It's all a bit reminiscent of mid-80s student politics - and the ultimate result, which is expected to emerge at some point on Wednesday evening, could have as much to do with distaste at factional tactics as with grand questions of ideology.
And by the eighth round the 32-year-old Pacquiao had forced Mosley into a full defensive mode, the American's tactics prompting boos from sections of the 16, 000 crowd at the MGM Grand Hotel.