Ryan MaquiñanaCSNBayArea.com
LAS VEGAS -- When the smoke cleared at the MGM Grand Garden Arena last Saturday, not much had changed.
As always, Manny Pacquiao was just doing his job, and it was nothing personal against Shane Mosley. Without hesitation, he directed all questions regarding the identity of his next opponent at his promoter, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum.
The predictable pattern of events at the postfight press conference was only matched by the action inside the ring. True to form, the 147-pounder showed once again why he is universally recognized as the best fighter on earth in a prolonged pounding of a heavy underdog in future Hall of Famer Shane Mosley.
So it may surprise the readers when I say that Pacquiao’s entering a dangerous comfort zone that doesn’t bode well for the sport.
Sure, he won his 14th consecutive fight. Undoubtedly, Mosley is a great name to add to a glittering résumé that now includes world titles in an unprecedented eight divisions and victories over 15 current or former world champions.
However, if recent trends continue, one has to wonder where Pacquiao intends to take his wild ride through boxing history.
Once lauded for cleaning out weight classes by taking on the best opposition available -- Marco Antonio Barrera at featherweight, Juan Manuel Marquez at junior lightweight, and Ricky Hatton at junior welterweight -- the 32-year-old WBO welterweight champion’s last few choices of foes since taking the pound-for-pound mantle have left much to be desired.
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