Shane Mosley, a retired boxer and Hall of Famer, has shed light on the unique punching power of Manny Pacquiao. In a recent chat with ES News, Mosley compared the Filipino's punches to those of Canelo Alvarez, calling Pacquiao's power "freaky."
Mosley's career saw him face some of boxing's biggest names, including Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, and Vernon Forrest. His fights against Pacquiao and Alvarez stand out for their contrasting experiences.
When Mosley fought Pacquiao, the bout ended in a wide unanimous decision for the Filipino. The key moment came in the third round when Pacquiao floored Mosley with a one-two combination.
Mosley described the experience to ES News:
"It was the way he threw the punch and how it felt. It didn't feel hard, it felt like a snapping punch. When I went down it seemed like it could've been a flash knockdown, but when I got up I felt the effects, feeling a little dizzy. I thought wow that's interesting that this little guy hits me with a left hand that I seen coming and I go down."
Mosley's next fight was against a 21-year-old Canelo Alvarez. Despite being 40 and thoroughly outgunned, Mosley went the distance. He stayed on his feet even when Alvarez landed his best shots.
Comparing the two experiences, Mosley said:
"I've been in with heavyweights, light-heavyweights, anybody, you see when I fought Canelo after that fight. Canelo hit me with everything in the book he could and I'm still walking him down, still going forward. And Pacquiao hits me with a little straight left hand and I felt a little weak."
Mosley's surprise at Pacquiao's power led him to conclude:
"It was a different type of punch. There's no way I'm gonna be dizzy on a little left hand, so Pacquiao has some freaky type of power that I haven't seen in all my fights."
It's worth noting that Mosley carried an Achilles injury into the Pacquiao fight. After facing Alvarez, Mosley had five more fights, winning three, before retiring in 2016.
While Pacquiao last fought in 2021, rumors of a comeback continue to swirl. Alvarez, now the unified super-middleweight champion, recently defended his titles with a routine points win over Edgar Berlanga.
Mosley's insights offer a unique perspective on two of boxing's modern greats, highlighting the surprising power packed in Pacquiao's smaller frame.
