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2010-05-02T11:24:00.001+08:00

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Insider secrets on Pacquiao's brilliant game plan

2010-03-15T11:45:00.002+08:00

If Manny Pacquiao is running for a political seat in the Philippines he should be gunning for secretary of defense and appoint Freddie Roach, Buboy Fernandez and Alex Ariza to head up his army.

I was on the fence about flying to Dallas for this one but opted to stay in Boston and join some friends at 21 Nickels bar and Grill in Watertown, MA. I am happy I did.

We all know the outcome of the shutout in Cowboy stadium last night. Instead of boring you with the details of this lopsided decision. I will shed some insight on the brilliance and preparation that went in to making this Pacquiao victory look easy.

Joshua Clottey had a few things working against him. While his ring entrance oozed confidence you have to assume that 50,000 screaming Pacquiao fans will put a few butterflies in the knees of even the most seasoned ex-champions.

My 8countnews.com colleague Peter Czymbor predicted a first round knockdown delivered by Clottey with a late round stoppage in Pacquiao’s favor . Czymbor’s predictions are usually spot on but not this time.

Clottey maintained a very conservative defense and took absolutely no chances. I believed he was simply feeling Pacquiao out and would open up by the fourth round. Each round was like a recurring bad dream for boxing fans. Clottey covered up most of the round and attempted to wake up every now and then without delivering much if any damage on Pacquiao. Even ringside commentator Jim Lampley felt it necessary to try and make the fight more interesting by screaming, BANG, BANG, BANG as Pacquiao sliced Clottey with a series of body punches. Lampley’s plea to cause excitement wasn’t convincing to anyone. The only one who would make this a real fight was team Clottey. It took me a few rounds to understand what was really going on here and I believe half the battle was lost in his corner.

While Clotteys regular coach was stuck in Ghana due to visa issues, he brought in ex- Pacquiao cut-man Lenny DeJesus. In a post fight interview DeJesus acted confident by boasting that he knew how to beat Pacquiao and how the champion has not changed his style in the past five years.

Flashing back to the three days I spent watching Pacquiao train for this fight it all started to make sense.

While I was snapping photos of Manny’s sparring sessions I was getting a little aggravated at the fact that all the pictures I was capturing was of him getting hit. Pacquiao seemed to be laying back, holding his guard high and allowing jabs to pepper his face every now and then. My initial thought was that he was not training as hard for this fight, especially when he would cup his mitts around the head of his sparring partner, playing with him. In retrospect it seemed as if Pacquiao was climbing into the skin of Clottey and role playing his style to better understand the mind of his opponent.

More Pacquiao Photos

If that was the case then it worked brilliantly. You may have even noticed Pacquiao being warned for using two hands to play with Clotteys head just like he was doing in training. It’s wasn’t dirty. Pacquiao was simply bored with his opponent.

To make matters worse, DeJesus really didn’t have an answer for his fighter. In one round he simply said to Clottey “ You have to do something” . There was no solid advice as how to get in on Pacquiao, nothing.

While Clottey may have blown his chance at super stardom , I give him credit for going the distance. No fault to Manny, this fight was mearly a giant sparring match for him. Bring on Mayweather!

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: examiner.com

The Curse of Clottey, The Greatness of Pacquiao

2010-03-15T11:28:00.003+08:00

If Dennis Green, rather than Freddie Roach, had served as the trainer for Manny Pacquiao during the Pacman's welterweight tilt with Joshua Clottey on Saturday night, I think after the fight Denny would have screamed something like this to reporters:

"Joshua Clottey is who we thought he was. He's who we thought he was. We watched film on him, we trained for him, who the (bleep) ignores film on a guy who's had the same problem his whole career?! JOSHUA CLOTTEY IS WHO WE THOUGHT HE WAS!!! AND HE DIDN'T HAVE IT IN HIM TO GO AFTER THE WIN!!!"

Or something like that.

I guess you could say Josh Clottey was made to look like a caricature of himself on Saturday night. He fought his usual, passive-aggressive fight against Manny Pacquiao, but on this night his opponent's activity trumped him so badly it made him look just passive.

Against Miguel Cotto, a great but mortal fighter, Clottey's act was enough to keep it close, with many observers believing he deserved the decision.

Against Pacquiao, a transcendent, immortal fighter, it was not nearly enough.

Against Cotto, Clottey only needed to push himself a little and it would have been his.

Against Pacquiao, he needed to fight the fight of his life in order to give himself a chance to win.

On both occasions, he was unwilling to walk the necessary miles. And against Pacquiao, Clottey's fatal flaw was more glaring than ever.

In the fifth round, Jim Lampley said, "I'm not sure Joshua Clottey came to win tonight."

He didn't.

In the sixth Lampley said Clottey was "Not willing to lay himself on the line to win the fight."

That pretty much sums up Josh Clottey, Jim.

In the eighth round Lampley began yelling, "Bang...bang...bang...bang..." as Manny fired away at a shelled up Clottey, who refused to throw back. But try as he might, Lampley wasn't able to make the fight exciting because Josh Clottey was not going to allow it to be.

He showed up, and fought, but not really.

By the last quarter of the fight, Clottey's trainer, Lenny DeJesus, was pleading with his fighter to take a chance, to let his hands go, but Clottey wouldn't do it. And so at the end of the night one judge had scored the fight a shutout for Pacquiao, while the other two had Clottey winning the third round. I scored it a shutout.

It's easy to be critical of Clottey on this night, but the argument can also be made that Pacquiao forced Clottey not to try. Clottey said after the fight, "He has speed. This is the first time where I believe I lost a fight. He was waiting for me to open to counter me. I realized that I couldn't land my power punches on him, because he was so fast."

So while common sense would seem to indicate to Clottey that he needed to throw more to win, apparently the reality of Pacquiao's speed on offense and defense made the notion of him being more aggressive both dangerous and futile in the mind of the Ghanaian fighter. Furthermore, DeJesus told Max Kellerman during the fight (yes, during the fight - what is this, baseball?) that he felt Clottey was afraid to open up because he was scared of Pac's power.

And indeed, after another one-sided victory I mean to give Manny Pacquiao all of the credit he deserves. Against Cotto, Large pointed out that Pacquiao showed us he had a Margarito-esque chin; against Clottey he showed us his Margs-esque stamina. We knew he had it but Saturday night it shined brighter than ever. Pacquiao threw more than 100 punches per round.

The other thing that was very impressive about Pacquiao on Saturday night was his ability to stick to the gameplan. To fight from the outside, work Clottey to the body, and in general just keep pounding away, at the guard, around it, under it, content in racking up points against a man who declined to throw back. He didn't get frustrated and try to force anything to happen, he didn't worry about getting a knockout. He is an intelligent and disciplined fighter now, on top of everything else.

Clottey didn't really try to win Saturday night, but he was also well out of his league.

So, where do we go from here? Well, we know where we go from here. Let the Mayweather-Mosley mania start for real now. In the ring after the fight Pacquiao and Roach called out Floyd Mayweather Jr., saying they want to fight him.

During the HBO wrap-up, Max Kellerman's final words spoke for all of us.

"Should Mayweather beat [Shane] Mosley, it must happen," he said.

Yes.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: sportingnews.com

Pacman Dominates Clottey on a Historical Night in Texas

2010-03-15T11:17:00.003+08:00

Pacquiao wins...

Over fifty one thousand crazed fans in attendance at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium went wild as pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao inched toward the ring for his welterweight tile defense against former welterweight champion Joshua Grandmaster Clottey. After twelve rounds of boxing Pacquiao held on to his throne of a pound for pound king and a WBO welterweight crown via impressive unanimous decision victory with scorecards: 1220-108,119-109,119-109 all in favor of Pacquiao.

The first ever event in newly built Cowboys Stadium was a huge success and produced record ticket sales It was staged in a grand style of Texas and created a night to remember and an opportunity for future shows.

Dominating every minute of every round pound for pound king had high praise for his opponent. "It's not an easy fight," said Pacquiao: "It's not; he is a very strong opponent." Many Pacquiao did look like he was in a fight with his right eye badly swollen. Manny and his trainer Freddie Roach said that they can't wait to fight Mayweather.

"Let commission do their job," said Roach: Let's just get in the ring and fight!"

Pacman dominated round one penetrating high guard offense of Clottey with ease going to the body and around the guard. Pacquiao landed a right hook that stunned Clottey and caught him off balance to culminate the round. Despite being dominated in the second Clottey landed some very telling blows, but more than that he showed the world that he is not going to be intimidated by the champion. Round three was the most competitive round with Clottey landing some big bombs to compensate for lack of punch output. Pacman completely dominated round four, unleashing furious combinations from everywhere and pinning Clottey to the ropes several times.

Pacman's assault continued in the fifth, but in the sixth he tried to get Clottey to open up by laying on the ropes and covering up inviting attack, but Joshua was defense first fighter and he would not engage and continued to throw one punch at a time while Pacquiao moved around the ring like a butterfly unleashing furious combinations from everywhere. And so it went, almost reminiscent of a glorified sparring session with Clottey being a heavy bag until the end of the tenth when Joshua landed the straight right hand that hurt Pacquiao. The Pilipino idol retaliated and launched a furious assault in the eleventh that had Ghana challenger in trouble. Not wanting to rest on his laurels the champion tried his best to finish Clottey off to the very final second.

They embraced each other at the final bell as mostly pro Filipino crowd went home happy applauding their hero for another job well done. According to a media from Philippines two parades are planned for their national hero; one in Manila and one in Manny's home town, general Santos City. Many Pacquiao will be running for a political office in his region in May. Will the fans get to see Pacquaio Mayweather later on this year? Stay tuned.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: 411mania.com

Freddie Roach predicts stoppage, says Joshua Clottey ‘not versatile’

2010-03-12T11:25:00.003+08:00

Despite some reports, Manny Pacquiao retirement seems unlikely

Manny Pacquiao speaks with his trainer, Freddie Roach, during a workout at Wildcard Boxing Gym in Hollywood, Calif. on Feb. 1, 2010.

According to Freddie Roach, in no way is his fighter, Manny Pacquiao, taking Saturday's welterweight fight with Joshua Clottey at Dallas Cowboys Stadium lightly.

The trainer himself however, isn't giving Clottey much of a shot.

Roach, who is famous for accurately predicting fights, said he sees one of two scenarios playing out in the first boxing match ever at the newly built $1.2 billion stadium in Arlington, Texas — and neither of them are good for Pacquiao's opponent.

"He'll either try to come out and impose his size or he'll go to the ropes and try to get Manny to wear himself out," Roach said. "That won't happen, because Manny won't get tired. If he does come forward, he's going to come in straight lines and we'll use lateral movement.

"It's not that hard of a game plan. It's pretty simple actually."

So confident is Pacquiao's trainer, he didn't mind sharing a bit of the strategy the Filipino champion is planning to use in the ring this weekend.

Clottey (35-3, 20 KO) has never been stopped in his professional career, a streak Roach believes will end against Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO).

"The body attack is very essential in this fight because he doesn't protect his body that well," Roach said. "He's got a great chin, but I think we can break him down with body shots. I think we can stop him.

"He doesn't come out and chase punches and he doesn't block punches; he just puts up earmuffs. If you can throw the hook a little deeper on the ear and get him to block that, the chin is open. That's Manny's favorite punch. That's his bread and butter."

While Roach is obviously comfortable in sharing his confidence in what will happen Saturday, he's mindful to make sure his fighter is staying humble.

Looking back on the biggest upsets in boxing history, Roach said the losers all have one thing in common.

"They got lazy. They got satisfied," Roach said.. "But I haven't seen that in Pacquiao yet. I'm still waiting for the day he comes in the gym and doesn't have that work ethic. He works as hard today as he did the day he first came in.

"He knows (Clottey) is a dangerous guy and he respects him."

As Saturday's fight draws closer, there have been reports from various media outlets that Pacquiao's choice to run for Congress in the Philippines this spring and an inability to come to terms for a super-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. may turn this into the last fight of his career.

After speaking with parties involved however, it appears those reports are based mostly on statements only by Roach and that the chances of Pacquiao retiring after this weekend are slim.

In fact, Pacquiao's chances of even winning the election into Congress in May seem to be anything but a sure thing, as his opponent comes from a family with a deep political background.

"I talk to Manny, and he's winning by a landslide," said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. "Then I talk to (Filipino newscaster) Dyan Castillejo and she thinks it's fifty-fifty. He's running against a son of a ruling, warlord kind of family.

"He has an uphill battle, but he seems confident. I hope he wins, but I have no idea."

Whether Pacquiao's political dreams come to fruition or not, Roach remains set in the hope his fighter will take the ring no more than twice before hanging up his gloves.

Roach, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease likely caused by taking too many punches during his own fighting career, believes the only test left for Pacquiao would be Mayweather sometime in 2010.

Win or lose to Mayweather, Roach says, Pacquiao should retire.

"That's Freddie. I don't know why Freddie is saying that," said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. "Freddie is the most compensated trainer in the world and he keeps talking about retirement. Manny doesn't talk about it."

Roach says he also wants Pacquiao to have the luxury of retiring on top of the sport, rather than after a loss under the pressures of a coach as he did.

"It's really hard to tell somebody to quit," said Roach, who unsuccessfully urged James Toney and Bernard Hopkins toward retirement. "I remember when my coach told me to quit it made me cry. I thought, 'This is all I've done my whole life.' I was 26.

"We've talked about it a little bit. I'd like to see Manny fight two more fights and quit. This fight and Mayweather and be done with it. There are no more challenges out there. "

And for the man referred to by Pacquiao himself as 'master,' defeating Mayweather and then having the discipline to walk away on top may be the only challenges left.

Because even though he wants his fighter to take Clottey seriously, it's obvious the Ghanaian fighter doesn't scare Roach.

"I don't think (a win over Clottey) would take (Pacquiao) to the next level," Roach said. "We all know he's a good fighter, but the general public doesn't know much about Clottey and they know he lost to Cotto.

"It's a must-win situation, but I don't think it's a tougher fight than Cotto. Cotto was a versatile guy. This guy does the same thing over and over again."

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: lasvegassun.com

Pacquiao Makes Great Fighters Look Bad

2010-03-12T11:19:00.001+08:00

It's amazing how it has become common play for certain boxing analysts, reporters, and writers to criticize Manny Pacquiao for fighting unworthy opponents. Due to this, the Pacquiao-Clottey fight hasn't been taken as seriously as Pacquiao's last several bouts.

Before Pacquiao faced Oscar De La Hoya, some went so far as to say it was a “ridiculous” and “pointless” match. Some experts held to the belief Pacquiao would suffer a humiliating defeat at the hands of his bigger opponent. When Pacquiao signed the deal to fight Cotto, many claimed that Pacquiao couldn't stand up against a legitimate, top-notch welterweight. After Pacquiao destroyed both men, De La Hoya was “old and weight-drained” and Cotto was “damaged goods”. It might be wise of the aforementioned boxing experts to entertain the notion that Manny Pacquiao possesses the skills to make great fighters look bad.

Pacquiao's skills have been finely honed over time by his hard work, and determination. Freddie Roach has also been instrumental in helping Pacquiao develop into the elite pugilist that he has become. The completely offensive, left-handed brawler that was the young Manny Pacquiao been transformed into the ultimate boxing machine.

Manny Pacquiao has an unusual style and an uncanny ability to confuse and frustrate the best fighters in his weight class. He's keeps on his toes and forces his opponents to turn. He doesn't give them time to T-off on him. He throws such volumes of punches from such strange angles that his foes are simply unable to defend against his attacks. Eventually he breaks them down, and overwhelms them.

Pacquiao's dominating performance over Miguel Cotto has been both a blessing and a curse for him. Before that fight occurred, Joshua Clottey would have undoubtedly been considered a legitimate threat. Now many just consider him to be Pacquiao's next victim. As 8CN's Kenneth Ragpala pointed out in his article entitled “Making a Case for Joshua Clottey”, anybody who thinks Clottey is easy pickings for Pacquiao needs to reconsider the facts.

Clottey is the biggest man that Pacquiao will have ever faced and has a defense that is all but impenetrable. Joshua Clottey was considered a very good welterweight until he signed a contract to fight Manny Pacquiao.

Here's the real scoop:

1.The negotiations with Mayweather fell through. That's been well covered so we won't dredge that up again.

2. The No. 2 ranked welterweight, Shane Mosley and No. 3, Floyd Mayweather Jr. are fighting each other on May 1st. At the time the fight with Clottey was made, Mosley was expected to face Andre Berto.

3. Miguel Cotto is No. 4 in the welterweight rankings. Pacquiao has been there and done that.

4. That leaves the next best option, Joshua Clottey. What is it that is difficult to understand about this whole scenario?

Throughout Pacquiao's career, he has fought the best opposition available. Once again, he's doing just that. Clottey is legit. He's no pushover and he has a chance to upset Manny Pacquiao. However, if Pacquiao does what is expected and beats Clottey, he will undoubtedly be criticized once again for facing a lesser fighter.

Perhaps Pacquiao’s critics would like to see him face Klitschko?

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: 8countnews.com

Pacquiao has perfect game plan for Clottey

2010-03-12T11:15:00.002+08:00

DALLAS, Texas (AFP) – Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao puts his World Boxing Organization title on the line Saturday against Ghana's Joshua Clottey as they headline the first fight card at Cowboys Stadium.

The 31-year-old Pacquiao will be making the first defence of his WBO welterweight belt but it could also be his last fight as he prepares to embark on a political career in his native Philippines.

Pacquiao, who will run for a congressional seat in May after failing to get elected three years ago, said Filipinos are now more accepting of his political goals.

"Before they don't want me to enter politics because I am still fighting," Pacquiao said. "They didn't want to lose Manny Pacquiao in boxing. But now my time in boxing is really short. I have to think about the future and helping my people."

But first the three-time fighter of the year Pacquiao has to get past the much bigger Clottey who is fighting at his natural weight (147 pounds) unlike Pacquiao who is moving up in weight class.

Pacquiao (50-3-2, 28 KOs) has looked unstoppable in his last three fights and he isn't showing any signs of losing power as he fights bigger and stronger opponents.

Pacquiao has won 11 consecutive fights, eight by knockout, since losing to Erik Morales in March 2005.

His plan is to wear the 32-year-old Clottey down on Saturday so he can finish him off in the later rounds.

"Joshua will bring out the best in Manny," said Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach, who wants to see his champion fight one more time - against Floyd Mayweather - then retire. "Manny will go out there and fight another perfect fight."

Promoters are expecting a sellout of 45,000 for the first fight card at the 1.2 billion dollar Cowboys Stadium which was opened last year.

The home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys is an unusual venue for a world championship fight because of its location and size. The majority of world title fights these days are held in much smaller venues in Las Vegas.

This will be the largest crowd Pacquiao has fought in front of and he is looking forward to showing what he can do.

"This is very important fight for me," Pacquiao said. "This is my first time here in Dallas.

"It is going to be worldwide and it is a good example to other places that also want to promote boxing."

Pacquiao had been expected to fight Mayweather on the same date in a pound-for-pound mega-fight.

But when that bout fell through over a drug-testing dispute, former IBF champion Clottey (35-3, 21 KOs) came into the picture.

Both fighters fought former champion Miguel Cotto in their most recent fights - southpaw Pacquiao winning by a 12th round TKO four months ago and Clottey losing a close decision to Cotto nine months ago.

Clottey, who has never been knocked down, comes into the fight without his long-time trainer Godwin Kotey, who is back in Ghana because he couldn't get a visa to come to the US.

Kotey's replacement is former cutman Lenny DeJesus, 64, who was promoted to head trainer just seven weeks ago.

DeJesus says his boxer is more than just a fill-in fighter for Mayweather.

"It is a hurting game," said DeJesus, who worked a half dozen fights in Pacquiao's corner as a cut man. "If my guy can put a hurt on Pacquiao that will change the fight.

"I got a stronger and bigger guy. I have created some different movements so he won't be a target."

This is Pacquiao's second fight as a true welterweight. He weighed just 106 pounds for his first professional fight in 1995 and won his first title in the 112 pound flyweight division

His major titles have come in weight classes ranging from 112 pounds to 147 pounds and he is the first Asian to win four or more major belts.

Before systematically dismantling Cotto in 12 rounds, he sent Oscar De La Hoya into retirement in December 2008 and demolished Briton Ricky Hatton in just two rounds in May 2009.

"I want to give a good fight and make people happy," Pacquiao said. "We have a plan. We have some strategy and whatever happens in the ring we will adjust to.

"We based our training on our opponent's style. We trained perfectly to the style of the opponent so I think our team work for this fight is very good."

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: news.yahoo.com

CAN JOSHUA CLOTTEY WIN THE BIG ONE?

2010-03-12T11:12:00.002+08:00

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?

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingtalk.com

Will Speed or Size prevail in “The Event”

2010-03-12T11:08:00.002+08:00

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

Experts expect tough fight for Pacquiao

2010-03-12T11:04:00.001+08:00

ARLINGTON, TEXAS—Hall of Fame boxing historian Bert Sugar and several boxing writers believe that the Pound-4-Pound King Manny Pacquiao’s bout against Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, March 13 is not as easy as many people believe.

On the surface, it seems like the fast hands and quick feet of Pacquiao will easily vanquish the bigger, slower and defensive minded Clottey. But experts say the Ghanaian will put up a fight.

"Clottey is a tough nut to crack," said Sugar. "He’s like (defensive boxer) Winky Wright. He puts his gloves up and he’ll block anything. Trying to get through to him is like trying to open an oyster with a butter knife," he added.

Sugar said he still expects Pacquiao to win but he will have his work cut out for him.

"Manny is a salad spinner to his opponent who’s the lettuce leaf," added Sugar. "He’ll keep coming and coming in and he’ll be far more active because Clottey is waiting for a counter punch (opportunity) so this is a tougher fight than what many people think it is."

Sugar said he expects Clottey to go for a knock out win against Pacquiao because he believes "he is not going to win a decision."

"Manny will outwork (Clottey) but I don’t think he’s going to knock him out," he said. "He’s facing a man who was born a welterweight. (Clottey) is that big and he’s going to have a 10 to 15 pound weight advantage by the time he walks out of that door," he added.

Kieran Mulvaney of Reuters also believes this will be a difficult match for Pacquiao.

"I won’t be surprised that early on in the fight, it’s going to take Manny a little while to figure him out because Clottey is a big strong guy and he can cause problems," said Mulvaney. "But I believe ultimately what will happen is Manny’s angles, speed and footwork will prove to be too much (for Clottey)."

Yahoo! boxing writer Kevin Iole agrees. He thinks Pacquiao will prevail but Clottey will make it difficult for him.

"While I think Manny will win the fight, I don’t think he’ll dominate," said Iole. "Manny is so good that you’ll know he’ll put on a good show but this guy is a big, tough guy with probably the best chin Manny has ever faced and if Manny knocks this dude out, that’s a big statement," he said.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: asianjournal.com

Does Clottey have a chance?

2010-03-12T10:56:00.000+08:00

If one were just looking at the two gentleman side by side, and didn't know any better, they would all point at Clottey. They would say, "That guy, the big fella, he will win." But, it's not that simple. Pacquiao has been here before. He's been in the big fights, and he's been on the big stage. This is however the biggest opponent that Manny will have ever faced.

Clottey is no joke, and Pacquiao has trained just as hard for him as he has any other opponent. Back in 2006, Joshua Clottey was taking Margarito to school. Clottey was dominating the fight until he injured his hand. After the injury, Margarito was able to regroup and barely get out of there with a victory. The man from Ghana knows how big a victory over Pacquiao would be for his career. He also knows how Pacquiao's previous opponents have ended up. Most of them are knocked out, or they quit in their corners.

Check out video of Pacquiao training here - http://http://www.examiner.com/x-10947-Filipino-Sports-Examiner~y2010m3d10-Exclusive-Video-Pacquiao-training-with-Freddie-Roach-for-Clottey--the-Gaylord-Texan-Hotel

Clottey has wins over the late Diego "Chico" Coralles, and Zab Judah. He is a big strong welterweight that keeps coming. Manny will have to respect Clottey's power, and he will have to respect his chin. It's difficult to hurt him. Clottey is banking on catching Manny coming in. He hopes to catch Manny with a perfectly timed punch. It's been a long time since Manny was remotely hurt inside of the boxing ring, so it would be interesting to see how Manny handled being injured in the ring.

Does Clottey have a chance to pull of this victory? It's not very probable, but it's possible. The general consensus is that Pacquiao's speed and his own power will prove too much for Clottey to handle. This scenario may very well happen, and seems more likely.

Mississippi fans for the most part are all saying Pacquiao wins easily. Assistant MS Athletic Director, Patrick Turner believes that an upset is possible, but not likely. Stan Nichols, Chief of Officials (MS) and President of the USA Boxing Southern Association believes that Pacquiao will win, but he will have some difficulty, " I think this fight is a dangerous fight for Pacquiao. He's facing a natural welterweight who can crack. The question is, will Manny be able to avoid Clottey's power for 12 rounds?"

This is not a fight that anyone should be taking lightly. Manny Pacquiao knows that he is going up against a very live opponent. Clottey knows all too well how Pacquao's previous opponents have ended up. Does Clottey have a chance? Yes, but it's not a very good one.

Check out additional footage of Pacquiao and an interview with Alex Ariza here - http://www.8countnews.com

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: examiner.com

Pacquiao calm, confident for fight vs Clottey

2010-03-11T12:04:00.001+08:00

ARLINGTON, Texas — Manny Pacquiao arrived at Cowboys Stadium on Wednesday in a bus skinned with his likeness, the seats filled with members of his entourage.

He walked into the formal part of his appearance wearing a snazzy straw hat and a dark blazer. He quickly swapped the sports coat for a red jacket featuring his MP logo in golden thread.

He talked about his upcoming election for Congress in his homeland, the Philippines.

He talked about singing — rehearsing with his band the night before, with another session later Wednesday night, all in preparation for a performance at the after-party following his fight Saturday night.

Oh, yeah. The fight.

Billed as "The Event," Pacquiao is facing Joshua Clottey on Saturday night in boxing's debut at the $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium.

It's an intriguing matchup perfect for a football stadium — Pacquiao's furious offense against Clottey's dedication to defense — and it'll look amazing on the 72-foot-high, 160-foot-wide video boards towering over the ring.

A sellout crowd of 45,000 is expected, with the attendance possibly soaring if Cowboys owner Jerry Jones decides to sell standing-room-only tickets. And, of course, there's the pay-per-view audience that promoter Bob Arum said is likely to top the hoped-for total of 700,000.

Put the pieces together, and it all makes perfect sense: The WBO welterweight champion — already considered the best fighter in the world, pound for pound — is treating this entire week as one big performance, especially if he wins that election and decides to devote more time on politics that pugilism.

"I'm inspired to give a good show, to do my best," Pacquiao said, smiling. "To impress the people, you have to make your best (effort)."

Then trainer Freddie Roach jumped in, cranking up the hype.

"There's no stage big enough for Manny Pacquiao," Roach said. "He loves it, and I love it. He's going to perform for the crowd. He'll entertain all 45,000. He'll entertain everybody."

Roach said the adrenaline surge that's going to come from walking into the ring in these surroundings already has been factored into the game plan. That likely means even more punches from Pacquiao (50-3-2), who is already knowing for throwing plenty.

Then again, Clottey (35-3) is known for blocking punches. The 32-year-old Ghana native also has never been knocked out and knocked down only once.

"Blocking punches doesn't win fights," Roach said. "I think we can stop him in the late rounds. The accumulation of punches he'll be taking in this fight he's never seen before. ... I don't think he'll be able to handle it."

Clottey is taller and with a longer reach. He's never been stopped cold, with his few losses including a disqualification in 1999 and a split decision to Miguel Cotto in his last bout, in June.

Clottey was given this opportunity against Pacquiao when his proposed megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. fell through. He's very appreciative for this opportunity and has nothing but nice things to say about Pacquiao.

It's Roach who rankles him, from the predicted result to talk of a head butt being one of Clottey's best punches.

Clottey's prediction?

"I'm predicting a win," he said.

Clottey's trainer is Lenny De Jesus, who spent a few years as Pacquiao's cutman. Clottey went with him after his preferred trainer was denied a visa.

Something else missing from his preparation: film sessions, at least not any featuring Pacquiao.

"I don't like doing that," Clottey said. "I know his style, I know the way he moves, the way he throws punches, so it doesn't matter.

"I study myself," he added. "I watch my own fights. I know what I have to do."

As for Pacquiao's future, Arum laughed off any chance that his ace would walk away at the top of his career. He said he keeps hearing about it from Roach, but never from Pacquiao.

All Pacquiao said about it Wednesday was, "I don't know."

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: statesman.com

Joshua Clottey ready to follow hometown heroes when he fights Manny Pacquiao

2010-03-11T11:41:00.002+08:00

What is most remarkable about the teak-tough Joshua Clottey is where he hails from.

Tough neighbourhood: Joshua Clottey hails from Bukom in Ghana Photo: REUTERS

Bukom, in Jamestown, on the outskirts of the country's capital Accra, is an area known to all Ghanaians. It is a slum, and yet the small number of criss-crossed dusty streets in the port town have spawned a succession of world-class fighters over several decades.

Clottey follows in the tradition of the great Azumah Nelson, arguably the best boxer to come from Africa, who defeated Wilfredo Gómez in the Eighties and held the World Boxing Council title at feather and super-featherweight, and Ike Quartey, the welterweight from the mid-Nineties, who fought, and lost, to Oscar de la Hoya.

They all hail from those tough streets. The people of this tiny shanty are renowned as warriors throughout Ghana.

Clottey remembers when, as a youngster, he was beaten up in a street fight by the local bully. Until then, football had been his game, his precious football boots lovingly polished.

He had dreamt of playing professionally, even for his beloved Manchester United, with his heroes, among them Ryan Giggs and Eric Cantona.

Why Manchester United? "Why? Because they were the team who were always winning, and sport is about winning," he says.

Clottey, cool, calm, calculated and softly spoken, admits the street fight was the moment his life changed. He started training, strengthening his arms by weight training with bags of bricks and rocks and running twice a day.

But he also started going to one of the renowned Jamestown gyms. And then he went back and got his revenge.

"I beat him and I became a boxer. It was a simple as that, and from that, here I am today, at the point where I am facing the No 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world."

There are those who believe Manny Pacquiao's relentless attacks will prove too much for Clottey when the two powerful welterweights collide in front of the newly built $1.2 billion (£800 million) Dallas Cowboys Stadium on Saturday night, in front of a capacity crowd of 50,000, but Clottey shakes a finger slowly.

"He is showing you that he cannot be discouraged," one of his entourage said.

Clottey and his brother, Emmanuel, set out to make their fortunes in boxing in Europe just over a decade ago. They alighted at the Lennox Lewis Centre, in Hackney, where promoter Frank Maloney housed fighters from Africa and Eastern Europe, a spartan environment where fighters ran in the morning, slept in miniature dormitories, showered and sparred, repeating the process daily.

Clottey, now 33, made New York his base after that, and has a nine-year-old daughter in Ghana, whom he cites as his "inspiration". He has clawed his way through the welterweight division, having lost only twice to world champions Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto, and the second of those was close.

Clottey has never been stopped nor been knocked out. He has a reputation for being a dirty fighter, probably because he has a very hard head and has led with it at times. But if the battler from Bukom has his way, the form book will be overturned on Saturday night.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Photos: Pacquiao vs Clottey Final Presser in Texas

2010-03-11T11:34:00.002+08:00

Arlington, Texas --- Surrounded by the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, seven-time world champion and "Fighter of the Decade" Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao (L) and challenger Joshua Clottey (R) pose during the final press conference Wednesday for their upcoming World Welterweight championship on Saturday,March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington,Texas on HBO Pay-Per-View. --- Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingscene.com

Photos: Manny Pacquiao Media Day in Dallas, Texas

2010-03-11T11:28:00.003+08:00

Dallas,Texas --- "JAM-PACKED" --- A standing-room-only crowd of media and fans showed up to see seven-time world champion and "Fighter of the Decade" Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao shadow box during training for his upcoming World Welterweight championship against challenger Joshua Clottey on Saturday,March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington,Texas on HBO Pay-Per-View. --- Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingscene.com

PACQUIAO CAN’T KNOCK CLOTTEY OUT

2010-03-10T18:52:00.003+08:00

Tungod, Inabanga, Bohol – Or so I thought. Pinoy pride and the world’s best fighting machine Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) has made a habit of proving doubters wrong. I have never doubted Pacquiao’s talent and skills, much less his ability and desire to win. Even so, I am not about to doubt former IBF welterweight champion Joshua “Grand Master” Clottey’s (35-3-0, 20 KOs) firewall toughness, solid defense, and vast ring acumen either.

Any contest with the name Manny Pacquiao in it should be assurance enough of a thrilling and exhilarating boxing spectacle. He has literally made a living by putting on a good show not just for the hardcore fight buffs, but also to the casual fans as well. The odds, as expected, are stacked against the fire-breathing Pinoy’s opponent. This is no surprise, considering that the fighter out of Ghana, by way of Bronx, New York lost to the same guy who was destroyed by Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) of the Philippines, not to mention that the Filipino is universally considered as the best fighter pound for pound at present. But before you Pacman fanatics get too excited, please allow me to point out a couple of things that might make you think twice about Clottey being just a walk-in-the-park for the Pinoy great.

Make no mistake about it. Joshua Clottey is probably the best and most dangerous Pacquiao opponent to date, among the Pinoy pug’s long list of opponents. The potent combination of size, speed, stamina, skill, power, and chin is certainly a tall order for even a fighter like Pacquiao to overcome. Don’t be fooled by Clottey’s 3 losses. His first loss to Carlos Baldomir, who eventually became a welterweight champion, was due to disqualification with Clottey ahead in all three scorecards at the time of the halt. In his second setback, Clottey was making a good account of himself before sustaining an injured left hand in the fourth canto and was basically fighting one-handed from round 5 onwards against the hard-punching Antonio “Loaded Hands” Margarito. Clottey’s third loss, against Cotto, as we all know, was very much closer than the scorecards would suggest.

Clottey has top-notch defensive skills. Using his gloves and arms to protect himself the way Ronald “Winky” Wright does, the “Grand Master” has always finished fights with more than enough gas in his tank. Of course, Pacquiao is definitely in a league of his own, but Clottey could very well pose a lot of problems for the General Santos native. Clottey boasts a great left hook downstairs and up, often followed by a quick right straight. Team Pacquiao should also take note of Clottey’s tendency to come in with his head first. With their contrasting fighting stance, it is not farfetched that Pacquiao could sustain a cut that might hinder his vision just like he did in his first bout against Morales. We all know what happened to that fight. I don’t see Pacquiao knocking Clottey out in this confrontation… but then again, Pacquiao has made the habit of making surprises and exceeding expectations. He might once again do it this time around and I would really be glad to be proven wrong.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: Reylan Loberternos - philboxing.com

Clottey expects Pacquiao to throw a lot of punches on Saturday

2010-03-10T12:44:00.003+08:00

Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KO’s) is counting on Manny Pacquiao to be throwing a lot of punches when he fights him on Saturday night at the Dallas Cowboy Stadium. Clottey is ready for anything that Pacquiao will be bringing to the ring, and he won’t be catching Clottey off guard if he tries to obliterate him with a massive amount of punches in the early rounds of the fight. In an article at the Press Enterprise, Clottey said “He [Pacquiao] throws a lot of punches to people when he sees an opening. He won’t see the openings with me.”

With his crab-like guard and his ability to block almost every punch thrown his way, Clottey is going to make it nearly impossible for Pacquiao to land any clean blows on Saturday night. Pacquiao could still pile up the points, because judges tend to score rounds based on whoever is throwing the most punches and don’t seem to be very good actually noting whether the punches are actually landing or not.

Pacquiao tends to throw a lot of punches anyway, and misses many of them. Clottey will have to make sure he’s busy enough to win rounds because if he throws in the low 20s, he’s not going to win enough rounds to beat Pacquiao. Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, believes that he’s going to be able to stop Clottey by flooding him with punches in massive numbers.

That’s possible, but not probable given Clottey’s history of being able to pick up punches and throw back with big power. Pacquiao could leave an opening for Clottey if he tries to throw too many punches. What some people seem to forget is that Clottey is an excellent counter puncher. He’s not in the class of Juan Manuel Marquez with his counter punching ability, but he definitely skilled at responding as soon as he gets hit with power shots.

Pacquiao has done well in his fights against Cotto and Oscar De La Hoya where Pacquiao was able to machine gun both of them down with a high punch volume. Both De La Hoya and Cotto were too slow, and not skilled enough to block the shots coming in. As good as those two fighters were coming into the fight, they weren’t noted for their ability to block shots like Clottey.

Cotto looked helpless against Pacquiao’s punches and blocked very few of them. De La Hoya seemed to cringe and cower against the ropes as Pacquiao rifled him with shots from every angle. Clottey is certainly better than those two in blocking punches. He’s also a lot more rugged as well. De La Hoya was very weak from draining down to 147 for the fight, and Cotto looked shell shocked from his fights with Antonio Margarito and Clottey, both involving Cotto taking a lot of punishment.

Clottey could surprise a lot of people by being able to stand up to Pacquiao’s punch barrages and then answer back with power shots of his own. If Clottey can stick around until the 9th round or more, you can expect him to have given Pacquiao a tremendous amount of punishment, much more perhaps than Pacquiao has ever taken before in his career. I don’t know if Clottey can win this fight, because I can’t see the judges giving him a decision unless he knocks Pacquiao down multiple times, but I think he will hurt Pacquiao and beat him badly.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: Chris Williams - boxingnews24.com

Pacquiao confident speed can trump Clottey's size

2010-03-10T12:31:00.003+08:00

(Reuters) - Filipino ring king Manny Pacquiao said his lightning fast speed will be enough to nullify Joshua Clottey's size advantage when the two meet in Dallas on Saturday.

"My quickness will be the key, my speed," the seven-time world champion told Reuters as he prepared for a public workout in front of a throng of fans.

However, the WBO welterweight champion is not taking his Ghanaian opponent lightly.

"You cannot underestimate Joshua Clottey," he said. "He's a good fighter, and he's bigger than me, and I have to be very focused in the fight."

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach acknowledges that former IBF title holder Clottey, a natural welterweight, has a size advantage over the champion, who began his career forty pounds lighter.

"But I don't think size wins fights," he said. "I think skill does. He may be a little stronger than Manny on the inside, he might hit a little harder, but I think our speed will nullify that."

Roach said he has been watching footage of Clottey's fights, and has identified a few key habits that he and his fighter intend to exploit.

"He'll wait for you to throw a combination and then, when you've stopped, he'll throw back. So if you stand in front of him, you're an idiot," he said. "We're not going to do that. He's not going to be able to find us.

"Sometimes he uses his head," Roach said of Clottey, 35-3 (20 KOs), whose first defeat came when he was disqualified for headbutts.

"If you fall into the pocket with him, his best punch is an uppercut and his second best punch is a headbutt. So we're not going to go in there. We're going to fight him at distance."

A crowd of several hundred watched Pacquiao's workout, a turnout that a beaming Pacquiao, 50-3-2 (38 KOs), described as 'amazing'.

The fight will be the first to be held at Cowboys Stadium, with 45,000 spectators expected to attend, and the Filipino said he was looking forward to the opportunity to show his skills in front of such a large audience at a new venue.

"I'm very excited to fight in Cowboys Stadium, especially because this is the first fight there," said Pacquiao. "It's an honor to fight in Dallas. I can't wait until Saturday. This is for the fans. This is my chance to show them what I can do."

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: reuters.com

Clottey's Defence May Not Hold Versus Pacquiao's Non-Stop Offense

2010-03-10T12:25:00.002+08:00

Joshua Clottey says he will try to capitalize on his natural defensive skill to foil Manny Pacquiao's known offensive fighting style and hope to land a lethal blow to snatch Pacquiao's WBO welterweight crown. Joshua Clottey is known for his defensive fighting skill which he has developed throughout his fairly successful boxing career.

On Saturday the former IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey will face one of the world best offensive boxers to prove that his defence will hold. Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao will try to demolish his fortified defence arsenal with his non-stop offensive punches.

“I keep telling people I didn’t lose the Cotto fight because I don’t feel I did,” Clottey said. “When [Pacquiao] beats guys like Cotto, he beats guys that don’t have a good defence. I have a defence.”

The popular boxer from Ghana promises he will come forward and attack.

"It will be an exciting fight, as they are predicting," said Clottey.

"I'm always coming forward to face my opponent and fight like a man, not like I just come in like that, I come forward with timing'.

"Everything is in my head, I'm always looking, and the truth is I'm a forward fighter."

Clottey is coming to face Pacquiao with his superior advantage in reach and height. Despite Clotteys natural physical advantage over Pacquiao, hall of fame trainer Freddie Roach says Pacquiao will finish Clottey inside nine rounds. A week before Pacquiao's entourage moved to Texas for the final phase of training, Freddie Roach changed his prediction and said Pacquiao will finish Clottey inside six rounds.

Pacquiao's speed and power will be too much for Clottey to take, Roach stressed after observing how Pacquiao punished his sparring partners who are physically superior that the popular Filipino boxer.

The Pacquiao-Clottey match will take place at the giant Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington Texas on March 13. At stake is Pacquiao's WBO welterweight crown.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: theboxinghistorian.com

‘Journey’ Lead Vocalist Arnel Pineda will sing for Pacquiao vs Clottey fight

2010-03-10T12:16:00.003+08:00

Past reports saying Charice will be singing the Philippine National Anthem for the Pacquiao vs Clottey fight this Sunday were proven untrue as the Journey lead vocalist, Arnel Pineda, will be taking the duty of singing the Philippine National Anthem, “Lupang Hinirang” in the upcoming Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey fight. Pineda is a Filipino and was personally invited by the king of the ring, Manny Pacquiao to sing for the Philippines in his next fight.

Arnel Pineda also said he will be arriving at Dallas on Thursday and he is so delightful that finally he can sing for the Pacquiao vs Clottey fight. The famous singer also revealed it was the Manny Pacquiao’s third attempt to invite him, that is why he’s very happy it will finally push through.

The much awaited Manny Pacquiao vs Joshua Clottey fight will be held this Saturday (March 13) – March 14 in Manila at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: dailyworldbuzz.com

Manny Pacquiao Vs. Joshua Clottey: How Good Is Clottey, Anyway?

2010-03-09T11:05:00.003+08:00

So continues our marathon coverage of one of the biggest fights of 2010, Manny Pacquiao versus Joshua Clottey on March 13, culminating in a live blog on fight night. Previously: Why and how Pacquiao-Clottey matters. Next: Keys to the fight.

Everyone knows Manny Pacquiao. Not everyone knows Joshua Clottey, the man Pacquiao is fighting Saturday.

Clottey (above left against Miguel Cotto) has a very good reputation, for the most part. Some boxing writers consider him one of the 20 best boxers of today, and he's one of the top men in the welterweight division, clearly. He caught some flack for his showing at the end of the fight against Cotto, but there are a lot of people who thought he got robbed in that bout. And it wasn't that long ago that there was a highly viable theory that Clottey was underrated, the best fighter in the division not to be recognized as one of the best.

Yet the more I look at Clottey, the less convinced I am. I'd had that thought prior to Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach saying the same thing in the "Road to Dallas" documentary that aired Saturday (I swear! Ask the people I hung out with Saturday night, away from the television, when the documentary was airing). But that Roach said it made me feel confident about it, too. I think Clottey has become overrated.

This requires a bit of a preface, a disclaimer. I think Clottey's a really good boxer. I think he's a dangerous fighter for Pacquiao to take on, by virtue of his size and style. But when I look at his record and his review the video, I see a fighter who's a full notch below the best of the best.

Consider:

The best win of Clottey's career is probably his 2008 9th round technical decision over Zab Judah. Now, Judah's a talent. But Judah hadn't had a win over a non-journeyman since 2005, when he knocked out Cory Spinks. Judah was ranked in the top 10 of the division at the time, but there were a lot of smart people who think he didn't deserve to be. He'd been beaten by Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto and Carlos Baldomir from 2005 to 2008. He was competitive in all of them, but Judah's downward slide was clearly in full force. And you know what? It was a close fight, Clottey-Judah, even under the circumstances. Two judges gave Clottey the fight by a mere point.

The second best win of his career is over... well, there's a big drop off from the win over Judah. Is it Diego Corrales, who was moving up two divisions and had the look of damaged goods? Is it Shamone Alvarez, a decent welterweight but nobody who ever really much sniffed the top 10 of the division?

You can point to the almost-wins over Cotto and Antonio Margarito, but those only go so far. Clottey couldn't beat Cotto with one of the worst handful of cuts I've ever seen a boxer persevere through. Against Margarito, Clottey was doing well early before claiming hand injuries and slowing down. Clottey was ahead on the scorecards against Baldomir before being disqualified.

I'm doing something here that is reminiscent of the kind of thing I hate in boxing -- systematically diminishing a fighter's accomplishments. Honestly, you can do it with any fighter. But I'm doing it here despite fundamentally liking Clottey, and thinking he's good. It's only, as I said, that I think he's a notch lower than some of the best guys.

Cotto knocked out Judah, and Floyd Mayweather beat Judah more easily than did Clottey. Margarito and Pacquiao both knocked out Cotto. There's nobody on my pound-for-pound list whose best win is over Judah, and I don't think there ever will be. Almost-wins count for something, but only if the boxer has a proven record of beating top competition on the scorecards or via knockout.

That's steering us toward the root of where Clottey's problems lie. His style, as I mentioned, is difficult, and he's a dangerous opponent. His excellent defense, good counterpunching and rock-solid chin have made him a handful for the elite boxers he's faced. Yet they also are part and parcel about why he hasn't exactly excelled on the top, top level.

There's a feeling out there that I've long argued against that Clottey allowed Cotto to win in the late rounds, that he somehow took his foot off the gas. In actuality, as I see it, Cotto just exploited the flaws in Clottey's style in those late rounds. Clottey does good work behind his high guard, cutting off the ring and firing counters. But that style often requires Clottey to set his feet, wait for his opponent to punch, then return fire. Cotto, in the final couple rounds against Clottey, took advantage of that by moving and initiating contact and forcing Clottey to cover up, then moving again, preventing Clottey from planting. Clottey didn't know what to do, so he did what he always does, which is more of the same. He didn't give the fight away any more than any other fight he'd ever been in. His style did, with a little help from Cotto.

Judah, a less fundamentally sound boxer than Cotto, also exploited Clottey's style. Merely by punching at Clottey, he outworked him and won rounds. Clottey's style is economical to a fault. He doesn't take a lot of chances, thinking defense-first the way he does, and if you can hit him and get out of the way, you can have a lot of success against him. If Judah's footwork was better, and if he wasn't in the midst of a career slide, and if he wasn't inclined toward finding a way to lose despite his talent, maybe he wins that fight.

That's another issue with Clottey: He kind of finds ways to lose or get taken out of his game, rather than fighting through it all. There's a little bit of bitch in Clottey, at least compared to the top-notch guts of some fighters. I don't doubt his hand injuries against Margarito, but any number of fighters routinely injure their hands and fight through it, from Mayweather to fighters who lacked Clottey's talent, like Arturo Gatti. In the Judah fight, he winced and hammed it up when Judah landed a low blow. He spent about a half hour recovering from Cotto's body slam. I don't know if the disqualification against Baldomir was justified or not, but there's a trend here, no?

What I'm trying to establish is that while I think Clottey's a legit foe for Pacquiao, that he's definitely worth of being top-5 at welter, that his style presents unique problems to his foes and that he's good enough to hang with the best of the best... the best of the best he ain't. Or, at least, he hasn't proven himself to be in his career so far, owing to a variety of defects in his game and a dearth of wins against said best-of-the-best.

It doesn't mean that Pacquiao beating him will be insignificant or anything like it -- it's be another huge win in a historic career. It doesn't mean he can't or won't win against Pacquiao; sometimes, non-super fighters beat super fighters by virtue of the dynamic between those two fighters, and sometimes non-super fighters become super fighters with one key win.

But it's a handicap.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: Tim Starks - queensberry-rules.com

Pacquiao warned of Clottey's dirty tactics

2010-03-09T11:02:00.002+08:00

MANILA, Philippines - What makes Joshua Clottey a dangerous opponent for Manny Pacquiao is his unpredictability as a dirty fighter.

How Pacquiao will cope with Clottey’s low blows, headbutting, holding and lacing is a big question mark since the Filipino icon has experienced difficulty handling rule-breakers in the past. Clottey’s headbutting is a major concern.

He repeatedly banged heads with Argentina’s Carlos Baldomir in 1999 and was disqualified in the 11th round.

In 2005, Clottey butted Steve Martinez so badly that referee Wayne Hedgpeth was forced to stop their fight in the second round and declared it a no-contest.

In 2007, he kept fouling Shamone Alvarez and won a 12-round decision because referee Jay Nady tolerated his illegal tactics, exasperating the previously unbeaten American.

Last year, the Ghanaian roughhouser left Miguel Cotto with a cut that took 20 stitches to close, courtesy of a butt. “The most dangerous weapon in Clottey’s arsenal and what Pacquiao will have to be most aware of, is undoubtedly Clottey’s head,” wrote Don Stradley in The Ring Magazine (April 2010).

“The sheer contour of it is menacing, the forehead bulging slightly as if nature designed Clottey with the specific intention of giving other fighters headaches and bad cuts.” Clottey’s most inglorious moment was when he went on a butting rampage against Baldomir in a bout for the vacant International Boxing Council (IBC) welterweight title in London. Italian referee Franco Ciminale docked two points from Clottey for a blatant butt in the 10th round, opening a nasty wound over Baldomir’s left eye.

Clottey butted Baldomir once more in the 11th, causing Ciminale to issue a stern warning.

But the Ghanaian didn’t seem to care about Ciminale’s reprimand or that he led in the three judges scorecards – 96-92 (Thailand’s Anek Hongtongkam), 95-93 (Austria’s Walter Schall) and 95-93 (Mexico’s Jose Guerra).

He blew a sure win by butting Baldomir again, leaving Ciminale no choice but to rule a disqualification.

That established Clottey’s unsavory reputation as an instinctively dirty fighter – almost like it’s in his nature to be dirty. Boxing News writer Tony Connolly said there was also reason to disqualify Clottey for low blows which he threw throughout the fight with impunity. In 2006, referee Lou Moret slapped a point deduction on Clottey for a low blow but the Ghanaian still beat Richard Gutierrez on points.

In 2008, Clottey won a ninth round technical decision over Zab Judah who was ruled unfit to continue by referee Robert Byrd because of a cut from an alleged butt.

Clottey’s vile tricks not only inflict physical damage but also cause mental anxiety.

Alvarez, for instance, couldn’t get untracked as he lost his focus, defending against butts and low blows instead of executing his fightplan.

Pacquiao has met two unscrupulously dirty fighters in his career – Australia’s Nedal Hussein and the Dominican Republic’s Agapito Sanchez.

He had problems dealing with both. In 2000, Pacquiao couldn’t figure out Hussein at first and was even floored in the fourth round.

Hussein hit on the break and used his forearms, elbows, shoulders and head to throw off Pacquiao.

Referee Carlos (Sonny) Padilla, however, put his foot down and slapped a point deduction on Hussein for forearming Pacquiao right after the knockdown.

Pacquiao eventually stopped Hussein on cuts in the 10th round. In 2001, Sanchez gave Pacquiao fits with his shenanigans during their brawl in San Francisco.

Referee Marty Denkin deducted two points from Sanchez for low blows but the Dominican got away with a headbutt that split open Pacquiao’s right eyelid in the second.

Sanchez butted Pacquiao once more on the same spot in the sixth.

Denkin should’ve disqualified Sanchez outright but copped out by halting the contest and going to the scorecards.

Pacquiao escaped with a split technical draw but without the two-point deduction, he would’ve lost by a split decision. At the point of stoppage, judge Ricardo Bays of Florida had it 58-54 for Pacquiao, judge Marshall Walker of California 55-57 for Sanchez and judge Raul Armando Caiz of Texas, 56-all.

Clottey’s history of resorting to foul tactics is an indication that he won’t be restrained from going against the rules to win a fight.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: Joaquin Henson - philstar.com

Clottey's Advantages

2010-03-09T10:49:00.003+08:00

Fight week has arrived, but it seems a lot of the excitement over Pacquiao-Clottey has been subsumed by the interest in Mayweather-Mosley. Part of that - as Rumble writer Anthony Wilson points out - is obviously due to the disappointment over Pacquiao-Mayweather and the specter of steroids. Some of it is owed to the fact that there was no 24/7 leading into this fight and it was only made official 8 weeks ago.

The largest reason, though, why there seems to be so little heat is that it is nearly universally believed Pacquiao will win. There was genuine drama going into Pacquaio's most recent fights; his last fight as such a clear favorite was against the overmatched David Diaz, and Manny was predictably brilliant.

Joshua Clottey, however, is no David Diaz. Clottey has some clear advantages over Manny and is capable of winning this fight. An underdog? Yes. A sacrificial lamb? No.

Here are some reasons for Pacquiao fans to be concerned and Clottey fans to have hope going into their March 13 showdown.

Size: Joshua Clottey is a big man, or at least a big welterweight. He has been at 147 lbs his entire career, and it's a miracle he can still make weight. Against the late Chico Corrales, Joshua Clottey entered the ring at nearly 170 lbs.

Manny Pacquiao, as shown in the preview show, struggles to retain the size to fight as a welterweight. He will likely enter the ring at no more than 150 lbs, a full ten or fifteen less than Clottey. While Pacquiao has faced naturally bigger men before in De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto, Clottey will be the largest and fittest opponent of his career.

Right Hand: Joshua Clottey has a deceptive and quick straight right hand. It is not as flashy as Pacquiao's weapons, but it lands well and can be used at range. Manny's most recent difficult fights - Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez - came against fighters with strong right hands. Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, and Cotto were predominantly left handed punchers, will Pacquiao be able to adapt?

Durability: Joshua Clottey has walked through some of the biggest welterweight punchers of his generation with barely a backward step. Clottey has only suffered one knockdown in his career, an off-balance shot against Miguel Cotto, but has otherwise never been noticeably impacted by any punch.

Against Miguel Cotto, Manny Pacquiao had some difficulties the first few rounds before taking control after a big uppercut knockdown in the third. That was the punch that changed the fight. Can Manny hurt Clottey with a single shot? It's possible, but he hasn't shown vulnerability like Cotto or Hatton.

Dirty: I mean this is the most flattering possible way, but Joshua Clottey is a little bit dirty. He was DQ'd against Carlos Baldomir for head butting and has used the tactic in several other fights. Clottey has also been known to punch low to gain an advantage.

Manny has been known to get a little wild after being cut, and is a very clean fighter. Is it possible he could be thrown off his game by a bigger man with nothing to lose and a loose relationship with the rules?

Expectations: Manny has now established himself firmly as a historically great fighter on a historically great run. While a lot of people will argue that it is impossible for Clottey to win a decision because Pacquiao is the attraction and such a financial power, what if the opposite is true?

Over the last couple of years Manny Pacquiao has won virtually every round by huge margins. Other than the first rounds against Cotto, Manny has barely even been hit. Expectations are so high for Manny that if the rounds are even competitive might the judges give Clottey the benefit of the doubt?

*

I'm not going to step on my toes for my final prediction, but these factors and a few others give Joshua Clottey a legitimate chance to score the upset win. When the bell rings on Saturday night Manny Pacquiao fans should feel some butterflies in their stomach and Joshua Clottey fans should feel some hope. Clottey will have to put in the performance of a lifetime, but make no mistake, Manny Pacquiao is not going to "David Diaz" Joshua Clottey.

And if he does... well, that will be worth watching too.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: Avi "Shoefly" Korine - sportingnews.com

Manny Pacquiao Vs. Joshua Clottey: What It Is, And What It Isn't

2010-03-08T12:26:00.003+08:00

It's always a good thing when the world's best boxer, who doubles as its most electrifying performer, is fighting. It's all the better when he's fighting a quality opponent. Those are the circumstances Saturday night on HBO pay-per-view when the pound-for-pound king, Manny Pacquiao, locks horns with dangerous Joshua Clottey, ranked #5 by Ring magazine in the top-heavy welterweight division.

Yet despite those conditions... despite the good match-up, which likely will produce nice action... despite the sui generis backdrop of a Cowboys Stadium that will host 45,000 screaming fans... despite the likelihood that Pacquiao-Clottey will be a pay-per-view smash... it feels a touch anticlimatic. It's because March 13 was originally the date booked for what would have been the biggest fight in 20 years or more, Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather.

And you can say all you want, "Why don't we all just move on, already?" Ring magazine's Mike Rosenthal suggested the same thing in a recent column, then twice more mentioned Mayweather-Pacquiao in that same column. Fans of Pacquiao are constantly saying in comments on this blog, "Who cares about Mayweather?" But Pacland, the all-Pacquiao-all-the-time news hub, still lights up with Mayweather-centric articles. And some Filipino news outlets recently had a dust-up with Mayweather's flak over whether they could interview Mayweather about the drug-testing feud that derailed Mayweather-Pacquiao.

So let's consider what Pacquiao-Clottey is, and what it isn't.

It is a meeting of top-notch fighters. Pacquiao is the virtually undisputed best fighter in the world, of any weight. Some historians think he has cracked the list of the top 20 fighters ever. He's the three-time Fighter of the Year, a lineal, true boxing champion in an unprecedented four divisions and the current #1 man at welterweight per Ring magazine. Clottey, as I mentioned, is ranked #5 in the division, behind Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, Shane Mosley and Miguel Cotto, all of whom are in my pound-for-pound top 10. Some consider Clottey a pound-for-pound top 20 man, especially those who think he deserved the decision he narrowly lost on the scorecards to Cotto in his last fight.

It is likely to be a very entertaining fight. In 2009, Pacquiao and Clottey were in a pair of the best fights of the year, both against Cotto. Pacquiao is routinely in Fight of the Year candidates. He's as purely kinetic as any boxer that's stepped into the ring, and he's added a layer of dazzle with razor-sharp boxing skill. Clottey isn't quite on that level, excitement-wise, because he tends to be defense first, but he makes good fights because he always comes forward and looks to engage. He's been in a number of good scraps besides the Clottey fight, against the likes of Zab Judah and Antonio Margarito.

It has a story in it stadium. Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, coveted Mayweather-Pacquiao, and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum coveted back. But mainly, it seems, Jones coveted Pacquiao. Jones no doubt will want to host more boxing events after this one, since an estimated crowd of 45,000 will be turning out for the show. Texas is maybe the worst big-fight jurisdiction in the country, prone to poor refereeing, hometown decisions and lackluster safety controls, but there will be a quality referee, Rafael Ramos, working this fight. As such, the focus has more been on Jones' gaudy stadium and the world's largest high-definition video screen, 72 feet high and 160 feet across.

It is a very big fight, but it is a touch shy of a mega-mega-fight. Besides the live gate, I'd expect the show to do in the vicinity of 1 million pay-per-view buys, probably less than more. Pacquiao has broken through to the mainstream, the rare boxer whom even non-boxing fans want to watch. He's a sports star and a movie star and a godlike figure in his native Philippines whose story has translated in the United States. Clottey, while well-known to hardcore fans, is an unknown to the casual viewer with no clear fan base in the United States. Consider that Pacquiao-Clottey only got a half-hour preview show from HBO, not the "24/7" documentary series for which Pacquiao has become a staple.

It is not anywhere near as compelling as Mayweather-Pacquiao. There's an argument to be made that Mayweather's boxing style produces bad fights and Pacquiao-Clottey will produce more fireworks than Mayweather-Pacquiao could have. But sometimes it's about more than whether a fight will be a good brawl. If good brawls were all that mattered, then the boxers I saw over the weekend at the Patriot Center would be multimillionaires. Mayweather-Pacquiao would have been a once-in-a-lifetime kind of fight because they were the two best fighters of the past decade, and the two most magnetic stars of recent years. I'd take Mayweather-Pacquiao 100 times out of 100 if offered the choice between that or Pacquiao-Clottey.

It is about the best fight that could have been made for Pacquiao in March absent Mayweather, but not quite -- and it's well shy of what Mayweather's doing next. Clottey was a high-quality replacement for Mayweather, a potentially difficult and dangerous fight for Pacquiao and the best ranked welterweight available in March at the time the fight was signed. But there are two opponents who would have been more dangerous: a junior welterweight fight with the #1 challenger to Pacquiao's 140-pound championship, Timothy Bradley, or a welterweight fight with Paul Williams, my #4 pound-for-pound fighter who contends from 147 to 160. Still, Clottey as an opponent isn't a major drop off from those two, even if one suspects that was the choice because he's under Arum's promotional banner. Where the fight comes up significantly short is in how it compares to Mayweather's next opponent. Mayweather is fighting Mosley in May, a match-up of the #2 and #3 fighters in the world, regardless of weight. It's not Pacquiao's fault that he won't be fighting Mosley, since Mosley was booked for a January fight that was cancelled after Pacquiao signed with Clottey. For the entire decade of the 00s, Pacquiao's choice of opponents far exceeded Mayweather's, but for once, that's not the case.

It is not a top-to-bottom good card. Once again, Arum is throwing us a junk undercard, with only one fight even remotely worth a damn. I'll elaborate on this more this week.

It may be Pacquiao's swan song. After the Clottey fight, Pacquiao will turn his full attention to running for Congress in the Philippines. If he wins the election, it's unclear whether he'll retire. So although I've offered some mild criticisms of this bout, I've got some advice for you: Enjoy Pacquiao while you still can. Once he's gone, as long as you live, you may never see a fighter like him again.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: queensberry-rules.com

Quantcast Manny Pacquiao will not take Joshua Clottey lightly

2010-03-08T12:21:00.003+08:00

Manny Paquiao works with his trainer during a practice session at a Los Angeles gym Wednesday in preparation for his welterweight bout with Joshua Clottey on Saturday. (Nick Ut / Associated Press / March 2, 2010)

It's not the fight most wanted to see, and many casual sports fans probably don't know much about this guy who's stepped into Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s void to fight Manny Pacquiao.

Understandable. So much about why that mega-bout crashed over a drug-testing dispute, with $25-million guarantees to each fighter, is head-scratching.

Time, then, to bring some simple reasoning to the sport now as fight week arrives for Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey on Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The soundest logic says the man considered the best boxer in the world will have his way against the African challenger.

Any reason to think differently? A letdown? A visit to Pacquiao's Hollywood gym brings an onslaught of rebuttals from those asked if the Filipino superstar has shown any sign he's blowing off the threat of this lesser-known opponent.

"I wish we were fighting Mayweather this time, the way Manny has worked," Pacquiao's conditioning trainer, Alex Ariza, said.

A gym regular said he saw Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) unleash a barrage of two dozen unanswered blows to respected veteran sparring partner Steve Forbes.

"I hear Vegas has the over/under for rounds at 10," said Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, who has been so sharp in projecting his prodigy's latest conquests of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. "I'll take the under. We've watched a lot of tapes on Clottey. He's predictable. Manny will be the first to stop him."

Clottey, a 32-year-old native of Ghana and current resident of the Bronx, is 35-3 with 21 knockouts, and his lone losses have come to world champions: Carlos Baldomir in 1999 (controversial disqualification); Antonio Margarito in 2006 (close decision); and Miguel Cotto (close decision) in in June, his most recent bout.

Pacquiao watched Cotto-Clottey from ringside, scouting Cotto before beating him by 12th-round TKO in November. In Clottey, Pacquiao will be fighting a second consecutive true welterweight who has victories over the accomplished Zab Judah (a world title fight) and the late Diego Corrales on his resume. Clottey performed strongly against Cotto, but oddly stopped asserting himself in the final rounds.

"Clottey, he's a good defensive fighter," Pacquiao said. "He's bigger than me [by 2½ inches, with a three-inch reach advantage], so I've had to study his style and maybe he's trying to learn some new techniques. But from what I've studied so far, I think he's a good formula for me. I'm still sure he's studying different techniques he can try against me."

And how's that going?

"It is not easy. [Pacquiao's] good, but I tell people I'm going to beat him," Clottey said. "They don't believe me, but I'm a confident guy and I will keep my word. I will make him think a lot in the ring because of my defense. … I believe in my defense. He's going to throw a lot of punches. I'll block nine out of 10."

Clottey has been groomed in Ghana by impressive countrymen, including the tough Ike Quartey. Like Pacquiao, he came from a poor family and hawked goods on the street, including fish, oranges and bananas.

So is Clottey bound to frequently go into a self-made shell, stalling as he did late against Cotto? Clottey says he won't, wanting Pacquiao to stay cautious of the size advantage and punching power that is considered by some to be suspect. Clottey's last true knockout was in 2004, at a club show in Laughlin, Nev.

"What about mine?" Clottey asked of his punches.

Roach has openly said, "We don't know what Clottey has. We're concerned with his uppercut and hook, but we'll keep Manny out of that pocket."

Pacquiao, guaranteed $12 million plus a pay-per-view cut for this fight, has some bigger days ahead of him this year, including his campaign for a congressional seat in the Philippines, along with the expected resumption of talks with Mayweather.

Clottey, meanwhile, wants to keep logic thrown out the window. He never expected to get this fight and was negotiating for a bout against 154-pound champion Yuri Foreman when notified that Mayweather was out and he was in.

"I'd like to think good things come to good people," Clottey said. "We'll see. I know he's a good fighter. If he hits me, and I don't feel his punches, I'll jump on him. If I do feel them, I'll just have to hit him more."

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: latimes.com

Gearing Up For Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey

2010-03-08T12:16:00.002+08:00

This week begins the countdown toward the March 13, WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title defense by seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines against Ghanian-born, Bronx resident, Joshua Clottey, at The Dallas Cowboys' Stadium in Arlington, Tex.

The 31-year-old Pacquiao, who has been named Fighter Of The Decade, is 50-3-2, with 38 knockouts, including a record of 18-1-2, with 15 knockouts under four-time Trainer Of The Year, Freddie Roach.

A three-Time Fighter Of The Year, Pacaquiao has an 11-match winning streak that includes eight knockouts coming in against the 32-year-old Clottey, who is 35-3, with 20 knockouts.

There is a lot going on with this fight in terms of publicity and videos available, given that is being promoted by Top Rank, and is being televised on HBO pay per view.

In addition, FanHouse will be having a live chat with Pacquiao at 1 p.m. on Monday conducted by Michael David Smith. On March 3, Pacquiao made his his second appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, a clip of which is viewable below.

In the clip, above, Pacquiao discusses the failed negotiations for a fight with Floyd Mayweather due to the unbeaten fighter's camp's demands that both combatants be tested under the Olympic-style random blood-testing procedures, and Pacquiao's refusal to comply.

"No, I told them that we were going to do a blood test, but not close to the fight. Because that is his advantage, because he's bigger than me. If we changed the situation, with me being bigger than him, and we did the blood test close to the fight, it would be an advantage to me because I would be bigger than him," Pacquiao told Kimmel.

"We do a blood test 24 days before the fight, and right after the fight, you do a drug test also. It's a urine test. I think it's not really for the fight," said Pacquiao. "The job of the fighter is to train hard and fight in the ring. You don't need to change the rules and the conditions because there is a Nevada State Athletic Commission to impliment the rules and the conditons."

On Jimmy Kimmel Live, Pacquiao also discussed Clottey's relative obscurity compared to Mayweather, and, briefly his relevance as an opponent.

"You know, the fans, they're very confident that I'll win the fight. But for me, nobody knows his history," said Pacquiao. "He's bigger, and he's a former world champion so, I don't underestimate my opponent. I respect my opponent."

Pacquiao, who also said that he had practiced to sing, which is his passion, to which Kimmel said, "I've got a great idea for you. You go on American Idol, right? And if they don't like you, beat the crap out of all of them. That would be the greatest thing ever."

Pacquiao did close the show by singing, George Benson's "Nothing's Going To Change My Love For You."

Kimmel also showed a trailer of the super hero movie, WaPakMan, which Pacquiao starred in.

Pacquiao will be profiled on 60 minutes, has a scheduled appearance on Good Morning America, and will be featured for the second time in Time Magazine, said Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank.

HBO already has begun airing "The Road To Dallas," which premiered on HBO's various channels on Saturday, March 6, and which is a 30-minute special analyzing the upcoming bout.

"The Road To Dallas" is available to HBO On Demand 24 hours daily, starting Wednesday, March 10, through Monday, April 12.

Also, On March 5 and 6, HBO began running replays of high profile showdowns Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto, which ended in Cotto being stopped in the 12th round, and Clottey vs. Zab Judah, which ended with Clottey winning a ninth-round, technical decision victory.

The fights have been available on HBO On Demand 24 hours daily starting Monday, March 1 and ending on Wednesday, March 24.

HBO airing dates of The Road To Dallas

Monday, March 8 at 2:00 p.m. and 12:05 a.m.

Tuesday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Friday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.

Saturday, March 13 at 11:30 a.m.

HBO2 airing dates of The Road To Dallas

Sunday, March 7 at 11:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 10 at 10:00 p.m.

All times are ET/PT.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

News PACQUIAO IN GREAT SHAPE, NO PROBLEM WITH HIS LEG

2010-03-08T12:13:00.001+08:00

Filipino boxing icon and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao no longer has any problems with his left leg that bothered him some weeks ago and looked in great shape when he sparred six rounds at the Wild Card Gym on Saturday.

Conditioning expert Alex Ariza said trainer Freddie Roach had problems holding Pacquiao back even though he will be allowed to spar on a non-sparring day which is Monday, before the entourage flies out to Dallas aboard a chartered jet.

Ariza told us that he was particularly happy because Pacquiao’s “footwork was great and Freddie was very, very pleased with his footwork. Today he (Pacquiao) focused on footwork in moving and lateral movements and was doing just what he was supposed to do and me, I’m so happy because I asked him about the leg and the leg is a hundred percent now.”

Pacquiao sparred six rounds with Abdullai Amidu, the undefeated Ghana fighter with 17 knockouts in 18 wins and longtime sparring partner David Rodela, the super featherweight who helped him prepare for the rematch with Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera and whose quickness and hand-speed are his assets.

Ariza said that before they leave for Dallas, they would taper off and “slow down a little bit” although Pacquiao will spar a few rounds on Monday after taking Sunday off .

The conditioning guru who together with Roach who refined Pacquiao’s fighting style helped add explosive power to Pacquiao. He has since Ariza joined the team scored devastating victories ovr David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton and Miguel Cotto.

Meantime, the Texas Boxing Commission has picked former US Army boxer and a native of Puerto Rico, Rafael Ramos to be the referee in the Pacquiao-Clottey fight on Sunday (Manila Time) which will be telecast in the Philippines by Solar Sports.

Ramos was referee in the 2009 "Fight of the Year" between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz and also officiated in a couple of world title fights in Japan.

Ramos has refereed fights in Texas for over 20 years and was chosen over another Texas favorite Laurence Cole who handled the first Pacquiao fight against Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alamadome in San Antonio in November 2003 in which Pacquiao annihilated the Mexican legend in eleven rounds.

It was Cole who ruled that a slip by Pacquiao was a knockdown and a clear knockdown by Pacquiao a slip.

John Whisler of San Antonio Sports reported that the 53 year old Ramos was not the first choice as the WBO whose welterweight title held by Pacquiao is on the line, wanted Cole. However, Whisler reports that the executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation which oversees boxing in Texas is said to over-ruled the WBO and assigned Ramos as the third man in the ring.

Internationally respected referee Bruce NcTavish of New Zealand who makes his home in the Philippines told Ramos was "a good choice."

Even in Las Vegas, the Nevada State Athletic Commission exercises its jurisdiction and assigns the officials often incurring the displeasure of world organizations such as the World Boxing Council.

However, the NSAC has come under some criticism for its failure to assert its position on the issue of random blood tests demanded by Floyd Mayweather Jr which torpedoed a mega-fight with Pacquiao. The "Fighter of the Decade" agreed to blood tests 24 days before the fight and immediately after the fight but Mayweather insisted on 14 days before, resulting in negotiations falling apart.

When we asked executive director Keith Kizer whether the NSAC will supervise or have anything to do with the random blood tests of Floyd Mayweather Jr and Shane Mosley who will clash on May 1 at the MGM Grand, Kizer replied “we will review the results.”

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: philboxing.com

Freddie Roach sets a dangerous bar for Manny Pacquiao

2010-03-08T12:08:00.002+08:00

Roach expects a KO from Pacquiao

Los Angeles - The message coming from the Wild Card Boxing Gym's Commander and Chief Freddie Roach is that his prized pupil and pound for pound best Manny Pacquiao will starch Joshua Clottey and eventually stop him Saturday night.

“Six or seven rounds,” is what Roach feels the fight will last in comments to the Manila Bulletin. Other news clippings have Roach stating that Clottey might last eight or nine rounds.

Roach has set a public expectation that Clottey will be battered much like Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton were by Pacquiao during 2009.

A high bar has been set and it could be hard for Manny to hurdle over it.

Clottey is not a fighter who presses the accelerator for twelve rounds with wreck less abandon, creating opportunities for his opponents to knock him out. Clottey is measured, paced, and has a very under-rated defensive shell.

Slow foot movement and hand speed could make Clottey susceptible to Pacquiao's hornet-like speed and power; a referee's stoppage from a continued barrage of punches delivered by the Filipino over several rounds could be Clottey's most likely doom.

Fans must keep in mind that Joshua Clottey is a full fledged welterweight and this is the first time Pacquiao will face a 147 pound fighter in his prime and with no catch weight to drain his opposition of one or two crucial pounds.

Much has been written about Pacquiao's power moving with him to welterweight, but he won't be facing a 145 pound Miguel Cotto or Oscar De La Hoya. Clottey will be at full strength come Saturday night in Dallas, Texas and Pacquiao will feel the punch of a full-fledged welterweight for the first time.

Clottey, fighting at full fiery 147 pounds, presents a dangerous opponent for Pacquiao, a potential let-down if he cannot deliver on Roach's public request of a knockout, but also, an opportunity for Pacquiao's legend to grow - if a knockout is delivered.

Clottey Working His Butt Off For 'A Miracle'

2010-03-08T12:03:00.002+08:00

A native of Ghana who is preparing for a March 13 challenge for the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) crown held by seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs), Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 knockouts) of the Bronx, N.Y., spoke to FanHouse recently from his sleeping quarters near his training facility at Fort Lauderdale's Contender Gym in Florida.

This is the third of four diaries for Clottey that will appear regularly on FanHouse as the 32-year-old Clottey enters the most lucrative and biggest fight of his career, one that will be aired live on HBO pay per view.

ad things just kept happening to one of boxing's good guys.

The initial thing was Joshua Clottey's first major fight against future world champion, Carlos Baldomir, in November of 10 years ago, when he was disqualified for head-butting in the 11th-round of a matchup he needed only to stay on his feet to win.

Clottey, to this day, believes he was the victim of foul play against Baldomir, but he never thought that it would be the story of his career.

"That was a very, very, big frustration for me. We were dealing with two promoters. Frank Maloney, he was the one who had the money. The other promoter, Panos Eliadis, loved us African guys. Too much for Maloney's tastes, in seemed like.

So Maloney was jealous because we always surprised him by winning. He didn't like that," said Clottey, who is 32.

"The day of the fight, I went to the bathroom, and I saw Maloney, and Baldomir's managers and trainers talking. Then and there, I thought to myself, 'Something bad's going to happen,'" said Clottey. "I think they did something to the referee, because he was all over me. You know, everything that I'd do, he warned me too much. It was painful to me."

Next up was his December, 2006 loss to Antonio Margarito, during which he led early before his two, injured hands betrayed him over the course of a unanimous decision loss and his bid to win the vacant WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title.

"I had planned out a good gameplan for Margarito, and it was working so perfectly. You could see the surprise in the place and in his face when I was winning, because nobody knew me. They didn't know me as a big fish. They were like,

'Wow,' where is this guy from?" recalled Clottey.

"But the first hand, my left, one, just went out on me. The knuckle in my left hand was experiencing a sharp pain," said Clottey. "And then I started to throw the right hand, and I was really trying to throw, but the pain was just too much in that one also."

Clottey rebounded, however, earning the IBF crown over southpaw, former world champion, Zab Judah via ninth-round technical decision stoppage in August of 2008.

Clottey was then informed that he would get a break against WBO king, Miguel Cotto, but the IBF would force him to give up the belt if he took the challenge rather than facing an organization mandatory.

With Cotto being his largest, career pay day, and a shot at seemingly endless possibilities in victory, Clottey bit the bullet and bagged the IBF crown.

Then, Clottey lost June's disputed, split-decision to Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs), against whom he suffered a flash knockdown from a first-round left hook.

"After the fight with Cotto, I was shocked, and I was so, so, so sad. Because I felt like what they did to me was something," said Clottey. "I thought that I won the fight, and that they just took the fight away from me. I was really tired of these things happening to me in championship fights."

But it only got worse after the fight, when Clottey split with trainer, Kwame Assante, over money.

"On Sunday or Monday, I was having a discussion with the trainer [Assante,] and he just came out and started talking and telling me things [about paying him] that I don't even know anything about," said Clottey. "It's great in that he's the trainer, and that he's going to make so much money. But now, it's not going to go to him, because of his selfishness. Now, he's gone."

Adding to the problems, however, was the fact that two successive opportunities -- one against WBA welterweight super champion, Shane Mosley, and another opposite former titlist, Carlos Quintana -- fell through.

"You know, about that, there was yet another very big frustration. But I kept thinking to myself, 'One thing about life is that good things always come to good people,'" said Clottey.

"All of those fights that we talked about where they said I lost, and the fights that fell through, I figured that it had to end sometime. You never know what is going to happen," said Clottey.

"When they called off the fights, I just kept on training, and was continuing to think about the next option," said Clottey. "I'm patient, I'm very respectful to everybody, I'm very nice to everybody. I push myself. So, you know, I thought, 'Good things happen to good people."

This time, Clottey was right.

For in early January, things began to look up for a dejected Clottey, who received an offer from Top Rank Promotions' CEO, Bob Arum, to face seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao, for anotther chance to earn the WBO crown.

More than that, the 31-year-old Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) represented the largest career payday for Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs), who arrived from his Ghana in New York in mid-January and informed FanHouse that he had signed the contract for the fight an hour earlier.

Nicknamed, "The Grand Master," Clottey's purse will surpass $1 million for the first time, with an upside to the pay-per-view.

But there still would be hurdles for Clottey, who was in need of a new trainer.

Clottey thought that for sure that he had had the perfect one in Godwin Nii Dzanie Kotey, a legendary father figure to his fighters who had worked with Clottey's countryman and former welterweight star, Ike Quartey.

But Clottey would receive yet another blow when Kotey was denied a work Visa to the U.S.

"That was very disappointing," said Clottey, who wept openly about the decision, "because I have my trainer in Ghana, and he doesn't get a Visa to come, that was unexpected."

Manager, Vinnie Scolpino, suggested Lenny DeJesus, who had worked as Clottey's cut man and an assistant to Assante during Clottey's loss to Cotto.

They had known of each other from John's Gym in the Bronx, where Clottey has trained, and DeJesus, worked with other fighters.

"That's why I chose Lenny. The training is going fine, because it's easy with me to connect with anybody. Lenny, he's a nice person. He talks to me. Lenny talks to me about boxing. Whenever your manager or your trainer feels for you, it's good. It's not like they just want money," said Clottey.

"Lenny's the guy who in it for me. So I love it that he's there for me, because I can go into the ring and fight. I'm okay with him, I'm nice with him," said Clottey.

"Lenny can tell me things like, 'Go into the ring, go to his body.' If I go to the body, and it doesn't work, I have to change my whole plan in the ring," said Clottey. "So sometimes, the trainers talk, and they work good the way they're talking, they become heroes."

Clottey said that he and DeJesus are on the same page.

"Everything is fine with me and Lenny," said Clottey. "We're nice, we're cool. I'm so happy with him."

And since he first received the call from Top Rank offering the bout with Pacquiao, Clottey has been looking for, and, finding positive signs.

The first one, said Clottey, is the fact that Pacquiao did not request a catchweight of 145 pounds, something that is a big help since Clottey has fought several times at weights higher than 147.

"They never talked about me moving to a catchweight. We're fighting at the welterwelterweight limit, so it's like, a miracle," said Clottey, who can concentrate more on technique than simply wearing himself down cutting weight.

"But you can't just be there and pray to God, 'Oh, God, I want money to buy food and eat,' and God will come from heaven and give you money," said Clottey. "No, have got to continue to work your a** off and go to work. So I know that I'm going to go there and that I'm going to be in a fight."

In Pacquiao, Clottey is facing a man who simply seems to have forgotten how to lose, and whose focus is unflappable.

He is running for congress, has made a movie, been the focus of features in major, crossover magazines, and even delivered food to his native Filipinos during a typhoon -- a move that briefly interrupted his training only days prior, but, nevertheless, did not affect his performance in his 12th-round knockout of that dethroned Puerto Rico's Cotto as WBO champ.

Pacquiao has been named Fighter Of The Year for the past three, and was recently honored as The Fighter Of The Decade, owing largely to an 11-0 record that includes eight knockouts since a March, 2005 loss to Erik Morales at super featherweight (130 pounds).

Pacquiao is in his 22nd, consecutive bout under Freddie Roach, who has been named a Four-Time Trainer Of The Year, and under whom Pacquiao is is 18-1-2, with 15 knockouts since June of 2001.

But for Clottey, there are just too many things that are positive for the Grand Master not to believe that this is not part of the grand, master plan.

"I never expected for me to be fighting on pay per view this early, and I never expected to be fighting with Manny Pacquiao this early, and I never expected to be fighting in March this early in the year," said Clottey.

"And you know one thing, I don't like any thing being around me when I'm training. That's the only thing I think about is the training. Nothing makes me happier now than thinking about the training and the fight, and believe me, I've trained so, so, so, so hard," said Clottey.

"When I'm in the gym, that's the time I fight more. My mind has always told me that "Everything is going to be fine,' and it might not work out the way that I want it to," said Clottey. "But I never expected to be in such a huge fight like this, which is the biggest pay day of the year. It's like a miracle, like something is being worked out. It's like a miracle, something is coming, and I'm so happy."

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: ghanaweb.com

'Champ's got skills, techniques'

2010-03-08T12:00:00.001+08:00

HOLLYWOOD – Steve Forbes, one of Manny Pacquiao’s sparring partners, is on the same page with Freddie Roach.

The 33-year-old boxer from Nevada told Pinoy scribes the other day he sees Pacquiao finishing off Joshua Clottey in nine rounds at the Cowboys Stadium next Saturday.

Forbes said it did not take long for him to realize how strong Pacquiao is on the ring.

“You know, he’s a lot more better technically than what people give him credit for,” said Forbes of the WBO welterweight champion from the Philippines, who’s more known for his power than his technical ability.

“Yes, he’s got good skills and technique,” said Forbes.

And based on what he knows about Clottey, Forbes said it should be over in nine rounds, the same prediction Roach made the other day.

“Nine at most,” said Forbes.

“I see Manny overwhelming him with activity. There’s just too many angles for Pacquiao’s punches. There’s too much speed and good placement of shots. Manny will overwhelm him with speed and punching power.”

Forbes, who’s got a 34-7-0 record, was to face Harrison Cuello in Connecticut last night, and before he left the Wild Card Gym the other day he said working with Pacquiao will serve him in good stead.

“It’s great working with him and coach Freddie. There’s just so much to learn from them,” he said.

Notes: There’s no “24/7” coverage from HBO this time, but just the same the leading cable network came up with a 30-minute special – “The Road to Dallas.” It was aired Saturday evening, and tackled the coming fight between Manny Pacquiao and Josh Clottey. As usual, it was a good one, showing the distance between the two fighters, one being an icon, and the other just being there for the opportunity of a lifetime. While Pacquiao loved the glare of the cameras, Clottey appeared to be the quiet type – on and off the ring. The 33-year-old hero from Ghana stays in a small apartment in The Bronx, and has the habit of running by his lonesome, under the cover of darkness. Pacquiao, on the other hand, stays in his $2 million home in Los Angeles, and never leaves the house without his bloated entourage. The difference on the ring will be known next week... Dr. Allan Recto, a personal friend of Pacquiao’s, is amazed with the boxer’s physical conditioning. After Friday morning’s run and close to a thousand crunches, Pacquiao’s pulse rate was in the low 50s. That’s how great athletes are, the doctor said, as compared to other men, like the Filipino’s strength and conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, who ran a couple of rounds at the Griffith Park, and checked his pulse rate at 140. “His physical condition is unbelievable,” said Recto.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: philstar.com

Pacman in 6 or 7 - Roach

2010-03-08T11:52:00.002+08:00

A Pinoy fan arrives at the Wild Card gym on a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Abac Cordero

HOLLYWOOD – Manny Pacquiao turned on the heat inside the gym Saturday as the temperature dropped outside.

He sparred for six rounds against Abdulla Amidu and Dave Rodela. He worked so hard. He moved so well. He looked sharp.

Trainer Freddie Roach was so impressed he shortened Joshua Clottey’s lifespan on the ring by a couple more rounds as the March 13 fight at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas neared.

A month ago, Roach said he’d be happy if Pacquiao wins by decision. Then last Thursday, he said Pacquiao should knock out Cottey inside nine rounds, but he’d be happier if the fight ends right in the opening round.

Thursday, he said Clottey should be gone in six or seven rounds.

“It will not go the distance,” he repeated.

“He’s (Clottey) gonna last (only) six or seven rounds. He’s going to be overwhelmed with the punches. He’s never been attacked like this before,” said Roach after they raised the total number of sparring to 138 rounds.

On Monday, they will wrap it up with another four rounds in the morning, and by noon, members of Team Pacquiao, and an entourage of more than a hundred people, will fly for three hours to Dallas.

Roach said Pacquiao will be there, moving from side to side, throwing punches, and trying to confuse Clottey in the opening rounds. They want to work the body, and by the middle rounds will look for the big one.

“We’re gonna throw him off in the first four rounds,” said Roach.

What he saw yesterday, as Pacquiao sparred, worked the mitts and pummelled the heavy bag, made him even more confident.

“Manny looked so sharp today. I’ve never seen him look sharper. That’s the best I’ve ever seen Manny Pacquiao,” he said.

Pacquiao sparred three rounds with Amidu then worked another three with Rodela who, for the second straight session, went home bleeding from the nose.

The boxer from Oxnard, California, part of the Pacquiao camp over the last few fights, was told to take a rest, and need not show on Monday for the last day of sparring.

Pacquiao has used around 10 sparring partners in this camp, and not one of them managed to keep in stride with the quick, powerful and shifty pound-for-pound champion.

“I thought he was gonna knock David out for a minute but David hung in there,” said Roach.

After the workout, Pacquiao skipped his routine stop at Nat’s, his favorite Thai restaurant, because of a steady drizzle that made it colder than usual. As of presstime, the Hollywood area was under 10.3 degrees Celsius.

It will be colder in Dallas and Pacquiao is just getting hotter.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: philstar.com

Roach predicts 6th round KO win for Pacquiao

2010-03-08T11:36:00.002+08:00

MANNY Pacquiao flexes his muscles during a break in training at Wild Card in Los Angeles. (Photo by NICK GIONGCO)

LOS ANGELES – Freddie Roach is now giving Joshua Clottey a shorter shelf-life against Manny Pacquiao on the evening of March 13.

“Six or seven rounds,” said Roach, who had previously predicted a ninth-round knockout victory by the Filipino fighter at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

After presiding over Pacquiao’s penultimate day of sparring inside the Wild Card on a rainy Saturday afternoon, Roach was compelled to alter his forecast a week before the scheduled 12-round world welterweight title fight.

“Manny looked very, very sharp today,” said Roach, stressing that “there’s not much that he (Clottey) can do” against a fighter who is going to “overwhelm him with punches from all angles.”

Roach said he expects Clottey to be in the thick of the fight only in the first four rounds but Pacquiao will take charge soon after, paving the way for another smashing win by the fighter many consider as the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound.

Pacquiao picked up apart Abdullai Amidu, his Ghana sparmate, and the regular guy David Rodela, for a total of six rounds in another dazzling display of power and speed.

On Monday, Pacquiao will have his last sparring session – this time for only four rounds – before he hops on a chartered flight en route to the venue for next week’s fight.

Joining him on the three-hour trip on a jumbo jet leased by Pacquiao are members of his huge entourage and select individuals with legitimate business to take care of going into the final days before the fight.

Pacquiao is a huge favorite although Clottey is a livewire underdog owing to his being a natural welterweight, somebody who should be much bigger than his foe by the time they get it on around 10 p.m. Dallas time (12 noon of March 14 in the Philippines).

Team Pacquiao will be billeted at the Gaylord Texan Hotel in the city of Grapevine, which will put up a makeshift gym on its basement for the sole purpose of hosting Pacquiao’s final workouts.

Meanwhile, Clottey admitted that he’s longing for the attention that Pacquiao is getting from almost everybody.

Almost two years ago – after crowning himself the International Boxing Federation welterweight king – Clottey arrived to a rousing welcome in his native Ghana.

Clottey said in the documentary The Road to Dallas, which is being aired on US television, that he is craving to experience the same thing all over again.

“I want it to happen again,” said Clottey, who has a stab at stardom on March 13 versus Manny Pacquiao at Cowboys Stadium.

Clottey, who has been living in New York the last seven years, has a huge following in his native land but is unknown in America and when people say he doesn’t stand a chance against the pound-for-pound king, the boxer doesn’t feel insulted.

“It doesn’t make me upset,” said Clottey “(but) it makes me stronger.”

Former Pacquiao cutman Lenny De Jesus, who has assumed the role of Clottey’s chief trainer, summed it all up with a curt message.

“If we hit him right, we’ll knock him out,” said De Jesus, who was in the corner of Pacquiao in at least four fights, including the landmark victory over Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: mb.com.ph

A Filipino icon, 'PacMan' Pacquiao has fans everywhere

2010-03-08T11:28:00.001+08:00

For years, Manny Pacquiao has possessed the ability to paralyze a nation, to freeze 96 million Filipino citizens and hypnotize them with every punch.

Yet, his influence grows. He forced Oscar de la Hoya to quit. He destroyed Ricky Hatton in two short rounds. He systematically dismantled Miguel Cotto.

On Saturday, the fighter regarded as the best pound-for-pound in the world returns to the ring against Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium to defend the WBO world welterweight title.

The Philippine Islands make up only a portion of the Pacquiao universe. "I am expecting a lot of Mexican fans to be at the fight," Pacquiao said during a teleconference.

Pacquiao, 31, reigns as the boxer of this generation, dabbles as a singer, aspires to be a political candidate and continues to grow in popularity, whether with Mexican fight fans or the late-night television crowd.

Boxing society has evolved to a point where race doesn't matter as much as the individual fighter's ability to induce a thumping heartbeat and uncontrollable screams pleading for a knockout.

"PacMan" provides just this with fists that fly like uninhibited falcons, feet that glide like a marble on ice and a willingness to fight as if he wore an invulnerability cape.

Fort Worth boxing trainer Vincent Reyes serves as an integral part of both the Mexican community and the local boxing scene.

"He's beat the top Mexican fighters and the Mexican fans like a crowd pleaser," Reyes said. "He's certainly a crowd pleaser. He's not boring. The Mexican fans want action and that's what he gives."

George Rincon holds a Texas State Golden Gloves championship and at 18 sits fully entrenched in pop culture awareness. The Hispanic fighter and his father both appreciate the pure fighting skills Pacquiao exhibits and consider him the fighter of this generation.

In fact, the boxing community thought it laughable that Tiger Woods, a golfer, was named the "athlete" of the decade. The notion of a great athlete as someone in a non-contact sport, who demands complete quiet, doesn't worry about opposition hindering his efforts and walks during his competition is simply ridiculous.

"I believe in boxing you have to be tough," Rincon said. "When you say you are a boxer, that's saying a lot. When you say you are a boxer, you are a true athlete."

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said having Hispanic fighters on Saturday's undercard helps sell the bout locally. However, he suggested the Mexican population has embraced Pacquiao because of his accomplishments. Pacquiao became the first fighter in history to win seven world titles in seven weight classes.

"Our goal when we started with Manny was to break him out from the Filipino base that he had," Arum said. "We were able to pick up millions of Hispanic fans and we have broken him into the general conscience of the people around the world.

"He is truly a crossover star. How many fighters of our time go on Jimmy Kimmel Live and go on Good Morning America and have a big article coming out in Time magazine? I think that is saying something."

Something else to be said is that Pacquiao plans to run for Congress in the Philippines with campaigning beginning on March 26.

If he wins, it certainly will force him to split time between political service and jumping rope, working the speed bag and knocking people out.

"After the fight I will go back to the Philippines and start campaigning," Pacquiao said. "It is going to be busy. I want to pass some bills that will be good for the livelihood of the people there and education for the children."

As for Rincon, he'll continue to support/emulate Pacquiao as long as his career lasts.

"He has speed and power, good defense and offense and he's very aggressive," Rincon said. "He has been beating the top Hispanic fighters and to me it doesn't matter. It's not about his race."

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: TOBIAS XAVIER LOPEZ @ star-telegram.com

DIAZ PREDICTS TOUGH FIGHT FOR PACQUIAO AGAINST CLOTTEY

2010-03-08T11:23:00.002+08:00

Former WBC lightweight champion David Diaz who was annihilated by reigning pound-for-pound superstar Manny Pacquiao in nine rounds predicts that Pacquiao’s fight against Joshua Clottey “is a tough fight, but a winnable fight for Manny.”

Diaz who faces Humberto Soto for the vacant WBC lightweight title told insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports “we’ll see how Manny can penetrate that good defense that Clottey has but I definitely think Manny will win.”

Clottey’s style of keeping both hands up and taking many of his opponents punches on the forearms or gloves created problems for Zab Judah, Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto and indications are he will use the same defensive tactics against Pacquiao and try to wear him down.

Diaz, who came back from the loss to Pacquiao on June 28, 2008 to win a majority decision over former WBC and IBF lightweight champion and WBC super featherweight champion Jesus Chavez last September 26 said he is “feeling good and f eels blessed to get another opportunity to fight for the world title. I am getting ready and hope everything will go right.”

He said the almost six months break since the Chavez fight wont affect him since he has been sparring a lot and while its not the same thing Diaz said “I think I’ll be okay.”

Diaz has been training under Mike Garcia and Jim Strickland in Chicago and said although Sotto “is a tough guy but I’ll work that body and try to get inside of him. He’s a real good technician in the way he uses his reach but if you get inside of that and work him I think we’ll be okay.”

Diaz recalled how well he was treated when he was Pacquiao’s guest along with Edwin Valero at Pacquiao’s lavish 30th birthday celebration in his hometown of General Santos City in December 2008. He said “they were all very nice and give them my best wishes.”

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: philboxing.com

Pacquiao v. Clottey: Ted the Bull's Breakdown

2010-03-08T11:19:00.002+08:00

It's just past midnight on Sunday, March 7, which means we're starting Big Fight Week here at Bad Left Hook for the March 13 showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey. Leading us off for seven days of coverage is Ted "The Bull" Sares with a breakdown and prediction of the fight.

* * * * *

People have started doubting if I am ready for this deadly fighter but I keep telling them if he is good, I am better. If Pacquiao beats me, it won't be news but if I beat him, the whole world's attention would be on me.

--Joshua Clottey

We are very disappointed because we need to train. Now Joshua is all alone in the US and even if he is training, there is no supervision.

--Dzanie Kotey, Clottey's coach

Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey will fight at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on March 13 in what promises to be a competitive fight between two stars with the WBO welterweight title on the line. Joshua "Grand Master" Clottey is 35-3 with 20 KOs while Pacquiao is 50-3-2 with an impressive KO percentage of 68.5.

These two are skilled, have great heart, are great sportsmen, and represent their respective homelands with dignity and class, but enough of the niceties, let's cut to the chase.

Quality of Opposition

Manny has fought 10 fights against 5 guys who arguably have a shot at being inducted into the Hall of Fame. But he also fought and beat many other outstanding fighters with great records coming in. If you throw a dart at his list of opponents, you might, for example, hit South Korean Seung-Kon Chae (23-0), Mexican Oscar Larios (56-4-1), Thai Wethya Sakmuangklang (41-3), Thai Fashan 3K Battery (44-7-1), Thai Chatchai Sasakul (33-1), or Colombian Jorge Eliecer Julio (44-3).

Clottey's list of opponents, while impressive, does not begin to compare. It includes name like Miguel Cotto, Zab Judah, an aging Diego Corrales, and Antonio Margarito. He is coming off a split decision loss to Cotto, a fight in which he showed he can snatch defeat from victory as he failed to press his backtracking opponent.

Big edge to Manny here.

Common Opponents

Miguel Cotto is their only common opponent, and he was destroyed by Manny but let off the hook by Clottey. If Clottey was unable to force his will on Cotto, it's difficult to see how he can do it against Pac Man.

Clear edge to Manny.

Style

Pacquiao now possesses a full arsenal of weapons the qualitative content to which only Floyd Mayweather Jr. can stake claim. With his in-and-out whirlwind movement (reminicient of Aaron Pryor), effective jabs, fight-ending hooks from both hands, solid stamina, and a sound defense, there is little to criticize. As for speed, Pacquiao is flat out faster than Clottey in every way, particularly with his foot movement. Manny has more power as well, but the Ghanian's chin and all-around strength should offset that.

Clottey is the type of fighter who needs to be set before he can throw. Thus, Pacquiao's foot speed and movement are going to create big problems as he'll have a hard time planting his feet to mount any type of sustained offense. As well, Clottey is a strong defensive-minded fighter who is prone to take rounds off and maintain a low punch volume. Against the always active "Pac Man," this could prove fatal.

Chin

Manny has been hurt badly, but it occurred too far back to be meaningful in my view. Clottey has an almost impenetrable defense and an iron chin, but lacks one-punch knockout power.

Ring IQ

Both are savvy and experienced fighters, but Pacquiao has the edge as he can adapt to different situations faster. Clottey, on the other hand, showed an inability to adopt against Cotto--as he held back for some inexplicable reason and did not press the action? If a similar situation develops in this fight, Pacquiao will not be reticent and will jump on Clottey faster than you can say "Pinoy." Also, in his first step-up fight against Carlos Baldomir in 1999, he was disqualified for continual head butts. Clottey was winning the fight until the 10th round, where he was penalized two points for an intentional head butt. He was warned for leading with his head but did it again resulting in the referee stopping the fight and disqualifying Clottey. Not smart.

Intangibles

1) Momentum: Pac Man gets the clear nod. He is on a great streak of big wins (Cotto, Hatton, De La Hoya, Diaz, Marquez, Barrera, Solis, Morales, and Larios). Clottey, however, is coming off a close SD loss, a TD over Judah, and wins over Jose Louis Cruz, Shamone Alvarez and Felix Flores. His 2006 UD loss to Antonio Margarito may well have provided all the blueprint Freddie Roach needs

2) Cuts: Manny is more prone to cuts, so the effectiveness of their respective cut men could play a key role here. Moreover, Clottey has been known to use the head as a third weapon so Pacquiao must be alert here.

3) Trainers and Camp: Freddie Roach vs. Clottey's somewhat unknown corner. The clear nod goes to Roach. Look, you don't argue with his kind of success. And to make matters worse, Clottey's coach is having US visa problems.

5) Weight: Pacquiao fighting at welterweight favors Clottey, though Pacquiao seems to take his strength with him as he moves up in weight. Edge to Clottey

6) Dimensions: Clottey has a naturally bigger frame, is taller and has the reach advantage. Edge to Clottey.

Outcome

I see "Pac Man" beating the "Grand Master" in a medium-paced fight in which Manny will exploit Clotteys weakness beginning in the mid rounds (but I don't see it happening the other way around). This exploitation will be enhanced by Pacquio's incredibly fast in-and-out movement accompanied by just about every punch in the manual-- and each thrown with malice aforethought-as he befuddles the Ghanaian and slows down his already slow stalk.

However, despite his superb performances against Cotto, Hatton and De La Hoya, I don't see him winning within the distance. Clottey is just too strong in my view. After a competitive start - maybe the first five rounds - I see Manny reaching cruising speed and begin to dominate, In the end, Clottey's trademark pressure and counter-punching will not be able to overcome Pacquiao's foot speed and quick-handed, sharp-punching attacks. Speed will be the decisive factor here and speed is what Manny Pacquiao is all about

I envision Pacquiao outworking Clottey and building an early lead, although possibly without landing a whole lot of hard, clean punches through Clottey's excellent guard. I'm going with Pacquiao by solid UD.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: badlefthook.com

Pacquiao vs. Clottey just days away

2010-03-05T12:16:00.002+08:00

When I was in Hollywood last week covering Manny Pacquiao's training camp it was apparent that things were running smoothly. March 13th is just days away now, and the pound for pound king will once again step into the ring. The Philippines will once again come to a stop once the first punch is thrown. Manny has been here many times before. His opponent, Joshua Clottey, is no stranger to a big fight either. Clottey is no joke, but he is up against the most dangerous opponent he has ever faced.

So what's going to happen come March 13th? Will Pacquiao once again carve up his opponent like a turkey on Thanksgiving? Will Clottey shock the world and pull off a huge upset? Not likely, but you never know. Freddie Roach doesn't think this fight will go the distance. Roach told this writer, " Clottey wont make 12 rounds against my guy."

Recently I also spoke with the Mississippi Athletic Commissioner, John Lewis. We touched on the upcoming fight and I got his thoughts on Pacquiao as a fighter, and what he has done for the sport. Lewis has a lot of respect for Pacquiao, "He is the most popular fighter in the sport. Manny is still going strong." Lewis went on to say, "I wouldn't be surprised if Manny has a good 5 more years left in him to fight."

Recently in an interview conducted by http://www.8countnews.com Manny Pacquiao was asked about fighting after politics. Pacquiao told 8CN that it's possible he would continue to fight even if he did win the congressional seat in the Philippines.

Of course with each and every interview that Manny does, he's asked about Mayweather. This is the fight that a lot of fans would like to see. It's the perfect good guy vs. bad guy scenario. But before anything else, we have March 13th to deal with. Pacquiao vs. Clottey has sold over 40,000 tickets. There will be a huge crowd, and the stage will be set for an exciting welterweight clash.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: examiner.com

NOTHING TO LOSE FOR CLOTTEY

2010-03-05T12:12:00.003+08:00

Manny Pacquiao said the other day he’s not taking challenger Joshua Clottey lightly despite being installed a 5-1 favorite in his WBO welterweight title defense at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 13.

“You don’t underestimate Clottey,” he said. “He’s older and bigger than me and a former world champion.”

But trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao’s team has Clottey all figured out.

“We’re not gonna be there when he’s counterpunching because when he throws, we’re not gonna be there,” said Roach. “He’s a big, strong guy but size doesn’t win fights – skill does. Joshua will not be a problem. Manny will overwhelm him with speed and combinations. He will be the first person to stop Clottey.”

The rugged Ghanian has never been halted in a career that started in 1995. His three losses were close, if not disputed –-- to Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito and Carlos Baldomir. Clottey’s lack of knockout power is evident in his record of 35-3, with 20 KOs. His knockout rate of 57.1 percent is much lower than Pacquiao’s 76 percent. Clottey has scored only one stoppage in his last 11 outings.

But will Pacquiao be able to overcome Clottey’s strength? Clottey is a natural welterweight and has even entered the ring weighing as much as 170 pounds. He has been a welterweight since 1997.Pacquiao, in contrast, is an evolving welterweight and scaled 144 pounds, three below the welterweight limit, in his last fight against Cotto.

Clottey is close to two inches taller than Pacquiao and has a three-inch reach advantage. What makes Clottey a dangerous opponent for Pacquiao is there’s no pressure on the Ghanaian to win as he has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

In fact, the pressure is on Pacquiao to beat Clottey convincingly to keep alive hopes for a megabuck showdown with unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. before the end of the year – assuming Pretty Boy disposes of Sugar Shane Mosley in their own version of an eliminator on May 1.

Clottey, 33, is notorious for his dirty tactics. Headbutting, hitting below the belt and holding are what he resorts to in trying to gain an advantage over an opponent. The fighter known alternatively as “The Hitter” “The Grand Master” and “Satan” has been described as instinctively dirty. In 1999, he led in the three judges’ scorecards but couldn’t stop himself from butting Baldomir and was disqualified in the 11th round to blow a golden chance to win the International Boxing Council (IBC) welterweight crown at the Wembley Arena in London.

Clottey was deducted a point for low blows in a fight against Richard Gutierrez in 2006 and butted Steve Martinez so badly their fight was stopped in the second round a year before. Fans also remember Clottey butting Cotto last June, causing a gaping wound that took 20 stitches to sew up.

Clottey was also accused of butting Zab Judah whom he defeated on a ninth round technical decision to claim the vacant IBF welterweight title in Las Vegas in 2008. Referee Robert Byrd halted the bout after the ringside physician ruled that Judah couldn’t continue because of a bad cut over his right eye. Byrd said the cut was caused by a butt but Clottey insisted a left uppercut did the damage.

Pacquiao, 31, is trained to fight scientifically and may find it difficult to handle an unpredictable fighter who plays dirty. In 2001, Pacquiao couldn’t get untracked in a bout against Dominican Republic roughhouser Agapito Sanchez, one of the dirtiest fighters ever, in San Francisco
. Two points were deducted from Sanchez for low blows but it was a headbutt that did the most harm on Pacquiao, ripping his right eyebrow to force a sixth round stoppage. The fight was declared a technical split draw as judge Raul Caiz had it 57-55 for Sanchez, judge Ric Bays 58-54 forPacquiao and Marshall Walker 56-all. Without the two point deduction on Sanchez, Pacquiao would’ve lost on a technical split decision.

Clottey, who is single (but has a seven-year relationship with Ruth Dunuh) and the father of a 10-year-old daughter Zeenat, grew up in a family of six children. His father Ali, a highway construction worker, influenced his four sons to become fighters as a way out of poverty in Ghana. Only Clottey and older brother Emmanuel became world contenders, keeping alive the tradition of warriors from the Ghanaian tribe Ga which has produced several ring legends including Azumah Nelson. The Clottey brothers used to train in Bukom, a down-trodden suburb of Accra, before plying their trade overseas.

Clottey is trained by Puerto Rican Lenny (The Locksmith) de Jesus who was once Pacquiao’s cutman. De Jesus took over from Kwame Asante who was fired by Clottey after the loss to Cotto. But De Jesus wasn’t Clottey’s original pick. He had tapped Godwin Daznie Kotey to take over the training chores but the Ghanaian couldn’t get a US visa. De Jesus, however, is more than a capable replacement as he has worked with stars like Roberto Duran, Wilfred Benitez, Wilfredo Gomez and Hector Camacho while learning from Angelo Dundee, Eddie Futch and Roach.

If De Jesus is a spy in Clottey’s camp, Argentina’s Miguel Diaz is the “insider” in Pacquiao’s team. Diaz, who joins Roach and conditioning coach Alex Ariza in Pacquiao’s corner as a cutman, used to work with Clottey.

The Ghanaian has reportedly been guaranteed a $1.2 million purse to fight Pacquiao with $900,000 as his share and the balance going to his manager Vinny Scolpino. It’s the biggest prize in Clottey’s career.

In training camp, Clottey employs Cuban Damian Frias as his main sparmate while Pacquiao rotates Raymundo Beltran, Abdullai Amidu, Mike Dallas and Stevie Forbes to keep him sharp. There’s no question Pacquiao’s sparring partners are more competitive and qualified.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: philboxing.com

Clottey motivated by Pacquiao trainer's KO forecast

2010-03-05T12:03:00.003+08:00

When Joshua Clottey steps into the ring against WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao on March 13 the Ghanaian will imagine he is fighting someone else.

The 32-year-old said on Thursday he had a world of respect for Filipino Pacquiao and liked him personally and so would be fixing his mind on another target as motivation.

"I'm going to fight because of somebody," Clottey told a small cluster of reporters as he ran on a treadmill at Kingsway Gym a few blocks south of the Empire State Building.

"I'm fighting Pacquiao, but I'm fighting somebody else outside the ring. Nobody knows. I'll let everybody know after the fight. It's my secret."

Clottey moved from the treadmill to the ring for some punching practice against a sparring partner.

Looking on from the side, his manager Vinnie Scolpino might have let the cat out of the bag.

"He wants to beat (Pacquiao's trainer) Freddie Roach. That's his motivation," Scolpino said. "He wants to put him in his place. He beats Pacquiao, he puts Freddie in his place, too. Roach says he (Pacquiao) is going to knock him out.

Scolpino said Clottey was offended by the prediction.

BEST SHAPE

The lean yet muscular Clottey worked up a healthy sweat as he moved from the ring to the heavy bag and speed bag before finishing with some calisthenics and stretching.

"I'm in the best shape of my life," said Clottey, a former IBF welterweight champion who will carry a 35-3 record into the bout, including a controversial split decision loss to Miguel Cotto in his last fight.

Pacquiao, named Fighter of the Year in the last two years and Fighter of the Decade by the Boxing Writers Association of America, stopped Cotto in the 12th round in his last fight.

Clottey's big payday clash with Pacquiao (50-3-2) came about when the Filipino's mega-fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr fell through over arguments about dope testing protocols.

The million-dollar-plus purse will be Clottey's biggest.

"This fight is like a miracle," said the Ghanaian, adding that his defensive skills would be a crucial factor in the bout.

"We all know Manny Pacquiao. When he comes, he starts throwing. I'm just ready. My body can take it.

"When he throws on me, I will block him and that will confuse him. He'll throw 30, and I'll throw four. The four will connect. The 30, I'll block most.

"I will wear him down. For sure."

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: uk.news.yahoo.com
(Editing by Ken Ferris)

Clottey: “I Like Pacquiao, He Is So Nice!”

2010-03-05T11:55:00.002+08:00

Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey are on extremely good terms as they gear up for their March 13 showdown in Dallas. The two gentleman champions haven’t said a bad word about each other during all the pre-fight hype. I asked Clottey at his media workout in New York City on Thursday if there was anything he dislikes about his arch-rival?

“No, no. I don’t hold no grudge with any opponent. That’s how I am, I respect everybody I fight. I respect everybody here. That’s me. I know he’s a celebrity star – I don’t know anything about that. The only thing I know is I’m here and he’s here to take care of business. That’s what I expect. So I respect everybody. I respect him so, so, so, so much. The only fighter that disrespect me that I disrespect back was Zab Judah. But I respect everybody. When I Corrales, he was so nice. After we punch each other in the body and the head we still have to be like brothers.”

Clottey is a good-hearted, well liked friendly character who always has time for fans and media alike. Clottey is similar to Shane Mosley, Arturo Gatti, Tito Trinidad, universally liked by just about everyone associated with the sport. I ask Clottey, Is it hard to fight someone like Pacquiao with full intensity that he personally likes and respects so much? You and Cotto were very respectful to each other also.

Clottey replies, “After the fight Cotto don’t like to mingle, he don’t like to talk to people. It seems like he don’t want to be your friend. But Pacquiao is so nice. He even asked me (at one of the press conferences), Did you see my last fight? I said, Which fight? (He said) The Cotto fight? I said Yes. (He said) I beat him up for you [laughter]. I like that guy. I like him. But I want to beat him. I want to be the winner.”

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxinginsider.com

CLOTTEY READY FOR BATTLE AT COWBOYS STADIUM

2010-03-05T11:41:00.002+08:00

Joshua Clottey, Ghana hits the double-end bag during media day Thursday at Kingsway Gym in New York. Clottey is getting ready for the fight of his life against seven-time world champion and "Fighter of the Decade" Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao on Saturday, March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas,Texas on HBO Pay-Per-View.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: philboxing.com

Arum: Pacquiao faces toughest fight

2010-03-05T11:37:00.003+08:00

HOLLYWOOD – Freddie Roach said Wednesday that Manny Pacquiao can knock Joshua Clottey out inside nine rounds.

Most people would believe the four-time Trainer of the Year. But not Bob Arum, the promoter, who said it may go the other way.

“I don’t know how you’ll knock Clottey out,” said the Top Rank big boss who happens to promote the two fighters who will slug it out on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Arum, the greatest salesman in boxing, tried hard to keep his feelings to himself even if in the past he had described Pacquiao as “the greatest fighter ever” and therefore would be very hard to beat.

But he said Wednesday at the Wild Card Gym, as Pacquiao was hosting his final media workout before the fight, that Clottey will be the toughest fight for the Filipino champion over the last two years.

And that the unexpected can always happen in Texas.

“I would be much more surprised if Manny knocks him out,” said Arum, who tried to ignore the tremendous odds going against the 33-year-old Clottey, who is at minus-350 against Pacquiao’s plus-500.

He said the odds are just a reflection of how people, particularly the fight fans, look at the fight, and that in their minds it’s going to be very, very difficult for Pacquiao to absorb his first loss in five years.

“The odds would say that Manny Pacquiao, after the (Ricky) Hatton victory (in May 2009), after the (Miguel) Cotto victory (in November 2009), is now Superman. And people judge him accordingly.”

Arum said the odds are better pegged at two-and-a-half-to-one for Pacquiao.

“This fight is going to be harder than the Cotto fight. Why? Because Clottey is more durable than Cotto,” said the legendary promoter.

Cotto, who was pummeled by Pacquiao for 12 rounds, barely got away with a victory over Clottey in New York last year, and many felt that the 33-year-old Ghana was winning the fight until he slowed down in the last two rounds.

Arum really doesn’t know what’s going to happen on March 13 except that the fight is going to take place.

He even entertained questions or thoughts of Pacquiao losing the fight.

“Clottey is bigger and stronger but Manny is a much better boxer, a much better athlete. And if Manny loses, I would be sorry for Manny. But that’s boxing and a lot of things can happen. Clottey is a very good and a very dangerous welterweight,” said Arum.

“If Clottey is successful then I would go immediately to Clottey who is under promotion to us and ask him to do a rematch.

He’s not obligated but I would ask him for a rematch.”

Roach thinks that’s not gonna happen.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: philstar.com

Pacquiao's bumps, bruises: Manny imitates 'Braveheart'

2010-03-05T11:30:00.003+08:00

Happy Birthday manana to Coach Freddie Roach turning age 50 without missing a beat at Wild Card Gym

EXCLUSIVE: MICHAEL MARLEY'S MANNY PACQUIAO TRAINING CAMP NOTEBOOK

HOLLYWOOD -- Fighters, especially veterans of 55 fights like Manny Pacquiao, often go into battle with bumps and bruises, especially with sore or tender hands.

“That's nothing,” coach Freddie Roach said the other day, speaking generally about tender mitts or other ailments. “These things are what we call occupational hazards.”

Not to exaggerate here -- Manny won't be reaching for the Floyd Mayweather favorite painkiller, xylocaine -- but he did have a slightly swollen right hand last weekend. By Tuesday and Wednesday, though, the hand looked normal.

Pacman also suffered a slight case of shin splints recently, noticing them while doing his morning roadwork at scenic Griffith Park, LA's equivalent of New York's Central Park.

“That's just from overuse,” a source told me, “and the discomfort went away when Manny eased off a little bit.”

Figured it might be time for this roving reporter to rove on when I heard Pacquiao conclude a workout with a passable vocal impression of actor Mel Gibson as William Wallace in the stirring "Braveheart." Coach Roach said his Scottish boxer, Craig McEwan, schooled Manny on the guttural Scottish "burr."...

I mean, next thing you know, Manny will be imitating Sammy Davis Jr. doing his absolutely horrible version of "Shaft." Come to think of it, Manny would probably choose the sugary "Candyman."

While we sat at Nat's with him, Packy enjoyed one of conditioning guru Alex Ariza's special vitamin-loaded drinks with his food.

I would have asked for one but I was afraid it would render me bulletproof like the Pinoy soldiers from, what was it Roger Mayweather, something like 500 years ago? Who wants to be impervious to bullets, anyway?

Scottish boxer Craig McEwan taught Pacman the Scottish "burr" Mel Gibson spoke with in "Braveheart" (boxingrepublic.com)

Pacman's formal education may not be the deepest but he doesn't miss a trick. His quick impression of Cowboys owner and billionaire Jerry Jones?

“I like him, he is a down-to-earth type of guy,” Pacquiao said.

Takes one to know one, I guess...

Pacmom, known more formally as Nanay Ayling Dionesia, is NOT on the scene and was NOT chowing down at Nat's Wednesday next to Manny's boxing brother, Bobby.

I got that one totally wrong as neither Manny's mother or father will go to Dallas. The lovely lady I mkistakenly thought was Pacmom is her sister, Lilia, who lives in, of all places, Arlington, Va. More on this delightful person later...

Which reminds me that Pacmom never did reply to my heartfelt marriage proposal.

I would be such a great father-in-law for Pacman, right?

According to alluring Madam Auring, it just isn't in the cards. Guess I will move on with my crushed affections and all...

TV reporter to Bob Arum: "What do you think of (welterweight hopeful from Mexico) Saul Alvarez?"

Arum: "Don't know him, never heard him, don't know anything about him."

TV reporter: "How do you think he would do against Manny Pacquiao?"

I heard it with my own ears, folks, I really did...

Not to say the Wild Card's neighborhood is funky but the Yashinoya fast food joint has this sign prominently displayed: "No $100 bills after 10 p.m."...Who pays three or four bucks for rice and chicken or beef and then whips out a C note, anyway?...

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: Michael Marley - examiner.com

Joshua Clottey: "I Will Wear Down Manny Pacquiao"

2010-03-05T11:15:00.002+08:00

Former champion Joshua Clottey will try to wear down WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Texas. Pacquiao's stamina is one of his biggest advantages over opponents. Clottey has figured out a strategy to stop it. He put together a plan to make Pacquiao punch himself out.

"We all know Manny Pacquiao. When he comes, he starts throwing. I'm just ready. My body can take it. When he throws on me, I will block him and that will confuse him. He'll throw 30, and I'll throw four. The four will connect. The 30, I'll block most. I will wear him down. For sure," Clottey told Reuters.

If that strategy doesn't work until the very end, Clottey will have his back against the wall. He will end up losing most of the rounds, and the fight, unless he knocks Pacquiao out.

Clottey's manager Vinnie Scolpino said his fighter wants to shut the mouth of Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach. Roach has predicted a knockout win for his fighter. Clottey wants to teach him a lesson.

"He wants to beat (Pacquiao's trainer) Freddie Roach. That's his motivation," Scolpino said. "He wants to put him in his place. He beats Pacquiao, he puts Freddie in his place, too. Roach says he (Pacquiao) is going to knock him out.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingscene.com

Photos: Manny Pacquiao's Final Week of Training Camp

2010-03-04T11:05:00.000+08:00

Hollywood,Calif. --- Seven-time world champion and "Fighter of the Decade" Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao,General Santos,Philippines works out during media day at the Wildcard Boxing Club Wednesday as he winds down his training camp for his upcoming World Welterweight championship against challenger Joshua Clottey of Ghana. Top Rank's "The Event", will be held on Saturday,March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas,Texas and televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View. --- Photo Credit : Chris Cozzone/Top Rank

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingscene.com

Manny Pacquiao's Camp Enters Final Stage For Clottey

2010-03-04T11:03:00.001+08:00

With his left leg not bothering him any longer Filipino boxing hero and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao is in perfect shape for his showdown with big and strong Joshua Clottey at the $1.2 billion Dallas Cowboys Stadium on March 13 in a fight to be telecast in the Philippines by Solar Sports.

Conditioning expert Alex Ariza said Pacquiao added an Irish fighter whose name he couldn’t recall to his list of sparring partners with whom he went a total of ten rounds.

The sparring partners included Ghana's Abdulla Amidu (18-0, 17 knockouts)and longtime sparring partners Raymund Beltran and David Rodela.

Ariza said "it went very well and he (Manny) looked really good." In fact the conditioning expert was so enamored with Pacquiao’s showing that he said "he doesn’t look good, he looks great."

He said they worked "on a little bit of everything" which included his hand-speed, his movement in going at his opponent from different angles and darting in an out.
When asked whether Pacquiao was sort of winding down Ariza chuckled and said "hopefully, that’s the problem. Its hard to get him to slow down."

Ariza said he was happy that Pacquiao's bothersome left leg was holding up well even after he went jogging at Griffith Park on Monday.

Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz was in the meantime busy working on flight details of the trip to Dallas next Monday as well as room assignments and ticket allocations which are always a headache as a Pacquiao fight approaches.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingscene.com

Defence the key for Clottey

2010-03-03T11:31:00.003+08:00

Ghanaian says Pacquiao has his work cut out on March 13

Joshua Clottey believes he has the tools to end the winning streak of Manny Pacquiao in Dallas on March 13.

The tough Ghanaian lost a controversial decision to Miguel Angel Cotto in his last fight in June, with Pacquiao handing out a 12-round beating to the same opponent later in the year.

Clottey is something of an afterthought for Pacquiao after the much-hyped match with Floyd Mayweather fell through, but the 32-year-old says he is ready to cause a shock.

"I wasn't really thinking about this fight at all," he told boxingtalk.com. "But I know I can fight anybody and I know I can beat any boxer.

"It looked like somebody didn't want to fight. All the guys were talking about Pacquiao v Mayweather and it looks like he didn't want to do it, and it's good for me.

"I feel like it was a blessing from God."

Defence

While Clottey, whose record stands at 35-3 with 20 kos, will have a natural size advantage over Pacquiao, he insists it is not his superior strength that will be the key, but his defence.

"When he beats guys, like in the Cotto fight, he beats guys that don't have a good defence. I have a defence," he said. "I will never say anything bad about the guy because he is the best now.

"When I walk in the ring with Manny Pacquiao and I lost, I will tell everybody I lost the fight. But I keep telling people I didn't lose the Cotto fight because I don't feel that I did. When I walk into the ring, I do what I want to do to win the fight, to do my best."

He also said that while naturally lighter boxers like Pacquiao can throw a higher volume of punches, his more accurate blows will eventually tell.

"You know, I'm not a flyweight. I am not a bantamweight. I am a welterweight and welterweights only throw punches that connect.

"I can throw shots which connect and land and cause damage. Not throw a lot of punches that he is deflecting and blocking. If you look at the last fight, I won the last round.

Damage

"He threw punches and I blocked them and I threw punches and they connected. I will throw punches that cause damage."

While Clottey respects Pacquiao's star quality he knows that beating him would be a life-changing experience.

"He is the man now and he's giving me a chance to fight him and if I beat him, I'm going to be on top of the world," he added. "It will be very important to the people in my country and that is very important in life.

"When I walk into the ring I will know what I need to do to win the fight."

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: skysports.com

Roach Says ‘Pacman’ Will Stop Clottey

2010-03-03T11:28:00.002+08:00

Freddie Roach, SecondsOut’s Trainer of the Year believes Manny Pacquiao will stop Joshua Clottey when the pair clash at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas on March 13.

Pacquiao is renowned for his relentless and meticulous attitude towards training and Roach could not be happier with his fighter’s preparation so far.

Speaking of Clottey’s physical strength and the strategy Pacquiao will adopt in the fight Roach said: “He is a very strong guy(Clottey) and he’s a strong puncher. His best punch is the uppercut but we will not fall into that pocket too often to let him use that shot.

“I do have a lot of confidence in my fighter and the reason why is the way he has been sparring. We have big strong guys that fight a lot like Clottey.

“Manny has been handling them with ease in sparring. We had our best day of sparring yesterday – 11 great rounds and Manny pitched a shutout. We use four sparring partners yesterday and Manny is on top of his game and he’s got the game plan down and he’s very sharp right now. I’m happy where he’s at. I think we will overwhelm him and the fight will end before 12.”

Elaborating on Clottey’s ability and fight strategy Roach added: “We have the perfect game plan and I don’t care who trains Joshua Clottey for this fight, he can’t beat us.”

“He is what he is. Let’s face it. He fights the same way in every tape I watch. Whether he fights southpaws or right-handers, he is predictable. He’s good at what he does but he does the same thing over and over again and he is very predictable.

“He’s going to try to change for this fight but once he gets in he will revert back to it. We are 100% ready for his style. His is resilient. The beginning of the fight is going to be very hard because he is a very good opponent and he likes to fight. We will break him down and I am confident the fight will not go 12 rounds.”

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: secondsout.com

Pacquiao-Clottey: Joshua needs to stop being so nice to Manny

2010-03-02T11:41:00.002+08:00

I’m having hard time getting excited about this fight with Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KO’s) saying so many nice things about Manny Pacquiao. I know he’s happy that he got selected as Pacquiao’s opponent, but come on, man, where’s the fire? I want to throw every time I read all the niceties coming from Clottey about Pacquiao. Somehow I just can’t see Clottey winning when he’s constantly pouring compliments down Pacquiao’s throat 24/7. I just see the guy as another one of Pacquiao’s victims. I understand why Clottey is happy.

Clottey is getting at least a $1.5 million for the fight, and that number could very well double after the final Pay-Per-View numbers are in. However, Clottey has already signed the contract for the fight, and doesn’t need to worry about Pacquiao and his team pulling out of the fight and leaving Clottey with nothing.

It’s time to start showing some fire by telling Pacquiao what you’re going to do to the guy, and or least give the boxing fans a reason to want to throw down $50 to see this fight. I can’t see a reason to want to buy it because of the undercard, because I think it’s frankly awful. There’s no I want to see on the undercard and I wouldn’t even watch those guys fight if it were ESPN for free.

So for me, it’s all about the main event between Pacquiao and Clottey. Is this a $50 fight? I’m asking myself that question, and I keep coming up with the answer ‘no.’ I could easily change my mind if Clottey would stand up and start showing some meanness and make me think he’s going to win. But I don’t see that. All I’m hearing is nothing but overlapping compliments of Pacquiao about how great he is and all that good stuff.

And of course Pacquiao is being his usual gracious self. He never says much about his opponents to get excited about. For a fighter like Pacquiao, he really needs the type of opponent that can play up the bad guy role, and that’s missing in this fight. Ideally, a fighter should naturally have a hard edge to them at least when describing what he’s going to do to his opponent.

But Clottey sounds so casual even when he’s talking about how he plans on beating Pacquiao. It’s like he’s describing his grocery list. No fire, nothing. I can’t see Clottey winning. Something is missing from besides just his skills. I don’t see the fire there, so why should I want to buy this card? I think Clottey needs to get psyched up for this fight and explode on Pacquiao during every interview, and launch into him come fight night. But I just don’t that in Clottey.

The way he talks is the way he fights I’m afraid. I see him covering up, laying on the ropes and just taking shots until the referee pulls the plug on the fight and stops it early on. It won’t matter that Clottey probably won’t be hurt in the least at the time that the fight is stopped. Just by staying up against the ropes and taking shots without firing back it will be enough for the referee to stop this fight. Pacquiao will probably throw a ton of fast punching in a 30 second time period and get a quick stoppage, even with many of his shots missing.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Pacquiao-Clottey is a Competitive Match

2010-03-02T11:37:00.002+08:00

I just read an excellent article by Ryan Dunn on this site regarding the upcoming Pacquiao-Clottey match. It is a good read and Dunn has presented his analysis well. I would like to add my two cents for this match.

While I think that Manny Pacquiao is the favorite in this match, I do not think it will be an easy fight for him. Clottey , while not spectactular, is a rough customer: strong, tough, and skilled. Strong in the sense that he hits hard and his body seems to be chiseled from stone, tough in the sense that he has shown himself to be almost unhurtable to the chin, and skilled in that he covers well and punches with good technique with each hand. His loss to Cotto was by a very narrow margin.

Clottey’s weakness is that he can be out-hustled. He sometimes falls into his defensive shell for too long. In the past, he has lain too long on the ropes and collected punches on his arms. Against Pacquiao, Clottey needs to keep his punch output at a high level throughout the fight. It is a given that Pacquiao will blaze away with his combinations as long as the fight goes, so Clottey MUST stay in the fight by not freezing and fire back often. If he does this, then this higher offensive activity coupled with his strength and undentable chin can keep him in the fight, maybe even enough to win a decision or catch Manny with a shot on the button.

Pacquiao should work for a clear decision instead of a KO because I think Clottey is almost impossible to knockout. He should do this by not taking chances, moving in and out, and flurrying then retreating. In this way, he can avoid taking a big countershot from the durable Clottey. In other words, he should fight much the same way he fought against De La Hoya.

If Clottey wins, it will be a big upset and move him into bigger money fights. After all, he would have beaten the conquerer of Cotto, DLH, Hatton, Diaz, Morales and Barrera.

If Pacquiao wins by decision, it will be just another jewel in his crown, a crown that is already sparkling with enough gems to put him atop most experts P4P list. If Pacquiao KO’s Clottey, then it will be a very notable win and a testament to the terrific power and unusual punching angles of the Filipino Fighting Machine.

I can’t wait.

My prediction: Pacquiao by UD. JGA.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Texas: No 'good cause' for drug-testing Pacquiao, Clottey

2010-03-02T11:35:00.002+08:00

The well-chronicled argument between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. over drug testing was so heated and divisive it caused two money-loving athletes to walk away from a guarantee of $25 million each.

Mayweather's camp implied there was something not so natural about Pacquiao's steady move up in weight in recent years, with increased dominance in the ring, and Pacquiao grew so defensive about the jabs that he sued members of the Mayweather camp for defamation.

Now, less than two weeks before Pacquiao fights Joshua Clottey in the replacement fight March 13 at Dallas Cowboys Stadium, the executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has judged that there is no "good cause" to institute any pre-fight drug screening for either fighter before their welterweight main event.

Mayweather and Pacquiao's public fireworks over the issue, in which a federal arbitrator was summoned to mediate the argument, have already been considered by the Texas executive director, William Kuntz, said licensing and regulation spokeswoman Susan Stanford.

Stanford added Kuntz can still change his mind "at any time," ordering drug screening procedures that the fighters would need to pay for.

Nevertheless, the absence of testing seems stunning when it's considered that Mayweather's May 1 fight against Pomona's Shane Mosley in Las Vegas is subject to Olympic-style drug testing that is being negotiated to be supervised by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

Not only is USADA set to supervise random testing, including blood screening for human growth hormone that last week nabbed a British rugby player, Mayweather will have the option to request additional tests as long as he gives a sample of his own at or near the same time, said his advisor, Leonard Ellerbe, and promoter, Richard Schaefer, said.

Mosley has admitted that in the days before his 2003 mega-fight against Oscar De La Hoya, he used performance-enhancing drugs given him by BALCO founder Victor Conte. Mosley has insisted he thought the substances he took from Conte were legal vitamins.

The disparity in how the Pacquiao and Mayweather fights are being scrutinized (or not) is an unfortunate fact of life in boxing, says the president of the Assn. of Boxing Commissions, the national body that advises state commissions.

"Testing [is] an excellent idea, but the cost of [it is] somewhat cost-prohibitive," Timothy Lueckenhoff said. "If steroid testing is to be done as well as testing for illegal [street] drugs, it must be done across the board. When we talk about requiring all fights to be subject to this, we are just adding more cost to a struggling profession, especially regarding club show events.

"All drug testing is good and needed, but the cost is a huge factor right now."

-- Lance Pugmire

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com

Headline: Can Pacquiao wipeout Clottey?

2010-03-02T11:29:00.002+08:00

In Pacquiao’s last fight, Pacquiao was tested by one of the hardest punchers in the sport in Miguel Cotto. I recall Pacquiao getting buzzed for a second or two in a wild exchange against Cotto in the very early going of their great action packed fight. After the light buzz, Pacquiao then took Cotto’s best shots and took them with ease, Pacquiao later said that the Boriqua Bombers hard shots did indeed hurt, but Pacquiao pretended in his own mind that they really didn’t hurt. Come March 13, can Pacquiao pretend that Clottey’s fierce left hook tickles? I sure hope so, because come March 13 I will be picking Pacquiao to get the W over Clottey. I however do not see this fight as a wipeout as most observers out there are seeing this affair play out. I see this fight as a 8 rounds-4 or 7 rounds-5 kind of fight for Pacquiao. Many are picking Pacquiao based on 2 things, that is speed and power.

I will agree that Pacquiao does have the speed and power advantages over Clottey, but speed and power will not win this fight for Pacquiao. The things that will win this fight for Pacquiao will be heart and will. Will Pacquiao’s heart will The Pac-Man to keep firing off shots when he finds a steel iron chin Clottey resting on the ropes with his ear muffs on? How will Pacquiao react when he discovers that he can’t hurt Clottey as easily as he was able to hurt has past foes? Those are great questions to ask, but the bottom line is that Clottey just doesn’t throw enough shots to derail the Pacquiao Express. If I am Clottey, I would bring the fight to Pacquiao and constantly have Pacquiao backing up, Pacquiao is at his best when he is the one moving forward sitting on his punches and picking his spots. This is why I would push forward and place Pacquiao in a whole different place, take the rythym away from him. Can the Grand Master from Ghana do just that? I don’t think so. Pacquiao By UD.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: diamondboxing.com

Roach: Pacquiao's next fight could be his last

2010-03-02T11:20:00.006+08:00

This could be the end of Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, delivered this knee-buckling assessment for boxing fans already distraught by the failed Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. negotiations. "This could be our last fight," Roach said last week, as Pacquiao heads into the final days of training for his March 13 welterweight world title bout against Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium outside Dallas. Roach's sobering speculation about boxing's biggest star is based on a chain of events that could occur. Pacquiao, 31, is running for a congressional seat in his native Philippines. If elected in May, he'll represent a community of about 400,000 people in need of improved healthcare, education and employment that the boxer himself was deprived of while being raised in poverty.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: fannation.com

This Time Clottey's Non-Response Was Troubling

2010-03-01T11:07:00.001+08:00

This past Thursday there was a press call that featured Team Clottey along with promoter Bob Arum. Personally, I don't find fighter press outings and conferences to be all that informative. Sure, they can fill a writers' notebook with a lot of quotes. But having been around and associated with many world class fighters and champions, I know fighters are never going to disclose much about how they really feel and think about their upcoming fight and opponent. Obviously there are exceptions like Bernard Hopkins, James Toney, Floyd Mayweather and David Haye. However, they are the exception and certainly not the rule.

Most of today's fighters aren't going to shed anything that most observers haven't already figured out. Mangers, trainers and promoters are more than willing to talk - and that's because on fight night when the bell rings they step down and out of the ring. Whereas the fighters have to back up what they may have said during the run-up to a big fight or main event like Pacquiao-Clottey. Which is not the most comfortable position to be in if you're the fighter who lost.

During the conference call, Joshua Clottey was pressed as to what it is he sees about Pacquiao that makes him confident that he can beat him on March 13th. Others asked what it is that he had to improve on himself in order to become a better fighter. Clottey retorted by basically saying he's had a great training camp and is ready for the fight. The only thing Joshua said of substance was that by him being able to block a lot of Pacquiao's punches, Manny will in turn be a little more open for him to hit. Which of course is true. The problem is Pacquiao throws punches in bunches from a lot of unconventional angles. Meaning that if he's jammed with the first one or two he throws, three, four, five and six will be re-routed to the open areas. Which depending on how Clottey's chin holds up will either be his undoing or leave Pacquiao vulnerable to the presumably stronger Clottey.

The fact that fighters usually don't give up much to writers and commentators before the fight is just the way it is. Yet often you can tell that it's more the case of them holding something back and they are just keeping it to themselves so they don't show their hand before the fight. In fact Clottey admitted during the call that he didn't watch film of his opponents' fights. Then he said he's seen enough of Pacquiao to know how he fights. Okay, that's fair but here are the concerns I came away with.

One - Clottey is definitely troubled by not being able to be re-united with his first trainer, Ghanian Godwin Kotey, who was denied a US visa. Not only is that big for him emotionally, but it could turn out to be a disaster tactically. Secondly - Clottey gave me the impression that he really isn't sure what he wants to do or try to prevent Pacquiao from doing during the fight. And Manny Pacquiao is the wrong fighter to try and adjust to on the fly.

Granted, Pacquiao can disrupt the best formulated fight plan in the world during the heat of battle with his hand speed and shocking power. But if Clottey is under the impression that he can sit back and try and wait on what Pacquiao does - and then try to adapt to that and/or take it away--that's a colossal miscalculation. If Clottey was a little more aggressive he could use Pacquiao's mindset of being a real fighter against him, but that's not who he is.

The fact that Clottey didn't project that he's of the mindset and belief that he's going to fight as the bigger and stronger fighter is not a good sign. If it hasn't been drummed into Clottey's head by now that the only way he can win this fight is by forcing himself physically on Pacquiao, and hopefully that will be enough to break down the smaller opponent, then he really doesn't have much of a chance to score the upset. Pacquiao is a better boxer with faster hands and is the more accurate and sharper puncher. There's no way Clottey can sit back and try waiting and reacting to what Pacquiao is trying to do. But that's the impression I was left with as to what his approach to the fight will be after hearing him talk about it for 50 plus minutes.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: Frank Lotierzo - thesweetscience.com

No steroid testing for Pacquiao-Clottey fight – News

2010-03-01T11:02:00.002+08:00

According to Wallace Matthews of the Boston Herald, there won’t be any steroid testing for World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao or Joshua Clottey for their March 13th bout at the Dallas Cowboy stadium, in Arlington, Texas. Matthews says that a spokeswomen reported to him that “Texas does not test boxers for steroids unless there is a probably cause.” Clottey, 32, isn’t pushing the issue with Pacquiao unlike Floyd Mayweather Jr, who insisted on random blood testing to be conducted before he would fight Pacquiao.

This eventually led to their fight negotiations crumbling entirely and causing Pacquiao to eventually look in another direction and choose Clottey instead of Mayweather. Clottey, who seems just glad for the opportunity to fight Pacquiao, says “I don’t want to do that [ask for steroid and/or human growth hormone testing] because I respect him [Pacquiao] too much. I don’t think Manny Pacquiao would do that. But if he does, then he’s cheating the sport.”

It’s unclear if a fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao can be made in the future because Mayweather will likely not be as accommodating about testing for performance enhancing drugs. If Pacquiao wants to leave it up to the Nevada Athletic Commission to decide what testing methods should be used, it’s unlikely that they will rule in Mayweather’s favor by directing that random blood tests be used to check for drugs such as human growth hormone.

In that case, there probably won’t be a fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao in the future. It might not matter financially, because Pacquiao will do well no matter who he fights. As we see with his bout against Clottey, the bout could end up selling 45,000 tickets for the Dallas Cowboy Stadium and will probably really well in pay-per-view as well. The only problem is that Pacquiao would miss out on a fight that would shape his legacy by not facing Mayweather, and obviously Pacquiao would like to finish his career with a win over Floyd.

There’s talk of Pacquiao possibly retiring after the Clottey bout if he can’t get a fight with Mayweather. Pacquiao has political aspirations and if he wins office, this could be it for him. Mayweather, with Pacquiao out of the picture in the sport, would then take over and regain his status as the number #1 fighter in all of boxing and would likely dominate the welterweight division without too many problems.

Beyond Shane Mosley and Pacquiao, there’s really no one in or around the welterweight division that can give Mayweather any kind of trouble.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Pacquiao vs. Clottey – A Breakdown

2010-03-01T10:59:00.002+08:00

Joshua Clottey is a bruiser. He’s a solid fighter with a tight stance, and a tendency to bull rush his opponents with intentions of body shots and uppercuts.

Sometimes this style yields opportunities to land his power shots, but other times it can set up his blind hooks that cause head butts. Don’t rule out an early cut as Clottey tries to prove his worth against the pound-for-pound king. If a surprise knockdown of Pacquiao is going to happen for Clottey, it’s going to be in the early rounds.

And for those who think Clottey fades late, I’ll say this: Clottey will continue to throw punches at the same rate and speed for all 12 rounds. However, his bulldog, high-gloved defense will grow a little lax as those mammoth arms get heavy. Late in the Cotto fight he began to get tagged more frequently with left hooks as a result of arm fatigue.

Another point I wanted to make: Clottey is no chump. He steamrolled Diego Corrales, gave Miguel Cotto a run for his money, and while he couldn’t overpower the brick-fisted Antonio Margarito, he showed flashes of brilliance in the fight as well. Add to that list his impressive effort against Zab Judah, and a TKO of Jose Luis Cruz (something neither Sharmba Mitchell nor Shane Mosely managed to do), and you have a strong fighter with top-contender credentials.

He’s not the type of fighter you necessarily want to step in the ring against. He’s a strong, intimidating guy who looks like just about the last person you’d want to meet in a dark alleyway. He can hurt you with the uppercut, cut you with his bull-rushes, and wear you down with powerful body work. But as we’ve seen with other fighters, a ripped body with huge arms and shoulders doesn’t usually translate to unstoppable force or blazing hand speed. It’s often times just the opposite.

In Manny Pacquiao you have a more complete fighter. Before Freddie Roach got him into his gym, Manny was a one-dimensional, one-handed, but naturally gifted puncher. His repertoire seems to grow with every fight, as though a new weapon is honed and perfected with every bout he trains for. He has an unbelievable talent for putting torque on his punches from odd angles, creating opportunities for power punches when another fighter would simply be off balance and ineffective.

Roach has mentioned body punching will be a focal point of their training regime, but I have a feeling this fight will come down to Manny inciting a war, and finishing what he starts every single round. He will sap the willpower from Clottey bit by bit, until frustration leads to rash decisions like when Hatton fought Mayweather. This can lead to bad things, and I don’t see this fight being any different.

If Clottey is to stand a chance it will be on textbook counter punching. He can’t mess up or he’s going to get caught with Manny’s undetectable power shots. He isn’t going to get to Manny first, and by the time he gets his shots off, his target will most likelt have moved on to his next combination. Clottey is a lunger, and with those broad shoulders he’s able to put power into those shots. But even that can be neutralized if Manny takes a step outside and times a counter to Joshua’s exposed chin.

Manny should also be training against the uppercut, which is Clottey’s stock and trade. But the thing about Clottey’s inside work is that it’s usually pretty telegraphed, and easy to time if you’ve got the hand speed. Look at the Margarito fight, where he would crouch, lean in, block a blow, then deliver his uppercut.

I don’t believe Pacquiao will fall for that move more than once or twice. In fact, it’s possible he might use that weapon against Clottey. With dedicated body work, Manny can bring Joshua’s gloves down, and set up his patented hooks (both fists now, mind you). It’s worth noting, also, that Clottey has fairly inadequate head movement, which is a terrible characteristic against a speedy fighter like Pacquiao.

Some have reported Manny’s been training in the orthodox stance in training camp. I wonder if this is to throw the rhythm of the fight off in case Pacquiao is unable to circle Clottey like he did Cotto. It doesn’t seem like a problem against Joshua, however, who (when he’s not lunging) tends to riff off his opponent and play the counter-shot game.

There’s one move that hasn’t been talked about much, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it put into play in Manny’s game plan, and that is the feint. It worked to put Marquez on the ground, and it could work against Clottey, who likes to set his feet and throw counters. Head feints always seem to work well against counter punchers, for obvious reasons.

I just think Manny has all of the weapons, all of the answers needed to assuage the onslaught from Clottey in the early rounds. Manny might take some punishment in order to suss out Clottey, the same way he did against Cotto, as a way to see what adjustments the Ghanan Grand Master might have made in training camp. But in the end he should be able to figure his opponent out and maintain productive rounds early on, with a high likelihood with a stoppage in the middle to late rounds.

Most of this sounds academic, and fairly obvious, but I say it because I think there is less subtlety between these two styles, and most of what I believe will happen is based on some fairly predictable behavior by Joshua, and some fairly reliable expectations of Manny.

If you watch a highlight reel of Clottey’s KO’s however, you will realize quickly that he has a strong punch. He has the strength to hurt Pacquiao, about ten times more so than earlier fighters in Manny’s career like Barrera or Morales.

But in the end, as has been the case ever since Manny moved up in weight, speed kills. Many of these welterweights aren’t used to seeing hands as fast as Manny’s. I would argue that Manny’s hands are faster than Mosley’s, and he can throw combinations as effectively as Mayweather when he’s in his rhythm. If you read any review of Manny’s fights starting with David Diaz, you’ll see the familiar line: “the opponent never saw the punches coming.” And it’s true, they don’t.

Also, if an opportunity to put Clottey away early presents itself, don’t expect Manny to hold back. He might say he’s looking to entertain the fans with a late round stoppage, but he takes whatever openings his opponents give him, as any fighter should. Clottey’s never really been hurt in his fights, and with opponents like Cruz, Corrales, Cotto and Margarito, he’s been in the ring with his fair share of strong fists. Something tells me this fight will be different for Clottey. Worse for him.

I want to close this article with a note to the ongoing feud between Pacquiao and Mayweather fans. There is room in this sport for more than one great fighter. Let’s just agree that both of these guys are fantastic for their own reasons. You can put one or the other up against a bum and the bum could upset them. That’s what makes this sport so exciting. Mayweather has won all 40 of his professional fights with some of the slickest boxing the game has ever produced. Pacquiao has knocked out or outclassed some of the best fighters of our time, and continues to knock out opponents despite going into just about every fight the smaller guy.

The next fight up is Pacquiao vs. Clottey. Let’s all enjoy what this fight has to offer, two brawlers who love to go toe-to-toe and test their opponent’s mettle. And then come May, we can watch two of the fastest punchers in the sport trying to outsmart, outwit, and outlast one another inside the blue island they call the ring.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Roach is going to have egg on his face if Pacquiao loses to Clottey

2010-03-01T10:55:00.002+08:00

With all the bragging and predictions that trainer Freddie Roach has been making about Manny Pacquiao beating Joshua Clottey by a knockout, Roach is going to have some serious egg on his face should Pacquiao get taken out or otherwise beaten by Clottey on March 13th at the Dallas Cowboy Stadium. Roach has been saying how Clottey isn’t very good, is a flawed fighter and how Pacquiao is going to get to him in the 12th round.

And all the bragging about how Pacquiao is dominating his sparring partners. If I read another Roach article where he’s drooling over Pacquiao’s sparring against some hapless sparring partners I think I’ll scream. Who cares that Pacquiao is beating up on his sparring partners? I’d rather hear how Roach is bringing in someone that can really test Pacquiao like Alfredo Angulo, Paul Williams or Kermit Cintron. If Roach brings those guys in, Pacquiao might be picking up his teeth around the ring.

Those are the guys that Pacquiao should be sparring with, not some little guys or light punchers. That won’t happen, of course. It’s too bad because at least Pacquiao would get some good sparring before he faces Clottey.

Roach is clearly on cloud nine with Pacquiao’s wins over Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. In almost every interview, Roach has this smug look on his face, as if he’s self congratulating for the success that Pacquiao has had over these guys. That will all change if Clottey ends up giving Pacquiao a beating on March 13th.

I just wonder how Roach will look if he ends up having to peel Pacquiao off the canvas if Clottey takes him out and gives him a beating. I think it might be good for Roach to eat some humble pie. He would then have to step back with his bragging and all his predictions about knockout victories and rethink that kind of bold talk. I think Roach would continue to make knockout predictions for Pacquiao even if he does take a beating against Clottey.

I think it will take at least three consecutive losses before Roach comes down to earth and starts making more reasonable predictions. But can you imagine how Roach will look if Pacquiao loses to Clottey? There would be no point in talking about Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Shane Mosley anymore, because Clottey would erase any talk about them for the time being. Roach would then have to put his entire focus on trying to somehow regain what was lost.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Pacquiao Schooling Sparring Partners; Clottey KO Eyed

2010-02-26T20:28:00.001+08:00

Boxing’s current pound-for-pound hero and “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao put on his best performance since he started training for “The Event” against Joshua Clottey at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium on March 13 in the first defense of the WBO welterweight title he won with a 12th round stoppage against Miguel Cotto last November.

Conditioning expert Alex Ariza told us “I would be lying if I didn’t say it was the best day we’ve had in the last seven weeks” even as celebrated trainer Freddie Roach remarked “it was our new best day.”

Asked to elaborate on why they considered Pacquiao’s performance the best since he opened training camp at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, Ariza replied “he fought literally everybody in the gym. He went eleven rounds easy with four separate sparring partners.”

Pacquiao started off with two rounds against longtime sparring partner, super featherweight David Rodela ( 14-2-2, 6 KO/s) who is known for his quickness, then did three rounds with undefeated light welterweight Mike Dallas (11-0-1, 2 KO’s) followed by three rounds with another undefeated fighter in welterweight Abdulla Amidu (18-0, 17 KO’s) of Ghana where Clottey comes from and ended by going three rounds with experienced welterweight Steve Forbes (34-7, 10 KO’s) who won his last fight against Jason Davis by a 2nd round TKO after dropping unanimous decisions against Oscar De La Hoya and Andre Berto.

Ariza noted that “you have to really be there to believe it. I mean he (Pacquiao) can do whatever he wants when he wants. His footwork was great ” even as the conditioning guru admitted he was “so nervous going eleven rounds with the bad leg and everything but he took this morning off, just focused on therapy and exercising it and stretched it, and it held up, thank God.”

Ariza noted that mentally, Pacquiao was “happy and looks great to me. His weight is perfect at 153 pounds, is carrying it around and looks good and he’s in a good mood. He looked phenomenal.”

Plans for tomorrow include another day at the track focused around Pacquiao’s footwork and speed, according to Ariza.

Reacting to a report by renowned Top Rank photo journalist Chris Farina that Clottey was ripped and ready, Ariza said “if you saw Manny and he was fighting this Saturday - I don’t expect this fight is going twelve rounds. If Manny fights the way he did today this fight is not going twelve rounds, I can guarantee it.”

Ariza noted he was glad Manny is resting and said Roach is the happiest he’s been in this camp watching the way Manny works, adding that Pacquiao “does what he wants and if he wants he won’t let those guys (sparring partners) lay a hand on him.”

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingscene.com

Clottey: "Beating Manny Pacquiao Will Put Me at The Top"

2010-02-26T20:25:00.001+08:00

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. - After running miles on a beach, Joshua Clottey did a national conference call and then went straight to the Carter Park Contender Boxing Gym on Sunrise Ave.

"I want to train hard and be completely prepared," Clottey said after the media call. "Beating Pacquiao will mean a lot to my country Ghana and will put me on top of the world."

Clottey plans to break camp on this weekend, then return home to New York City. Beginning Monday, Clottey will work out at a gym in the Bronx. His Media Day is scheduled at the Kingsway Gym, 1 West 28th St., New York City on Thursday, March 4, 1 pm.

Pacquiao vs. Clottey 'The Event' is scheduled March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Pacquiao vs. Clottey is promoted by Top Rank, MP Promotions, Tecate and is available on HBO Pay Per View.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingscene.com

Manny Pacquiao Eases Up, While Clottey Steps on The Gas

2010-02-26T20:23:00.000+08:00

“Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao eased up in his training grind on Wednesday as he returned to the track at the LA High School.

After a hard workout in the morning trainer Freddie Roach asked him to ease up and have a light workout in the Wild Card Gym in preparation for what conditioning expert Alex Ariza said “will be a long sparring session tomorrow (Thursday in LA.)"

Ariza told us that “everything is going really well” and that Wednesday was the first day that Pacquiao “went to the track after the leg injury last weekend and he looks a hundred percent.”

Ariza said that since Pacquiao had a hard day on Tuesday when he sparred ten rounds and then a hard workout on the track, trainer Freddie Roach “talked to him to having a light workout and preparing for a tough sparring session on Thursday” although there was no definite word on who his sparring partners would be.

Last Tuesday Pacquiao went five rounds with undefeated Ghana welterweight Abdulla Amidu (18-0, 17 KO’s) and pushed Roach to allow him to follow up with five rounds against Stevie Forbes.

The conditioning expert who, working alongside Roach has turned Pacquiao into a devastating fighting machine said Pacquiao was “feeling good. Manny is the type that just when his legs feel better he wants to see how far he can push it so we are trying to keep him from doing that.”

But while there are rave reviews about Pacquiao’s preparation coming out of the Wild Card Gym, award-winning photographer Chris Farina of Top Rank who visited the training camp of challenger Joshua Clottey was quoted by Chris Robinson of Examiner.com as saying that Clottey “looked awesome” and that he is “completely ripped and toned.”

Farina said Clottey was “punching his sparring partners around the ring. He was going to knock out one of the guys with thunderous punches. It seems to me that they are almost slowing him down and backing him off because they don’t want him to peak too early.”

Farina told Robinson “this is just my impression . He (Clottey) looks like he’s ready to jump through the building.”

With problems in getting a US visa for his trainer and problems within his training camp Clottey brought in renowned cutman Lenny De Jesus, a Puerto Rican who trains fighters in New Jersey and worked the corner of Pacquiao in his early years with his last assignment being the first encounter with Erik “El Terrible” Morales.

Farina reported that Clottey appeared to be completely primed for his March 13 date on “The Event” at the $1.2 billion Dallas Cowboys Stadium and that the former IBF welterweight champion seemed completely at peace with the world.

He said Clottey is “totally at ease, was relaxed and calm. He is a super guy. He’s like Pacquiao. He does basically anything you eant him to do and they are very accommodating type of fighters. There are hardly any egos involved.”

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingscene.com

Will Clottey's strategy of wearing Pacquiao down work?

2010-02-25T12:05:00.003+08:00

Joshua Clottey and his team have said that their strategy for defeating Manny Pacquiao and taking his WBO welterweight title will revolve around wearing him down.

The immediate problem with this plan is that it's the same one that plenty of other fighters have tried in the past, and most failed spectacularly.

Granted that not all of them posed the same problems for Pacquiao that Clottey does, but the fact remains that wearing down Pacquiao is usually an uphill struggle.

Traditionally Pacquiao has always struggled with good counter punchers, and last came close to defeat against Juan Manuel Marquez. Clottey is a great counter puncher, but doesn't have the boundless energy needed to get the better of Pacquiao over 12 rounds. So as well as wearing Pacquiao down then, he will have to do it early and probably win by stoppage.

Obviously Clottey's trainers will have something more specific planned for Pacquiao than I've detailed here, but the plan seems like a gamble to me. Miguel Cotto thought his size advantage would make all the difference, and in the end he barely made a dent. Similarly the then larger Ricky Hatton was stopped in his tracks before he even got going.

As for Pacquiao and Freddie Roach, their preparations will probably sacrifice a few of the initial rounds, and wait until Clottty tires out and drops his output for Pacquiao to attack. The blueprint for beating Clottey seems to have been established and the biggest remaining factor seems to be Clottey's size and strength.

Hunter Lemore, Pittsburgh PA: "Clottey's big plan is to wear down the most durable fighter in the division, with his quit after round 6 style? This isn't going to end well for Clottey"

The gamble Clottey and his team seem to be taking is that being much bigger and stronger than Pacquiao, he will be able to hurt him early and tire him out. He might have some early success, but I can't see Pacquiao getting tired out, especially if Clottey drops the pace half way through.

Michael Brown, Pittsburgh PA: "Clottey will surprise a lot of people here, he can hit harder than Pacquiao and he can take a beating as well. If he doesn't do his usual later round fade out the fight will be close."

Clottey does have the power and chin to tough it out with Pacquiao, but I think he'll look too slow and sluggish compared to Manny's work rate. The first half might be closer than the Cotto fight, but so far Clottey hasn't shown any reason to suggest that he won't do his usual slowdown during the later rounds.

Chris Simpson, Greensburg PA: "Pacquiao will run through Clottey like a Filipino freight train and there isn't anyone out there who can stop him."

There are still three fighters who I think could give Pacquiao a run for his money. Those fighters are Floyd Mayweather, Antoino Margarito and Paul Williams. At least one of those fights will probably happen, possibly two. The only unlikely one is Paul Williams, but for the time being he's at light middleweight anyway.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: examiner.com

Photos: Joshua Clottey Florida Training Camp Gallery

2010-02-25T11:31:00.002+08:00

"RIPPED AND READY" --- Challenger and #1 contender Joshua Clottey,Ghana is in top condition, ripped and ready to challenge Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao,General Santos City,Philippines on Saturday,May 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas,Texas on HBO Pay-Per-View. Here are some Clottey camp photos from Fort Lauderdale,Florida. --- Photo Credits: Chris Farina/Top Rank

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingscene.com

Joshua Clottey: 'I Won't Run, I Will Attack Manny Pacquiao'

2010-02-25T11:26:00.001+08:00

Challenger Joshua Clottey said he plans to charge and attack early when he takes on 'Fighter of the Decade' Manny Pacquiao at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on March 13.

"I plan to go right at him. There's no way he's chasing me around the ring," Clottey said at his training camp in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Clottey revealed he doesn't have a single boxing video of Pacquiao in camp.

"I already know what he's all about. He's a great champion. This is a difficult fight. But I am going for the win right away, as soon as the bell rings," Clottey said. "I know personally he talks about me all of the time and there is a lot of concern in his camp."

Pacquiao vs. Clottey is promoted by Top Rank in association with MP Promotions and Tecate. Pacquiao vs. Clottey 'The Event' will be available on HBO Pay Per View.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingscene.com

Pacquiao's Leg Pain Gone, Returns To Sparring Hard

2010-02-25T11:05:00.001+08:00

The pain in his left leg no longer bothering him, pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao snapped out of what conditioning expert Alex Ariza referred to as “a little bit of a slump as his leg was bothering him” and in ten rounds of sparring Tuesday “looked phenomenal.”

Ariza said Pacquiao started off with five rounds against Abdullai Amidu, the welterweight from Ghana who is undefeated in 18 fights with 17 wins by knockout and then took on Stevie Forbes for another five rounds.

The original plan was for Pacquiao to spar four rounds with Forbes but Ariza told us “it was Manny who asked for an extra round.”

Ariza said Pacquiao “moved well and looked great.” Ariza said he sat down and talked about ”a couple of things” with Pacquiao “including a couple of things we didn’t do that we did in the last camp (for the Miguel Cotto title fight) and I think we were just too lazy but hopefully we’ll have it taken care of by the time the fight comes” against former champion Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the $1.2 billion Dallas Cowboys Stadium

Ariza said they did some different exercises focusing on the muscle in Pacquiao’s left leg that was bothering him and Pacquiao indicated that “everything was perfect today.” The conditioning guru said they are not going to stop the treatment .

Pacquiao ran on the track at the Los Angeles High School for the first time after treating his leg for a couple of days and although Manny said “it was a little tight we treated it again after running today and then we did some exercises and stretching before sparring and Manny said he was a hundred percent.”

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingscene.com

Pacquiao's Left Leg Pain is Not a Big Problem, Says Koncz

2010-02-25T11:01:00.001+08:00

The reported pain in Manny Pacquiao’s left leg is no cause for concern according to adviser Michael Koncz.

Koncz said “its nothing serious. Just cramps” even as he asked us as well as Pacquiao’s fans to “relax, don’t worry. He’ll be ready for the fight.”

He said Pacquiao’s sparring was “great as always” and emphasized that the “Fighter of the Decade” and the reigning pound-for-pound king was “ready and I have no concerns.”

Among those who went nine rounds with Pacquiao were longtime sparring partner, super lightweight Raymund Beltran and undefeated light welterweight Mike Dallas Jr, an undefeated 23 year old with a record of 11-0-1 with 2 knockouts.

Pacquiao initially didn’t tell anybody about his discomfort while jogging but when he began to go through his shadow boxing routine at La Brea park he said his leg ached.

In an interview with Chino Trinidad of GMA 7 at the Wild Card Gym after he was attended to by conditioning expert Alex Ariza, Pacquiao said it was the same ailment he suffered in his fight against Juan Manuel Marquez and that “we are doing what we did before so it won’t ache.”

However, trainer Freddie Roach asked Pacquiao to ease off a little in training where he tends to push himself extra hard.

Roach himself had expressed concern in the past over the possibility that Pacquiao could aggravate an old leg injury caused by playing basketball regularly which Roach has tried to stop, unsuccessfully.

Pacquiao’s opponent. Former world champion Joshua Clottey continued his training in Fort Lauderdale, Florida under Pacquiao’s former cutman Lenny De Jesus who worked his corner in the first Erik Morales fight and also trains fighters in New Jersey.

Clottey said he was in top condition for the March 13 showdown with Pacquiao at the $1.2 billion Dallas Cowboys Stadium adding, “I’ve worked hard for weeks in Florida” and claimed that “we have a game plan which will give Pacquiao a lot of problems. “

The Ghanian fighter who dropped a controversial decision to Miguel Cotto prior to Pacquiao stopping the Puerto Rican in the twelfth round said “no one is unbeatable including Manny and I personally know he’s worried about me, how big and strong I will be in the ring that night.”

Pacquiao’s speed and power are key factors in his recent remarkable run of victories where his ability to move in and out in rapid fire movements may be hampered if his leg doesn’t heal and although Pacquiao's team plays down the problem, there appears to be a tinge of concern over it.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingscene.com

Joshua Clottey ‘If I win this fight, I will never feel like I beat the best fighter in the world’

2010-02-23T11:06:00.003+08:00

Well, it appears that Clottey has started drinking the Mayweather ‘hater-ade’. Up to this point, I thought Clottey was being very respectable and humbled toward Pacquiao but I guess it was only a matter of time before it all changed. Let’s examine Clottey’s latest comments.

"If I win this fight, I will never feel like I beat the best fighter in the world.” Clottey, Fanhouse

Clottey, I hate to break it to you but you are fighting the best fighter in the world. He’s ranked #1 as the best pound for pound fighter. He’s won several fighter of the year awards and fighter of the decade. But don’t worry about never “feeling like you will beat the best fighter in the world”, because you aren’t going to win.

"I'll say, 'It's not an upset, just a win' " Clottey, Fanhouse

Just a win? Are you kidding me? Clottey, this would be the biggest win in your career. This would be a huge upset. You might not want to say it’s an upset, but the rest of the world will say it’s an upset.

“I feel like I’m undefeated” Clottey, Fanhouse

I feel like Clottey is smoking something. Did he save up all of his craziness for this interview? Up to this point he’s been mild and respectable. Now, he’s just hitting us with 1-2 combos of “jibber jabber”. As Mr. T always said “I pity the fool”. And right now, I sure do pity Clottey.

Aaron Davis Sacramento, CA “What are the chances of Clottey pulling off the upset?”

Well first, don’t tell Clottey it’s an upset. Because he thinks it’s just another win. Second, I give Clottey a 1.5% chance of winning and that’s only if Pacquiao doesn’t even show up to the ring.

Jose Gonzales Sacramento, CA “Does this fight go the distance?”

Now this is a good question. I think Manny gets the TKO by the 5th round. However, stranger things have happened in the ring like Tyson biting off Evander’s ear. In fact, that’s the only way it goes the distance is if Clottey bites off Manny’s ear or gives him a massive “Andre the Giant” headbutt to the bridge of the nose.

Manny's just like everyone else

2010-02-23T11:00:00.004+08:00

JOSHUA CLOTTEY reckons it should not go down as an upset if he beats Manny Pacquiao.

Clottey, 32, is the clear underdog heading into his clash with the pound-for-pound king on March 13.

But the Ghanaian is confident he can defy the odds at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

Clottey said: "Pacquiao is a human being, like everyone else. He's just a really good fighter who is currently No1.

"If I win this fight, I will never feel like I beat the best fighter in the world.

"I will feel like I had a fight with the best fighter out there right now — and I won.

"I'll say, 'It's not an upset, just a win'."

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: thesun.co.uk

Joshua Clottey: "I Will Wear Manny Pacquiao Down"

2010-02-23T10:48:00.002+08:00

Former champion Joshua Clottey has no idea what all the fuss is about. He had a few setbacks against fighters like Carlos Baldomir, Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto. He doesn't think about those defeats. He still views himself as an unbeaten fighter. Clottey tells Lem Satterfield of AOL FanHouse that he won't view a win over Pacquiao as an upset, but just another win in the bank. Clottey faces Pacquiao on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

"I've never left the ring feeling like I lost. I feel like I'm undefeated. If I win this fight against Manny Pacquiao, I will never feel like I beat the best fighter in the world," said Clottey. "I will feel like I had a fight with Manny Pacquiao, the best fighter out there, and I won," said Clottey. "So even if I beat Pacquaio, and people talk about it like it's a big upset, I'll say, 'It's not an upset, but a win.'"

Some people treat Manny Pacquiao like a super hero. Not Clottey. He sees him as just another fighter and plans to beat him as such.

"Manny Pacquiao is a human being, like everyone else. He's just a really good fighter who is out there now who is No. 1 now," said Clottey. "I don't know how he's coming to fight me, but I can tell you that I'm a different fighter altogether than anyone else that he's faced. I'm a really difficult fighter, you see."

Clottey understands what he brings to the table, and what Pacquiao brings to the table. Pacquiao has the big advantage in speed. Clottey plans to stay in there and work Pacquiao over to wear him down. He wants to punish the Filipino fighter enough to slow him down.

"Pacquiao is coming from a smaller weight to welterweight, and he's going to have an advantage in speed already because he's a smaller guy. I can't throw a lot of punches like Pacquiao will do. But I will connect enough to make him slow down and wear down, and bring his speed down," said Clottey.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: Mark Vester @ boxingscene.com

End of the road for Pacquiao's boxing career?

2010-02-22T11:02:00.004+08:00

This is what some people are reporting. Manny Pacquiao is scheduled to fight big Joshua Clottey on March 13th, in Dallas, Texas. After that is just a guess. It's still hard to imagine that both Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr would opt out of 30 to 40 million bucks to fight one another. Time will tell if that fight ever gets done.

So will the Clottey fight be Pacquiao's last? Don't bet on it. This writer recently posed that question directly to Manny last month. Pacquiao while training at Wild Card Gym, in Hollywood, took a few minutes to respond to the retirement question, "It's hard to say right now. Maybe three of four more fights." According to that response his retirement is not tomorrow, yet not too far down the road either.

It's not crazy to think that Manny may continue on with his boxing career even if he is elected to congress. Pacquiao spoke about the possibility of fighting if he wins the congressional seat, "Maybe I will keep fighting."

Pacquiao fans in Mississippi do not want him to retire. The fans that I spoke with all hope to see him fight at least 5 more years. I took another little tour around Jackson, MS and stopped at a few of the city's best sports bars. Pacquiao's fans spoke about his eventual retirement and the overwhelming consensus was clear, they don't want him to. Jansen Groves, a big Pacquiao fan spoke about it, " I don't even like thinking about the day when Manny goes. He has done so much for the sport, and more importantly for his country. There will be a big void in boxing once Manny retires."

It appears as if Manny's plan is to fight 3 to 4 more fights. Perhaps after Clottey he looks at Mayweather Jr again. If Shane Mosley defeats Floyd, perhaps Manny gives him the payday of a lifetime. Another fan friendly fight would be Manny Pacquiao vs Edwin Valero. There are still a few very interesting matches that can be made for Manny Pacquiao. Will he retire after Clottey? I wouldn't bet on that.

Freddie Roach speaks about Manny's possible retirement here - http://http://www.eatthemushroom.com/mag/article.asp?id=1334&catID=6

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: examiner.com

ARIZA: WE CAN’T ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE

2010-02-22T10:54:00.002+08:00

“Fighter of the Decade” and the world’s pound-for-pound hero Manny Pacquiao is doing so well in training for “The Event” against Ghana’s tough Joshua Clottey at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium on March 13, that conditioning expert Alex Ariza says “we can’t ask for anything more.”

Ariza told us that Pacquiao sparred nine rounds on Saturday with Steve Forbes who once fought Oscar De La Hoya and went the distance with him and also Raymund Beltran, a regular sparmate of “The Pacman.”

Ariza said Pacquiao showed “amazing speed and power and is ready to go anytime.”

He said it was obvious that Pacquiao was relaxed and happy and looking forward to the clash with Clottey.

After Pacquiao’s workout at the Wild Card Gym of trainer Freddie Roach, Ariza told us Pacquiao was “feeling good and Freddie was obviously happy and had a smile on his face and when they are happy, I am happy.”

Ariza believes there is no welterweight in the world today who could take on Pacquiao and beat him and that includes Floyd Mayweather Jr and Shane Mosley who are scheduled to face-off against each other in May.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: philboxing.com

Manny Pacquiao Sparring With Steve Forbes and Beltran

2010-02-22T10:49:00.001+08:00

“Fighter of the Decade” and the world’s pound-for-pound hero Manny Pacquiao is doing so well in training for “The Event” against Ghana’s tough Joshua Clottey at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium on March 13, that conditioning expert Alex Ariza says “we can’t ask for anything more.”

Ariza told us that Pacquiao sparred nine rounds on Saturday with Steve Forbes who once fought Oscar De La Hoya and went the distance with him and also Raymund Beltran, a regular sparmate of “The Pacman.”

Ariza said Pacquiao showed “amazing speed and power and is ready to go any time.”

He said it was obvious that Pacquiao was relaxed and happy and looking forward to the clash with Clottey.

After Pacquiao’s workout at the Wild Card Gym of trainer Freddie Roach, Ariza told us Pacquiao was “feeling good and Freddie was obviously happy and had a smile on his face and when they are happy, I am happy.”

Ariza believes there is no welterweight in the world today who could take on Pacquiao and beat him and that includes Floyd Mayweather Jr and Shane Mosley who are scheduled to face-off against each other in May.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingscene.com

Roach: Opening rounds hard for Pacquiao, Clottey

2010-02-19T12:33:00.002+08:00

MANILA, Philippines – Although boxing coach Freddie Roach is confident that Manny Pacquiao will demolish Joshua Clottey, he sees a very hard fight for both boxers.

The prized trainer said he thinks the March 13 bout between reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champ Pacquiao and challenger Clottey might even turn out just like the Miguel Cotto fight last November.

“Just like the Cotto fight... the first half of the fight will be really, really hard for both guys,” Roach said in an interview with FightFan.com.

Roach, who oversees Pacquiao’s training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California, acknowledges Clottey’s durability.

He, however, said the Ghanaian’s defense leaves much to be desired so he expects his Filipino ward to assert himself by the middle rounds.

“We will take over in the middle or late rounds,” said Roach.

Passive defense
Roach said he has patterned some of Pacquiao’s strategies against the Ghanaian’s “amateurish” defense.

“He's passive, he's way too passive,” he said while describing Clottey’s defensive stance. “That works in the amateurs. There's no counter punching in that defense. He waits for you to finish your combinations then he throws.”

Roach said the only way Clottey would be effective against Pacquiao is if the Ghanaian engages the Filipino into a full fight.

This means Clottey would have himself get hit before he can tag Pacquiao with power punches.

“For him to be effective, he has to hit while we're engaging also for him to land that power shot, but he seems like he doesn't do that a lot,” said the boxing coach.

Waiting for Pacquiao to get tired would only bring Clottey more trouble.

“[Because] Pacquiao… doesn't get tired,” said Roach.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Column: Pacman don’t need no ’roids, he’s got dynamite!

2010-02-19T11:48:00.003+08:00

The Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight has now been called off. Pacquiao has also filed a defamation lawsuit against Mayweather, his father Floyd Sr., his uncle Roger, and Golden Boy Promotions for allegedly accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs.

The controversy started after Pacquiao knocked out British boxer Ricky Hatton in the second round last year. Hatton was trained by Floyd Mayweather Sr. Before the Hatton fight, several British papers reported that Floyd Sr. was going to get fired by Hatton’s camp for problems that included showing up late for training.

After Hatton was knocked out, Floyd did not try to support his fighter. Instead, he signed autographs, and during the post-fight conference, he blamed Hatton by claiming that he did not follow his instructions about keeping his hands up. He also stated that Hatton should retire.

At some point, after the Hatton fight, Floyd Sr. also claimed that Pacquiao had to be on steroids given how hard he hit Hatton.

Fast forward a few months and a fight is scheduled with Floyd Sr.’s son. The steroid issue was raised again, and after lengthy negotiations, the fight was eventually called off. The Mayweather camp wanted blood tests by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which conducts tests anytime a fight is signed to the fight date. However, the Pacquiao camp refused to provide these samples. They were only willing to allow blood to be taken from Pacquiao at least 30 days before the fight date, as well as immediately after the conclusion of the bout. Freddie Roach, on the other hand, commented that he would allow a blood sample to be taken from Pacquiao at least one week before the fight.

None of the news reports I have seen ever mentioned any solid evidence of steroid use such as witnesses who claimed they supplied steroids to Pacquiao. Floyd Sr. started the whole controversy by insulting Pacquiao and insisting that he had to be on steroids. He has a pattern of obnoxious behavior. For example, before the Hatton fight, he called Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie “the joke” Roach. Pacquiao should not have had to go out of his way to accommodate Mayweather, and it is understandable that he eventually decided to not bother doing business with someone who is disrespectful.

Pacquiao’s physique does not appear to show signs associated with steroid use such as upper body acne. He did bulk up from fighting at 106 pounds when he was 16 to his current 147-pound fighting weight at age 31.

However, people ofen fill out as they get older. Pacquiao’s strength coach, the usually reserved Alex Ariza, felt compelled to defend his fighter to the press and detailed the boxer’s 7,000-calorie diet, approved supplemental intake, and natural physique.

His power comes from the combination of a number of factors. Basically, power is a product of mass times speed. The faster you punch, the harder you hit. But you also need to coordinate your motions so that you get the maximum weight behind the punch.

Pacquiao has a lot of leg strength, which he uses to drive his upper body in transmitting power into his fists.

He has developed the ability to hit from a variety of angles, and he has excellent footwork, which puts him into a position where he can blast through his opponents guard.

There are many factors that give the “Pacman” his winning edge, and steroid use is highly unlikely.

Pacquiao does not like to get his blood drawn shortly before a fight because of his belief that it weakens him.

Some news reports made it sound like taking blood is just a pin prick. I called up a local lab testing service and was told a minimum sample takes at least 3 milliliters. The sample size can vary depending on how the blood test is conducted. In some cases, the blood sample can fill up the whole collection vial and be as much as 8 milliliters. This is quite a bit more than just a drop.

Pacquiao is now scheduled to fight Joshua Clottey, who is from Ghana. Unlike Mayweather, who is more of a tactical defensive boxer, Clottey has a reputation as an aggressive fighter. He also comes across as polite and leaves out the tiresome trash talk you hear from a lot of fighters. At 5’9”, he has a substantial size advantage over Pacquiao. But as we know, that didn’t stop Pacquiao from annihilating Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto.

The fight is scheduled for March 13, and it should an exciting one!

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: Mark Lee @ Northwest Asian Weekly

Pacquiao’s training hits a high chord

2010-02-19T11:25:00.004+08:00

With folk music blaring on the background, Manny Pacquiao, the current king of boxing, spoke the language of confidence Thursday moments after another tough day at the Wild Card Boxing Club, his training headquarters for the March 13 clash with Joshua Clottey in Dallas.

“No problem, I feel very good,” Pacquiao told The Bulletin after having his favorite meal at a Thai food restaurant located a few steps from the gym. "Tell our people that there's nothing to worry as I am training hard."

Pacquiao stressed that having little time for a good vacation after beating Miguel Cotto late last year turned out to be a blessing since he is not having a hard time getting back in shape.

“After only two weeks in the gym, I already felt great and I think it was not only because I am coming off a tough fight but I had to immediately report back to training camp,” said Pacquiao, who asked his interviewer to hold the long distance call while he sings the final notes of a song on karaoke.

As soon as he belted out the last note, Pacquiao was on the line again, assuring the man on the other end that there’s nothing to worry about as far as his preparation is concerned.

Pacquiao’s assurance that everything is right on track was echoed by Alex Ariza, the Filipino fighter’s touted conditioning coach.

“Manny is ready to fight this Saturday,” said Ariza, who marveled at the way the 32-year-old pound-for-pound king handled himself with the punch mitts during Wednesday’s workout.

“He did 15 rounds in the mitts without even a sip of water,” narrated Ariza.

Over at Clottey’s training camp in Fort Lauderdale in Florida, the boxingscene website reported that the Ghana slugger is also right on the money.

Clottey has been working out at the Contender’s Gym the last three weeks under the guidance of a new set of trainers since Godwin Dzanie Kotey, his long-time trainer, has yet to be granted a renewal of his US visa.

Despite the drawback, Clottey said he has no other choice but to move on.

“I already know in my head what I am going to do and how I am going to win,” Clottey said.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Pacquiao: “I think Mosley will win” against Mayweather

2010-02-18T10:55:00.002+08:00

Manny Pacquiao is saying that he believes World Boxing Association welterweight champion Shane Mosley will beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their upcoming May 1st bout at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. In an article at Fightfan, Pacquiao says “I think Mosley will win.” Pacquiao feels that it will be an entertaining bout, saying “I think Mayweather vs. Mosley will be a good fight.” It’s good to see that Pacquiao isn’t bitter about his fight with Mayweather falling apart recently during the negotiation process.

A lot of boxers would likely be a little angry if they were in the same shoes as Pacquiao. The fighters had gone though the loss process of negotiations for a fight on March 13th, but when they got to the part about random blood testing, they quickly reached an impassible impasse due to Mayweather’ request of having random blood tests inside the 30 day window.

Eventually, Pacquiao and his promotional company Top Rank moved on and signed a fight with little known Joshua Clottey instead. Pacquiao fans are generally excited about the Clottey fight, whereas casual Pacquiao fans are lukewarm to the selection of Clottey as a replacement opponent for Mayweather.

Mosley, 38, will have to fight beyond what he’s shown in recent fights if he wants to beat Mayweather. It’s unclear what Pacquiao is looking at when deciding on Mosley as the winner of a fight against Mayweather. Based on the opinions of many boxing experts, they don’t see Mosley winning. Hopefully, Pacquiao isn’t just picking Mosley just to get back at Mayweather for their failed talks.

On paper, it just don’t seem likely that Mosley will do anything other than lose to Mayweather on May 1st. Shane could make it somewhat close if Mayweather decides to mix it up with him, but given that Floyd is more of a pure boxer, it’s unlikely that he will give Mosley any opportunities by trying to trade with the older fighter.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao, as if feeling the need to pump up his fight against Clottey, says “I won’t want to disappoint people with a boring fight. I feel you need to entertain the people who watch your fights.” Is this a dig at Mayweather, perhaps?

Pacquiao continues “It’s going to be a good fight because he [Clottey] has a good style. It’s a different kind of style and I want to fight. He’s bigger and he’s taller than Miguel Cotto.” What Pacquiao doesn’t say about Clottey is that he has problems with his stamina, and has few wins over top caliber opposition.

Pacquiao also fails to mention that Clottey was beaten in his last fight against Cotto, which isn’t exactly something to feel good about when considering putting down $49.95 to watch the Pacquiao-Clottey fight on pay-per-view. If Cotto was able to beat Clottey, then it would seem logical that Pacquiao will beat Clottey with ease since Pacquiao just finished wiping the deck with Cotto in November.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Clottey: "Pacquiao First, Mayweather-Mosley Winner Next"

2010-02-18T10:51:00.001+08:00

Welterweight Joshua Clottey puts aside some time to speak with BoxingScene.com about his training camp to prepare for the biggest fight of his career. He faces WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao on March 13 in Texas. Clottey says that everything is running very smooth and he is confident of victory in this exclusive interview. He also touches on the significance of this fight in his native Ghana, Mosley vs. Mayweather and more.

BoxingScene.com: How is training camp going so far?

Joshua Clottey: Everything is good. Everything is fine. We are working hard and just getting ready for the fight on March 13th.

BoxingScene.com: Are you looking good weight wise?

Joshua Clottey: Oh yeah. That won't be a problem. I train hard and always come in on weight. That is something I really haven't ever had a problem with.

BoxingScene.com: What exactly happened with your trainers not getting their visas?

Joshua Clottey: I can't really get down or be too disappointed about it. Life always has to go on and I still have to train. I guess these things happen for a reason. I am working hard and will be ready for the fight. I still have a good team around me and am confident I will come out victorious.

BoxingScene.com: How is sparring going? I assume your team found some short quick southpaws?

Joshua Clottey: Sparring is going just fine. I am sparring with these two guys, real good fighters but I can't remember their names. Both undefeated guys. We brought in one who is real fast and he is shorter so I can get ready for the speed and the other one is big and has the power to help me prepare.

BoxingScene.com: Obviously this is the biggest fight of your career. Most of the experts are picking Pacquiao to win. What do you have to do to make sure you come out with the win?

Joshua Clottey: I have all my plans and that is what I am training for right now. I need to practice them so I can execute them when I step in the ring. I have all my plans in my head. He and his team is saying they are going to knock me out and really I don't mind them saying that. They can say whatever they want to say. I already know in my head what I am going to do and how I am going to win.

BoxingScene.com: Pacquiao hasn't said much but I have read articles where Freddie Roach said that he thinks Pacquiao will knock you out. Do you feel they are disrespecting you?

Joshua Clottey: Well you know I am not taking it like they are disrespecting me or taking me lightly. I always feel like I am getting respect from Roach. Whenever I see him or have spoken to him he talked to me with respect. Whatever he says is fine by me. He is hyping up the fight you know. He has every right to talk. It is a free country and he can speak his mind and say what he wants to say.

BoxingScene.com: How big is this fight in your native Ghana? What is the buzz like there?

Joshua Clottey: Everybody back home is real excited about this fight. I told them that they shouldn't worry because we always are hoping and trying to improve our lives. We keep trying and good things will come. I am going to go out there and fight my best and try to come out with the win. I am confident and my people are confident.

BoxingScene.com: If you pull off the upset and come out victorious what do you want to do after that?

Joshua Clottey: If I win the fight and beat Manny Pacquiao, the number one pound for pound fighter ,my country will be so proud. I would like to fight the Mosley-Mayweather winner. You know one thing about me Ryan. I will fight anybody. If I win this fight I will be ready and willing to fight anybody.

BoxingScene.com: Paul Williams is still looking for an opponent. I know you wanted to fight him in the past. Would you fight him?

Joshua Clottey: If he wants to fight me I can fight him. I will fight anybody who wants to fight me.

BoxingScene.com: Who do you think wins the Mayweather vs. Mosley fight?

Joshua Clottey: It is a very tough fight. Shane Mosley is going to come out ready and hungry because he has wanted this fight for a long time. He has wanted a big fight for a long time. Now that he has one he will come in prepared and give Mayweather everything he has but Mayweather is a very smart guy who has a great defense and is a great boxer. This is a very tough one to call so I can't really pick a winner.

BoxingScene.com: Do you have a message for the fans?

Joshua Clottey: Well I just want to tell everybody that I am going to fight with the best fighter in the world and I am going to come in the ring prepared and do something that no one thinks I can do. That is the only thing I can say now. I have a plan and I will make it a good fight.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingscene.com

The Final Score: Dallas Ready for Pacquiao-Clottey

2010-02-17T11:58:00.002+08:00

Dallas is on a roll. Racing from Mavericks town to Cowboys territory to NBA All-Star state, Dallas heads the Texas offensive like Carl Lewis on the US 4 x 100 meter relay team. The finish line, though, is far from sight. That suits Dallas just fine. It’s having too much fun turning the Lone Star State into a global sports hub.

After hosting a record-breaking NBA All-Star Week, Dallas prepares for the big fight between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey on March 13. By all indications, the Dallas area and its fans are ready to host another grand event and all-set to watch Pacquiao deliver another knockout show.

“I can’t wait to see Pacquiao in action here in Dallas," exclaimed Ronald “Popeye" Jones, former 11-year veteran for the Mavericks turned Mavericks Player Development Coach. “You see that burning fire in Pacquiao to win, to be successful. It’s the same fire that Michael Jordan had."

Perhaps that’s what drove Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones to aggressively lure Pacquiao away from the bright lights of Las Vegas and into the first-rate amenities of Cowboys Stadium. Jones really wanted to host Pacquiao versus Mayweather. Mayweather has cemented his place in boxing history. Pacquiao has done likewise while turning himself into one of the hottest commodities in professional sports.

It makes perfect sense, therefore, for Jones to unite the Michael Jordan of contemporary boxing with the Hercules of football stadiums. Jones wanted to bring boxing’s pound-for-pound king into the newest sports capital of Texas. Even former Maverick and Pacquiao fan Steve Nash was impressed with Jones’ sports cathedral. “People (who watched the NBA All-Star game) felt they were in the coolest sports bar of all-time with the biggest wide screen TV in the world."

Last week, tall buildings and posh hotels in Dallas were covered with gigantic billboards promoting the NBA All-Star game. In the coming days, however, expect Pacquiao’s intense face to replace oversized action shots of Nowitzki, Bryant, James and Garnett. And fans are eager to turn Dallas from All-Star town to Pacquiao city.

“I paid extra to make sure I’ll watch Pacquiao from a nicer seat," James Farias, 26, Texas-native and food server for a popular Tex-Mex restaurant in the Dallas area, said. “I just hope Pacquiao doesn’t beat Clottey too easily. After all, I’m paying to see Manny not Clottey."

There’s a Pacquiao-Clottey billboard on the freeway and excited fans on the streets. On this trip, we met Mavericks/Cowboys fans who have become Pacquiao believers. Tickets for Pacquiao-Clottey were reportedly sold out as early as three weeks ago. A ticket was said to cost anywhere from 50 USD to 700 USD. Fans still without tickets have no choice but to purchase them from third-parties.

It’s a problem basketball Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman, a boxing fan since the glory days of her good friend Muhammad Ali, won’t have. She made sure she got her VIP tickets weeks ago. “Pacquiao will be fighting here in Dallas and I’ll be there for the fight."

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: gmanews.tv

Roach: “This [Pacquiao-Clottey] could be our last fight” if the Mayweather fight doesn’t happen next

2010-02-17T11:26:00.003+08:00

In a bombshell interview at East Side Boxing’s On the Ropes online program, trainer Freddie Roach revealed that this could be the last fight for his fighter World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao. Roach says “If Mayweather doesn’t come and fight us next time, this [Pacquiao-Clottey] could be our last one.” Roach is obviously speaking only of Pacquiao, because I can’t see Roach retiring anytime soon.

But this is fairly earth shattering news if Roach isn’t just blowing smoke up our backsides with this, because by the recent statements coming from Floyd Mayweather about him wanting Pacquiao to take even more blood tests in the future if he plans on fighting him, it seems to suggest that the Clottey fight could be Pacquiao’s last bout of his 15-year pro boxing career.

That would a huge disappointment if Pacquiao does decide that this will be his last bout, because it would leave opponents like Edwin Valero, Mayweather and Paul Williams without the opportunity to test Pacquiao to see if he’s as good as the recent hype that’s been generated about him due to his wins over Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Oscar De La Hoya. As things are looking, it’s highly doubtful that Pacquiao and Mayweather are going to be able to come to any kind of agreement for a fight in the future with Mayweather insisting on random blood tests all the way up to the fight.

And Mayweather is now saying that if his May 1st fight against Shane Mosley does better financially than Pacquiao’s March 13th bout against Clottey, then it means he should get the bigger slice of the revenue for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. That’s just another reason to doubt that there will ever be a fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao in the future.

As for the Pacquiao vs. Clottey fight, Roach says “Obviously we have to break him [Clottey] down. It’s [a possible knockout for Pacquiao] going to be in the late rounds. It won’t go 12 rounds. We’ll get him at some point along the way. It’s going to be a battle up to that point. I do think the body shots and work rate will be too much. I don’t think Clottey will keep up with us.”

Most of the betting money is being put on Pacquiao to win. Indeed, Clottey appears to be way over his head in this fight despite being ranked by the WBO as the number #1 contender. Oddly enough, Clottey is ranked number #1 despite the fact that he was beaten in his last fight by Miguel Cotto. Usually when a fighter is beaten, they slip in the rankings, but not in the case of Clottey.

He’s ranked number #1, above Cotto for some reason. Cotto was just beaten by Pacquiao in his last fight by a 12th round knockout. But beyond Cotto and Clottey, the talent pool is abysmal in the WBO top 15. Most of the fighters are more prospects than contenders in my view, and deeply flawed. It’s more than a little sad and disappointing to see how poor the opposition is in the top 15 for the WBO, and perhaps for that reason we have Clottey ranked as number #1, even though he just got beat.

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: boxingnews24.com

PACQUIAO PLEASED WITH CONDITION FOR CLOTTEY FIGHT

2010-02-17T11:10:00.005+08:00

Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao laughed when he was prodded about his supposed very good condition and great training camp with less than 1 month away until his “The Event” match with Ghanaian Joshua Clottey.

His laughter turned out to show his pleasure with the condition he has achieved.

“Maganda kasi na nakuha ko agad ang kundisyon ko kasi hindi ako masyadong matagal nagpahinga,” Pacquiao told ABS-CBN Sports commentators Ronnie Nathanielsz and Dyan Castillejo during the live telecast of Pinoy Power 3/Latin Fury 13 on Sunday.

“Last fight ko November so January, nakapag-training agad ako. Nandoon agad ang kundisyon ko,” he added.

Pacquiao made history when he won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title last November 14 as he became the only 7-division world champion.

He defeated Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto via a 12th round technical knockout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He will put his WBO title on the line against Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on March 13.

Pacquiao is currently training in Los Angeles. His coach, Freddie Roach, even wanted the Filipino boxing superstar to slow down for fear that he could reach his peak too soon.

Advice to fellow boxers

Pacquiao made a last-minute appearance at the Las Vegas Hilton on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to show support for his fellow Filipino boxers Mark Jason Melligen, Bernabe Concepcion, Gerry Peñalosa, Ciso Morales and Nonito Donaire, Jr.

He chatted with Nathanielsz and Castillejo during the fight of Morales against Mexican Fernando Montiel.

“Ninerbyos ako ah,” remarked Pacquiao at the onset of his brief interview.

After a few minutes of conversation, Castillejo, Nathanielsz and Pacquiao were stunned by Montiel’s knockout of Morales in Round 1. The Filipino fighter suffered a blow to the stomach.

“Talagang walang matibay kapag reduce ka… walang matibay sa sikmura,” Pacquiao said after Castillejo noted that Morales was on a diet of crackers because he had to lose 12 lbs. before the fight.

“Kaya ‘yan ang sinasabi ko sa mga boksingero—kailangan kung gaano kayo hard na mag-workout sa kamay niyo… kailangan yung body i-workout niyo nang mabuti,” he continued. “Minsan kasi ‘pag natapos na sa workout, tamad na mag-sit-up, magpa-ano ng abs eh. Mahirap yun ‘pag dating ng fight.”

The world’s best pound-for-pound fighter then explained the importance of strengthening the midsection: “Kasi mas malaki sa mukha mo ‘yan eh.”

Wrong decision

Pacquiao also commented on the other fights that took place in Pinoy Power 3.

For him and Roach, Peñalosa should have won against Puerto Rican Eric Morel.

“Talagang panalo si Gerry… Lamang siya ng pitong (7) rounds,” he said. Peñalosa lost via split decision.

The scores were 115-113 and 116-112 in favor of Morel, and 115-113 in favor of the Filipino boxing veteran.

Proud manager

Pacquiao was also delighted with the result of Concepcion, whom he manages.

“Proud ako sa boksingero ko. Next fight niya is Juan Manuel Marquez… ‘Pag lumaban siya, ako nandoon ako lagi araw-araw sa training niya.”

Concepcion posted a unanimous decision win in his 10-round bout over Puerto Rican Mario Santiago with the scores 98-91, 96-93, 97-92.

Pacquiao, however, said that Concepcion still has to a lot to work on.

“Kulang lang ‘yung timing. Coordination sa paa niya at saka sa kamay niya,” he noted.

Help for Gorres

Injured boxer ZC Oliveros “Z” Gorres, who is recovering from 2 major brain surgeries, was also at ringside.

He was supposed to be featured in Pinoy Power 3

“Meron kaming ibibigay ‘di na siguro natin sabihin,” Pacquiao said of the assistance he will give Gorres.

He even invited the crowd at the Las Vegas Hilton to attend his fundraiser for Gorres.

“We already gave Gorres our help, Bob [Arum] and I… At sana suportahan po natin. Kung gusto niyo pong tumulong, ipangalan sa foundation ko, Manny Pacquiao Foundation.”

Other results of Pinoy Power 3 are Donaire’s 3rd round knockout of Mexican Manuel Vargas and Melligen’s 6th round TKO victory over Raymond Gatica of the US.

“Maraming, maraming salamat din sa ating kababayan at siyempre sa inyo, nagpapasalamat ako. Sa lahat ng mga nanonood… Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyong walang sawang pasuporta,” he stated.

“Kaming magkakasamang mga boksingero, gagawin namin ang lahat para makapagbigay karangalan sa ating bansa para ‘di masayang ang mga pagdasal ninyo at pagsuporta niyo sa amin. Maraming salamat, mga kababayan.”

For more Pacquiao vs Clottey updates, visit http://pacquiao-vs-clottey.cebuspace.com/.

Source: insidesports.ph