CAN JOSHUA CLOTTEY WIN THE BIG ONE?

There is a sense of irony that Saturday’s Joshua Clottey and Manny Pacquaio fight will be contested at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. My contrast to the NFL is that Clottey is trying to avoid becoming the Buffalo Bills of boxing. The Bills of the 1990’s were the greatest team in history that never won the Super Bowl. They went 0-4 in the big game in consecutive years. Forever they have been maybe unjustly labeled as chokers or failures. Clottey despite being a former world title holder and universally recognized as one of the best boxers in the sport today, he has failed to win the “Big Fight.”

He does own an impressive win over former undisputed welterweight champ Zab Judah. In August 2009, Clottey dominated and grabbed the then vacant IBF welterweight crown, via a technical unanimous decision. The referee ordered the score cards to be read after Judah could not continue due to a cut. Throughout the fight Judah was manhandled by the physically bigger man and like many before him, the Brooklynite found his offense futile versus the Ghanaian’s stingy defense.

I was ringside in Atlantic City on December 2, 2006 when Clottey failed in his attempt to win the WBO title versus Antonio Margarito. During the first 8 rounds Clottey took advantage of the slow starting Margarito. Gradually Clottey let the champion off the hook by not punching as much as he did at the beginning, so much so that the final Compu-Box numbers read a 337-207 edge to Margarito. Later on Clottey’s fading performance was attributed to a hand injury. Witnessing it in person it appeared like a guy who did not to get the job done. It looked as if Clottey did not want it bad enough. Now I know I’m getting into a dangerous realm because no one knows exactly what’s inside of a fighters mind. But I can only go by what I see or better yet what a fighter shows you. During the post fight it was disclosed that Clottey suffered a hand injury. I still refused to give him the benefit of the doubt I was left with the impression that despite his talents Clottey did not posses the mythical “heart of a champion.” It’s the special trait that we fight fans demand from all who step in the ring. It turns out that the judges had a different view then most observers as they awarded a unanimous decision in favor of Margarito. One of those judges Eugene Grant, who I feel should have had his license revoked for a year delivered the preposterous score of 109-118, against Clottey. Subsequently at the end of the day it was a loss on Clottey’s resume.

Clottey’s most recent high profile test was on June 13, 2009 against Miguel Cotto in front of a sold out Madison Square Garden . After 12 grueling rounds Clottey once again fought on even terms with his opponent. Clottey overcame a flash knockdown in the 1st rd to and wound up landing according to Compu-Box estimates 222 punches, which was 43 more punches than Cotto. However I’ve always felt that numbers in professional boxing are not like baseball or any other sport, you should be awarded for quality not quantity. Also body language in the ring can determine a win or loss. The site of Cotto fighting with a grotesque cut, masked in his own blood for about 9 rounds and being spurred on by a partisan Puerto Rican crowd was the antithesis to a boxer who seemed content to do just enough to get by with a basic non dynamic offensive approach. Once again Clottey came up short and lost a razor thin split decision. I personally had the bout a draw but I certainly did not feel Clottey did enough to take the title away from the champion.

Clottey’s career up until now is following the path of fellow countrymen Ike Quartey. Quartey was a much heralded former 147lb champion in the late 90’s who recorded wins over Oba Carr and Vince Philips. But much like Clottey he was not able to secure that one signature win in his career. When he met Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas, he fell short despite giving more than stellar performances in both fights. Frankly I still feel to this day he was robbed when he fought “The Golden Boy”, it was a draw at worst.

Maybe there is a cultural paradox here at work. I felt watching Quartey that boxing to him was simply a job, but not his passion. He fought about once a year got his paycheck and went back to live a luxurious life in his native Ghana . The impression that I have of him is like many immigrants who work hard here in the U.S.A. make their money and go back home. Even during his comeback, attempt in which he was shafted against the late great Vernon Forrest and then was too small to deal with Winky Wright. I always questioned Quartey’s desire to be great, much like I do Clottey.

There are fighters who come along that you feel that they would be willing to die in the ring. Jorge Arce, Diego Corrales, Arturo Gatti, Mickey Ward and Marvin Hagler, Edwin Valero and ironically Manny Pacquiao are just some who come to my mind.


Who am I to judge? Neither Quartey nor Clottey are wrong for choosing to have a complacent mentality. At the end of the day, boxing is a business and they are employees performing a dangerous occupation. However there is a special place in boxing lore reserved for those who push the envelope and dare to be considered an all time great. Those who chose to go another rout must deal with how they will be perceived by the media, boxers and more importantly the fans.

So to Grandmaster Clottey to quote another African, hip hop crooner Akon, “its all up to you.” How will we remember your career?

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Source: boxingtalk.com