Ghana all out for Clottey

By NICK GIONGCO
January 27, 2010, 6:08pm

The whole of Ghana is throwing its full support behind Joshua Clottey with the African nation’s premier puncher – Hall of Famer Azumah Nelson – leading the way.

Nelson said Clottey will have his hands full against Manny Pacquiao on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas and the two-division world champion has expressed caution over his compatriot’s chances in the biggest fight of his life.

“My fear is that Manny Pacquiao is a southpaw because they are hard to fight but Joshua has given us an assurance that he knows how to fight southpaws so I am relieved,” Nelson said in a story that came out in eastside boxing.com.

Knowing that Pacquiao is a truly formidable foe, Nelson, who held world titles at featherweight (126 lbs) and super-feather (130 lbs), said he will “advice Joshua to train hard but I know him and I know that he will not rest.”

The 51-year-old Nelson, who turned pro in 1979 but had his last fight in 2008 after a ten-year hiatus, now holds the position of technical director in the Ghana Boxing Authority.

Meanwhile, Godwin Dzanie Kotey, who had previously worked Clottey’s corner, is expected to arrive in New York anytime this week from Ghanaian capital of Accra in time for Clottey’s departure for his training camp in Fort Lauderdale in Florida.

The last two weeks, Clottey, a 3-1 underdog against Pacquiao, been working out at John’s Gym in the Bronx, New York.

Source: mb.com.ph