Master of retirement

It’s getting to be a habit for WBO welterweight champion and the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Manny Pacquiao to send opponents into retirement.

Last Saturday night, Pacquiao virtually wrote the final chapter in Sugar Shane Mosley’s career. It’s not likely Mosley will ever fight again – at least, not on the big stage. His performance against Pacquiao was a huge turn-off and impacted negatively on his marketability. If there was any doubt on whether age had caught up with Mosley before the Pacquiao bout, there is none now.

Mosley might try to campaign in the senior circuit but that’s pushing his luck. He fought Pacquiao like a scared rabbit. Mosley felt Pacquiao’s power in the third round when he went down. His eyes were glazed and his legs turned rubbery. He probably remembered what Pacquiao did to Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito. The victims looked like they barely survived a holocaust after facing Pacquiao.

Fans booed at the end of the lackluster fight. Mosley was an eyesore. They paid good money to watch a typical Pacquiao night of fireworks. Instead, they were treated to a one-sided sparring session. Pacquiao tried to make it exciting. But cramps in his left calf kept him from cutting the ring off from Mosley. Pacquiao apologized to the fans for the uneventful contest but had nothing to be sorry about. It wasn’t his fault that Mosley refused to mix it up after the third round knockdown. As they say, it takes two to tango. Unfortunately, only one man danced to the music. The other just wouldn’t oblige.

At the Wild Card Gym, there’s a standing offer from Freddie Roach paying $1,000 for any sparmate who floors Pacquiao. Roach’s publicist Fred Sternburg joked that the five-time Boxing Writers Association of America Trainer of the Year now owes Mosley $1,000.

Whether right or wrong, the record books will show that Mosley knocked down Pacquiao in the 10th round. Referee Kenny Bayless gave Pacquiao the mandatory eight-count but later admitted he made a mistake. He personally apologized to both Roach and Pacquiao after the fight.

“Hey, Freddie,” said Sternburg in the dressing room. “You owe Mosley $1,000. Didn’t he knock down Manny in a sparring session?”

For showing little heart and slowed reflexes, Mosley acted his age – he’ll be 40 in September. The wear and tear from a career that started in 1993 was evident. Mosley was not even a shadow of his old self. The future Hall of Famer was a poor excuse for a title challenger. He pawed at Pacquiao, retreated and avoided contact. He didn’t even gamble on landing a lucky punch for fear that if he committed to throwing his right, Pacquiao would retaliate with a left counter. Roach said he should retire.

The signs of slippage were undisputable. Mosley has been unimpressive in his last three fights. Before taking on Pacquiao, Mosley barely escaped a loss and settled for a split draw with unheralded Sergio Mora last September. And in May last year, he was almost shut out by Floyd Mayweather Jr.

If Mosley decides to hang up his gloves, he’ll join the ranks of victims whom Pacquiao has sent to pasture. De la Hoya never fought again after quitting on his stool after eight rounds against Pacquiao in 2008. Ricky Hatton called it a career following his second round knockout loss to Pacquiao in 2009. Joshua Clottey hasn’t fought since he was humiliated in 12 rounds by Pacquiao last year. And Margarito may never fight again as the orbital bone that was fractured in the Pacquiao fight last November hasn’t healed.

So it wouldn’t be a surprise if Mosley called it quits. Pacquiao is gaining a reputation as the master of retirement. Anyone who dares to challenge him runs the risk of retiring or considering a career shift.

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Former two-time world champion Gerry Peñalosa’s protégé Michael Farenas had a slot in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Mosley mainer at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas last Saturday night but his Mexican opponent never showed up.

Peñalosa lobbied for Farenas to see action in one of the appetizers and Top Rank chairman Bob Arum accommodated on Pacquiao’s recommendation. Farenas was paid a purse nonetheless. He said he would’ve preferred to fight than just take the money without working for it.

Farenas, 26, is a power-punching superfeatherweight with a 30-3-3 record, including 26 KOs. He has fought thrice in the US, scoring a pair of first round knockouts and figuring in a no-contest.

Former WBC lightflyweight champion Rodel Mayol was the only Filipino who fought in the undercard. He scored a majority 10-round decision over Mexico’s Javier Gallo to raise his record of 28-5-2, with 21 KOs.

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Panamanian ring legend Roberto Duran was at ringside to witness Mosley’s humiliation. Asked by countryman and frequent Manila visitor Carlos Costa if Pacquiao would’ve beaten him in the Hands of Stone’s prime as a lightweight, Duran said no way.

“Duran told me he’s a big Pacquiao fan,” said Costa, a heavy equipment dealer who tracks Filipinos fighting all over the world and often watches their bouts. “Now is Manny’s time, he mentioned. But if he fought Manny in his prime as a lightweight, Duran would’ve won – at least, that’s how he sees it.” Ironically, Mosley once said he fights like Duran who liked to bang the body to soften up his opponents for the kill.

Costa has many close Filipino friends, including Peñalosa, philboxing.com owner Dong Secuya and referee Danrex Tapdasan. In Las Vegas last weekend, he introduced Peñalosa to 34-year-old former WBA and IBF superbantamweight champion Celestino Caballero of Panama. Caballero now lives in Las Vegas and drives a Lexus. A promoter once tried to match Peñalosa against Caballero but the fight never pushed through. Caballero, at 5-11, towers over Peñalosa.