Clottey laments lack of government support

By NICK GIONGCO
February 16, 2010, 5:00pm

Joshua Clottey believes his native Ghana is not fully behind him in his bold bid to kick Manny Pacquiao out of the pound-for-pound throne.

Speaking to Ghanaweb over the weekend, Clottey, who battles Pacquiao on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, said Ghanaian boxing officials and the government itself have not been very helpful in his request that Godwin Dzanie Kotey be given a hand in applying for a renewal of his US visa.

Clottey has been in training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the last two weeks under the guidance of a substitute trainer who the African fighter is not accustomed to.

"I am with a trainer but not the one I want and you know it so don't ask me because you know I came to Ghana to bring Alloway (Kotey's nickname) with me to come with him so I will do my best," said the 32-year-old Clottey, who now lives in the Bronx in New York.

"I am fine," said Clottey sarcastically.

"Tell Ghana that they've disappointed me by not giving my trainer visa to come here with me."

Clottey had to break training camp last month when Kotey was denied a visa and while he was in the capital of Accra, Ghana officials said they will help Kotey apply and succeed in getting a renewal, forcing the boxer to head back to the US again to renew his preparation.

Coupled with Pacquiao's status as the world's No. 1 puncher, Clottey's dillema is only making it easy for oddsmakers to justify the overwhelming betting line in favor of the Filipino. On-line betting has Pacquiao a huge 5-1 favorite over Clottey.

Over at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California, Pacquiao's workouts have been fast and furious, according to his handlers.
In the next two weeks, Pacquiao's sparring sessions will reach its zenith with as many as 12 rounds of banging bodies with his sparmates in just one day on tap under the watchful eyes of Freddie Roach.

Team Pacquiao leaves for Dallas on a private plane courtesy of Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum on March 8.

Source: mb.com.ph