By Kirk Jackson

There’s a saying in sports, “you play to win the game!” as stated from former New York Jets coach Herm Edwards.

That will be the mindset of both competitors for the fight that will take place May 7th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Surely Manny Pacquiao will go into this fight extremely focused and determined to find victory by any means necessary. That’s what he does; simply put he is a fighter.

Photo: Chris Farina/Top Rank

Although the matchup between Pacquiao and Shane Mosley may be the biggest event in boxing this year, but the outcome may not necessarily accomplish anything in the grand scheme of things.

So what does a victory over Mosley mean for Pacquiao?

Honestly, absolutely nothing, at least in regards to his legacy. Pacquiao can’t really enhance his legacy with a victory and can a loss will definitely tarnish his legacy to some degree.

This fight is an example of a great current fighter in Pacquiao, beating up on a former great fighter in Mosley.

Something similar to what Oscar De La Hoya did to Julio Caesar Chavez over a decade ago.

De La Hoya, the younger boxer was rising through the ranks as a premier fighter who challenged and defeated the former great Chavez, who by that time was on the downside of his career.

Although storyline wise, the circumstances for the matchup between Mosley and Pacquiao are entirely different, the principle is still the same.

Photo: Chris Farina/ Top Rank

The only positive a victory brings for Pacquiao is it keeps the hopes of many boxing enthusiasts and even casual fans alike worldwide, that a fight will eventually happen with Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

The fight against Mosley is a warm up, a fight to stay active over a non threatening opponent with a marketable name.

Granted Mosley is an accomplished fighter, a future hall of famer, but is only a shell of his former self.

This seems to be a reoccurring trend in Pacquiao’s opponent selection over the last couple of years.

Pacquiao has been astonishing in his performances, lead by a fistic attack, ferocious like a shark that smells blood, completely annihilating his opposition inside the ring.

But the fighters Pacquiao faced; Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito were on the downslides of their respective careers. Shane Mosley is no different.

There was actually uproar amongst the common boxing fans when this fight was announced and for good reason.

While Pacquiao has been riding a hot streak of 13 consecutive victories over the past six years, Mosley, is coming off a one sided demolition by the hands of Floyd Mayweather, and a lackadaisical effort which resulted in a draw to former ‘Contender’ star Sergio Mora.

Another reason for some backlash is everyone wants to see the fight of the century.

The battle for pound for pound supremacy and all time greatness is a battle between perennial peers Mayweather and Pacquiao.

Despite this fight being the desire of everyone in the boxing world, failed negotiations and other issues have derailed this dream fight from happening.

With a victory over Mosley this upcoming Saturday can certainly propel Pacquiao closer towards a matchup with Mayweather. That’s at least one thing a victory can do.

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