Fight week has arrived and “The Event” is just mere hours away. Both fighters, of course, sport grinning smiles with matching confidence but only one will leave the new 1.2 billion dollar Dallas stadium a winner. Manny Pacquiao (50-3, 38 ko’s) already has concreted a site for his concert to follow immediately after the showdown, and Ghana’s golden child, Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 ko’s), has also made promises to his countrymen with notions of ‘shocking the world’.
While the Pacman is offering an interesting, more aggressive input on Money Mayweather (“I will crush Mayweather, knock him out!”), I don’t doubt that his head is in the game as he faces a man who has never been stopped. And that, alone, is saying a lot when we compare the Filipino’s last couple opponents. Miguel Cotto was stopped by the more-than-likely loaded hands of the Tijuana Tornado, Antonio Margarito. Britain’s favorite son, Ricky Hatton, was flattened by a perfect picture counter hook from the aforementioned Mayweather Jr. De la Hoya was sent down and counted out with a body shot from the age-defying Bernard Hopkins. But, as we already know too well in this sport, one loss, even by devastating KO, doesn’t define the fighter. Hall of fame ballots tend to cast the bigger picture and not
necessarily windows of greatness anyhow.
Many are claiming that Clottey just might be Pacquiao’s first legitimate welterweight foe but I felt that, personally, Miguel Cotto was in excellent physique and conditioning when they fought.
Even if you judge solely by size and style, Clottey isn’t too far from the upper tier of the welterweight division. His nutshell defense and low output, yet accurate offense spelled trouble for many different styles of fighters, including Cotto and Zab Judah.
Although Clottey has admitted to Pacquiao’s greatness, he, himself, holds little fear of the Filipino’s punching power. He’s been quoted as saying that he would be willing to test it out in person, with trouble to follow for his opponent if the ‘punches don’t hurt’. I beg to differ. Since when does a punch NOT hurt? Take this and add it with the fact that team Clottey is seemingly coming into the biggest fight of their careers blind (they also admitted to not viewing any fight tapes of Pacquiao); it will definitely be a night of self realization. Yes Clottey throws fewer punches than his opponents with a higher hit percentage, but he doesn’t realize that it was his lack of offense and his inability to close the show that cost Ghana a big, big win over Puerto Rico in New York not too long ago.
With Jerry Jones committed to bringing boxing to Dallas full time, we can count on more and more exciting cards for the remainder of the year and so forth. It would seem that Jerry’s foot is just about through the door so there are only bigger and better things to come from the Lone Star state.
Although the prize fight is outside of Vegas, the drawing power to bring in 45,000 fans which include a throng of celebrities has definitely proven than Pacquiao is a seller in the states. I would even go as far to say that the Filipino would be pushing the boundaries of ANY international stadium if a Rumble in the Jungle type event were to take place in the near future. With the sour relationship between the UFC and boxing withstanding (thanks to Mayweather Jr.), Dana White, head honcho of the UFC, will be in attendance. He’s also to give away a couple tickets for fans to join in as well. Other names include Steven Segal, Jean Claude Van Damme, and regulars such as Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington. Besides actors, professional sports and political figures such as Ron Artest of the Los Angeles Lakers, Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, and former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are also rumored to be ringside.
With Daylight Savings to take effect just hours after the night is over and March Madness selection Sunday following not too close behind, this will be a great, but shorter weekend for sports enthusiasts. Pacquiao has been deemed the type of fighter who is embraced by even the most casual of fans. His die-hard power is also a draw for MMA nuts who thrive for the fast-paced, all action brawls.
We won’t know whether speed or size will prevail in “the Event”, but if you ask me, the smaller fighter has more firepower. As a current 5-1 under dog (formerly 4-1 to start), Clottey will enjoy a two inch height and two and a half inch reach advantages. Will this be enough for the Ghana native?
I see a wide unanimous decision for the champion with the possibility of a late rally stoppage. Clottey’s iron chin will be a factor, but only until the middle rounds. The speed and output will be too much for Clottey to persevere through, let alone overcome.
For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.
Source: diamondboxing.com
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