Freddie Roach sets a dangerous bar for Manny Pacquiao

Pacquiao vs Clottey
LA Boxing Examiner | Ricardo Lois

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.

truth@theboxingtruth.com

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Source: Examiner.com