Reminded about what he told to a handful of Manila-based writers the day after Pacquiao mauled Antonio Margarito in Texas that he fears that the Filipino will take Mosley lightly, Ariza has come to realize that he had spoken too soon.

Still awe-struck with Pacquiao’s masterful beating of the gigantic Margarito, Ariza had said that “Manny might not even train for Mosley.”

But he changed his mind, saying that even at 39 years old, Mosley cannot be taken for granted owing to his “experience.”

“It’s not right to count him out even if his last fight was not that impressive,” said Ariza, pointing to Mosley’s lackluster draw with Sergio Mora last September.

Top Rank big boss Bob Arum has scheduled Pacquiao-Mosley on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and Ariza has no choice but to lead a hand in getting the pound-for-pound king ready for the very experienced California-bred banger.

Ariza said certain fighters tend to come out with brilliant performance “when the stakes are high” and that type of fighter suits somebody like Mosley, who has a lot of pride and an almost impeccable track record against big-name opponents.

Mosley’s two biggest wins were against Oscar De La Hoya and Margarito, who Mosley knocked out in nine rounds in January 2009, something Pacquiao couldn’t pull off last month.

Ariza had wanted Pacquiao to face Mexican master counter-puncher Juan Manuel Marquez for the third time “so Manny could shut him up” but Top Rank’s differences with Marquez’s promotional outfit, Golden Boy Promotions, turned out to be a major obstacle in getting the fight done.

As to the site of training camp for the Mosley battle, Ariza said he would love to return to Baguio.

“The atmosphere is great and very convenient for Manny’s training,” said Ariza.

Pacquiao is still on vacation overseas and he is expected to shed light on his plans for training camp as soon as he returns to the country early next year.

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