like the Clottey fight, he just look like he wanted the k.o early but the opponent keeps running away or just covering up.

Plus his timing look off, his side to side wasnt there, all of the angles were missing.

I agree it was not impressive interms of pacs level but yet he still dominated, just not in his usual impressive destruction way.

[C-Lo]

I thought it was an alright performance. Shane wanted no part of Manny. When Manny got upset, he hit Shane with some solid shots. He could've been doing that all night but his killer instinct isn't what it used to be. Manny could've also cut the ring off better but he was content with coming straight forward and putting rounds in the bank. If he wanted to, he could've stopped Shane IMO, he just didn't go for it.

[KananKrus]

Plus the fact that Bella Gonzales' aghast profile reminded Pac too much to that of Jennifer Dooley's... and the scenario that have brought it about, that the beast in him didn't find even the tiniest crack to manifest itself an excessive, an unwarranted to such a "pacific" setting. LOL!

[ElTerribleMorales]

Manny did what he could, it was a decent showing, it just didn't live up to what Showtime and Top Rank tried to make casual fans to believe, we all knew that this fight was going to be utter crap that's why the vast majority complained about it being made, Pac has had 2 snoozefests in his last 3 fight, but he's been dominant in all of his fights from 140 up and he at least tries to make it a decent scrap, but when it comes down to it the guy has a modest heart and doesn't wish to cause anyone excessive unnecessary harm so can't really knock the guy for taking his foot off the gas when his opponent clearly is just thinking about not getting hurt

[ElTerribleMorales]

I thought it was an alright performance. Shane wanted no part of Manny. When Manny got upset, he hit Shane with some solid shots. He could've been doing that all night but his killer instinct isn't what it used to be. Manny could've also cut the ring off better but he was content with coming straight forward and putting rounds in the bank. If he wanted to, he could've stopped Shane IMO, he just didn't go for it.

i agree, and i felt the same way about Mayweather when he kept coming forward and beat up Mosley, IMO both Floyd and Manny could have stopped Mosley at any time they wanted from the 8th round on