Ariza sees Mosley at his best vs Pacman

MANILA, Philippines - One thing Alex Ariza learned from Freddie Roach, he said, was how to gauge an opponent.

“The very first thing Freddie said to me was ‘never judge a fighter by his last fight,’” said Ariza, the strength and conditioning coach to Manny Pacquiao.

Ariza, who’s been involved in some controversies recently, is not going anywhere soon but the Philippines for the start of Pacquiao’s training camp.

The Filipino superstar is set to face American Shane Mosley on May 7 at the MGM Grand, and Ariza said he’d carry on Roach’s early instructions.

“I’m going to think of Mosley as the fighter that fought (Antonio) Margarito,” he said, without mentioning that Mosley knocked Margarito out in 2009.

Margarito, of course, is the same fighter who lasted 12 rounds against Pacquiao last November, and did some damage on the Pinoy icon.

Ariza also said he’d think of Mosley as the one who stopped Ricardo Mayorga in the 12th round in 2008, and who outpointed Oscar dela Hoya in 2000 and 2003.

“That’s how I’m going into this fight. That’s the Mosley I’m expecting,” said Ariza.

He wouldn’t think of Mosley as the one who almost quit against Floyd Mayweather last May, and who drew with Sergio Mora last September.

His main focus, the conditioning coach from Colombia said, is to get Pacquiao ready for this fight, the moment he comes in from Los Angeles.

“My job is to get Manny ready for that fight,” said Ariza.

Pacquiao’s training should start March 7 in General Santos City, before shifting to Baguio by March 13, and to Los Angeles four weeks after.

“I think it would be irresponsible to think of Mosley as the same Mosley who fought Mayweather, as the Mosley that got tired, the Mosley that quit.

“I’m thinking that this is the Mosley that fought Margarito, the Mosley that fought Dela Hoya. You’ll never know. What if he shows up like that?” Ariza asked.

He said he’ll make sure Pacquiao will be ready for that.

Source: philstar.com