• Boxing

Pacquiao ready to put friendship with Mosley to one side

ESPN staff
February 15, 2011
Manny Pacquiao remains the man to beat in the welterweight division © Getty Images
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Manny Pacquiao has fired a warning shot to Shane Mosley ahead of their welterweight clash on May 7, insisting that their friendship will be put on hold when the pair step into the ring.

WBO welterweight champion Pacquiao puts his belt on the line when he squares up to Mosley in Los Angeles. The 32-year-old destroyed Antonio Margarito in a one-sided contest in November, but the Filipino realises he will have to put in the hard yards in his training camp if he is to prevail against Mosley.

"I am really happy for this fight," he said. "In the ring we will forget we are friends. We have to do our job to give a fight and to make people happy and give our best. I hope you train hard and I will train hard too so we can give a good fight to everybody."

Mosley, a veteran of the sport at 39, is eagerly anticipating the match-up and is looking forward to Pacquiao's aggressive, come-forward style.

"I'm going to definitely be ready on May 7 to fight against Manny Pacquiao, who's a great fighter, a warrior and these are the type of fights I love to be in - with guys who like to fight and Manny really loves to fight," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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