Mosley: Pacquiao can easily hit Mayweather on the left side

By Alex P. Vidal

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Sugar Shane Mosley spotted an angle where Manny Pacquiao can easily smoother the defensively durable Floyd Mayweather Jr.

"Mayweather has the habit of defending himself with his right shoulder, then he moves to the left. He is in big trouble because Pacquiao is a southpaw and he can easily hit Mayweather with a left," observed Mosley (47-9-1, 39 KOs).

Mosley, who lost by unanimous decision to both Mayweather (May 1, 2010) and Pacquiao (May 7, 2011), thinks the Filipino eight-division world titlist will be the first fighter to beat the 38-year-old Mayweather Jr.

"Pacquiao has the speed and power. He will be a big problem for Mayweather who fights defensively and carefully," Mosley, 43, observed.

The former WBC champion believes Pacquiao hits harder than Mayweather Jr.

ORTHODOX

Mosely, an orthodox like Mayweather Jr., admitted that "it's very difficult to fight a southpaw who knows how to attack and how to absorb powerful shots."

He was decked twice en route to losing a 12-round unanimous decision to Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight bauble.

Mosley holds a 9th round TKO win against five feet and 11 inches tall Antonio Margarito, who lost a pair of unanimous decisions to Pacquiao and Mayweather.

Meanwhile, MGM Resorts sports book director Jay Rood said the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight "hopefully lives up to the hype."

Rood said it's doubtful Mayweather-Pacquiao, a fight several years in the making that is finally going down Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden, can match the hype.

HOPE

"But we can hope, and we finally can bet on it. If it gets to $100 million, this is going to be one great night in the state of Nevada for sure," said Rood, who projects the state's handle to land between $60 million and $80 million.

Rood said he has fielded "six or seven inquiries" from people interested in placing wagers of at least $1 million. So far, the biggest wager he has booked is $500,000 on Pacquiao.

As of today, Mayweather is a minus-200 favorite at MGM Resorts, with Pacquiao getting plus-170.

"We had a run on Pacquiao for about 10 days," Rood said. "But when we went minus-180, it really started coming in on Mayweather. I'm waiting for a couple big Mayweather bets that might be coming in. I think it's a great fight to bet because the price is right for both guys."