Shane should retire after Pacquiao. Win, lose or draw, he will not be the same. Neither will Pacquiao. People count Mosley out because of his last two fights. It's sickening to listen to "those in the know" give Floyd so much credit for his performance against Mosley. While I believe Floyd would still have won, it should be obvious that Mosley was over-trained and horribly dehydrated. A blind man could see that.
It's to take nothing from Floyd but it's just the facts. Floyd is as good as he looked against Mosley. Mosley is better than he looked against Floyd. That said, this fight will be tougher for Pacquiao than people think. It's exactly what Floyd has been waiting for, these past two years.
Forget all that garbage he talks about "cleaning up boxing". This is one reason I've lost respect for Floyd. ANYONE knows he has NO interest in cleaning up boxing. He's simply waiting for Pacquiao to ruin himself because he KNOWS that Team Pacquiao will not turn down this fight even if it doesn't happen for another two years.
Floyd also knows that fighting Pacquiao would net him more money than any three "non-Pacquiaos". So, why should he fight anyone else? The Mosley fight was easy money because the timing was 100% on Floyd's side. Mosley was out for over a year and wasted the training for the Berto fight.
Does anyone REALLY NOT see that the Mosley fight would have been more competitive had it happened in January-March, instead of May? Mosley is past his prime. But, anyone who thinks this fight will be easy for Pacquiao, doesn't know boxing or boxers. Also, anyone who does NOT see that Mosley was less than his best, against Floyd, doesn't know boxing.
It's just the facts.
Mosley should retire after this but I don't think he will. If he fought someone else, besided Pacquiao, he might actually have a few more fights in him. But, as it stands, because of the styles, neither Mosley nor Pacquiao will be the same when this is over.
THAT is what Floyd is waiting for.
As for Mosley's legacy or place in history, you have to always consider a fighter's losses. The only thing that is more important, in grading a fighter's legacy, is to consider the "Quality of Opposition".
Who did he fight?
Who did he lose to?
Forget all that rubbish about accomplishments. Undefeated records mean little if the undefeated fighter has never faced the best available competition. For example, this is not to say that Muhammad ALI is the greatest of all heavyweights. Judge for yourself. However, THE most important criteria is "Quality of Opposition".
ALI is the ONLY heavyweight champion who NEVER missed a top contender, and this is during BOTH reigns. He faced every contender while they were at their respective best.
Holyfield and Louis could make similar claims. The difference is that Holyfield's reign was marred with politics and Louis simply didn't have anything near the competition level that ALI had.
My point here is that, if you look at Mosley's losses--2 to Forrest, 2 to Wright and one to Cotto, you will see that he deserves some credit. This is because he took a risk that no other welterweight was willing to take.
Did De la Hoya ever consider fighting Forrest or Wright? Did Mayweather? Besides a dehydrated Mosley, WHAT decent welterweight has Mayweather ever fought? He's been a 147 lb. fighter since 2005, which means that he, like others, grew "naturally" into the 147 division. The point is that there is no excuse for having avoided the best in the division since 2005. Floyd Mayweather has NEVER faced a prime welterweight. Judah was already garbage when Floyd faced him.
Given this, Mosley deserves more credit than he will likely receive. He's not in league with Leonard or Robinson--neither is Floyd, despite his hollow boasts. Mosley is also not in league with Mayweather. He lost to the best welterweights and Mayweather never fought a good welterweight so Floyd gets the nod by default.
Neither Mosley nor Mayweather makes the Top 10 at welterweight. Mayweather could claim it on talent but talent is meaningless if a fighter is not willing to face the best available competition.
"QUALITY of OPPOSITION". Remember that Always because it's THE BEST criteria by which to judge the merit of a champion.
Mosley lost to the best he has faced, but, at least he was brave enough to face them.
Mayweather never faced the best available competition. He avoided them.
Pacquiao, a "natural" lightweight, ranks higher than both and, I dare say that Duran should also rank above both. Think I'm nuts? I say this Duran's win over Leonard proves that, had he shown better discipline, he could have been one of history's greatest welterweights.
Floyd and Mosley have accomplished some good things at 147. But both fall short of greatness for the above given reasons.