Pacquiao primed for title fight against Mosley

Filipino pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao will need to find his killer instinct again if he is to become the first boxer to knock out former four-time world champion Shane Mosley.

The eight-division world champion Pacquiao, whose last fight was a 12-round unanimous decision over Antonio Margarito, will fight Mosley for the WBO welterweight title on May 7 at the MGM Grand hotel and casino.

“I want Manny to knock him out and I think we can,” said trainer Freddie Roach.

“But Manny is a compassionate person at times. Like he wouldn’t hurt Margarito. He took it easy on him in the last two rounds and let him last the fight. Asked him if he is OK couple of times. Manny doesn’t want anyone get hurt.”

Despite giving away 17-pounds, Pacquiao bloodied and bruised the bigger Margarito’s face and then carried him through the late rounds.

Margarito had to have surgery to repair a broken eye socket but it could have been a lot worse if Pacquiao hadn’t let up.

“Boxing isn’t about killing each other,” Pacquiao said this week.

“Boxing is entertainment. Entertaining people and making people happy.”

But Pacquiao says he also can’t afford to underestimate the 39-year-old Mosley who has gone 53 fights in his 18-year career without being knocked out.

“He (Mosley) is determined to shock the world,” Pacquiao said.

“He is a good fighter. I don’t underestimate him. I never say it is going to be an easy opponent.”

Mosley has 46 wins and 39 knockouts but has lost twice and struggled to a draw in his past five fights.

Pacquiao has won 13 successive fights and is unbeaten in nearly six years.