Although three-division world champion Shane Mosley has found himself playing the underdog role before, trainer Naazim Richardson informs us that the 7-1 odds and the lack of respect that Mosley has received from critics in the media regarding his upcoming showdown with Manny Pacquiao are still bothering the future Hall of Famer to some degree. "There have been days where I really have to put it in his head that odds and media predictions don't mean anything. It really bothers him when he reads some of that stuff," Richardson stated in a brief conversation with FightHype.com. To motivate his start pupil, Richardson is comparing this fight to one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.
"I told Shane this fight is his Buster Douglas versus Mike Tyson moment. You knock this dude out and all will be forgiven. Fans and media will forgive him for a few bad performances, his Aunt's will forgive him for when he spilled grape juice on the couch as a kid, and his 3rd grade teacher will forgive him for the test he failed back in the day," Richardson commented with a chuckle. "He just has to do what we know he's capable of doing and pull off this upset and I promise you all will be forgiven."
Aside from the comparisons to Douglas vs. Tyson, Richardson also reminded Shane that he's been in this position before, citing his 2009 clash with Antonio Margarito. Despite being the betting underdog, Mosley easily dominated Margarito from pillar to post before ultimately stopping him in the 9th round, proving to naysayers who had written him off that he still has a lot of fight left in him.
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