Clottey training not picking up, say reports

Confident Roach declares Pacquiao already in good
By Francis T.J. Ochoa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:29:00 02/08/2010

MANILA, Philippines—Online boxing sites are buzzing with rumors that Joshua Clottey has yet to kick off his training for the biggest fight of his career, with several distractions getting in the way of the New York-based Ghanaian.

Two popular writers from Examiner.com reported that Clottey continues to train at half pace because his trainer of choice, Godwin Dzainie Kotey has yet to be granted an American visa and still cannot join the former world champion in training.

Vinny Scolpino, Clottey’s manager, says a statement will be forthcoming during the week.

Clottey will face Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao on March 13 in Arlington, Texas, and while the reigning pound-for-pound champion has been doing runs, hitting the mitts and trading leather with sparring partners, Clottey reportedly has yet to move his training camp.

When the fight was announced, Clottey’s camp had announced they were heading south to leave the cold New York climate so they will have a better training atmosphere.

“He’s training in the Bronx yet he is supposed to shift his camp down to the warmer climes of my old residence, Fort Lauderdale,” boxing expert Michael Marley posted on his blog Sunday.

Some reports have it that Clottey has already changed zip codes but hasn’t gone full steam ahead yet in his training for Pacquiao pending the arrival of his trainer.

Five meals a day

Pacquiao, on the other hand has been relentless at the Wild Card gym, with his weight no longer a cause for concern in his camp.

“[Manny] is already in good shape,” Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said in an interview with Fightnews.com.

Roach added that Pacquiao now even has to eat a lot so as not to lose too much weight during the training period.

“We have to keep the weight up and feed him five meals a day just to keep it up,” said the topnotch trainer.

“He is doing great in sparring and we are studying his game plan as we watch Clottey tapes. He’s not ready to fight yet but we have about four and a half weeks until fight night and he will be ready then.”

Not a word has leaked out of Clottey’s camp, which hasn’t even reacted to Roach’s prediction that Pacquiao will be the first person to knock Clottey out.

Source: sports.inquirer.net