Shane Mosley

Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao plans to fight Sugar Shane Mosley in his next bout May 7 in Las Vegas.

Arum realizes he could have trouble selling a fight against a nearly 40-year-old opponent who will be nearly 2 1/2 years removed from his last victory when he faces Pacquiao, but he believes Mosley's skill and speed will challenge Pacquiao.

The deal further cements Mosley's acrimonious split from Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya's promotional company.

Mosley apparently was angry that Golden Boy pushed Marquez, the talented Mexican champion, as Pacquiao's next opponent.

Golden Boy and Top Rank, Arum's promotion, are involved in a bitter rivalry. Pacquiao and Marquez have fought twice before, with a draw in 2004 and a split-decision win for Pacquiao in 2008. Mosley didn't immediately return a call to his cell phone.

Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KO) and Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KO) are at very different points in their respective Hall of Fame-bound careers right now. It will be a return to the 147-pound ranks for Mosley, who fought Mora at 154. The fight is sure to draw criticism, and rightly so. Mosley is old and looked worn out this year. While it's worth asking who else was really available, I would point to Andre Berto, though with the admission that Berto is nowhere near Mosley's star level. Our friend Corey Erdman spoke with Lou DiBella, Berto's promoter, and Lou said, "It was never a true sweepstakes. [Pacquiao-Mosley] is not a surprise.