No trash talk needed with 'nice' guys Pacquiao, Clottey

Pacquiao vs Clottey
By TOBIAS XAVIER LOPEZ

tlopez@star-telegram.com

ARLINGTON -- There were no YouTube moments Wednesday.

Neither Manny Pacquiao nor Joshua Clottey needed to be bleeped for broadcast.

No punches were thrown and no one in the entourage needed to be restrained.

This is the nature of the two fighters who will meet Saturday for Pacquiao's WBO world welterweight (147-pound) title at Cowboys Stadium.

The final news conference took place in Arlington without some of the silly displays of testosterone rage or smack talk that commonly blemish boxing news conferences.

"I like that there is no trash talking," Pacquiao said. "This is a good example to those who idolize us and want to get into boxing. You can be a great fighter and still be a nice person."

Throughout the week Clottey has remained a calm, unassuming challenger.

He's spoken repeatedly about the respect he has for Pacquiao and the opportunity.

"The boxer I like most, I respect the most, is him," Clottey said. "He respects people."

Clottey said he didn't care for the trash talk of Zab Judah prior to their August 2008 IBF welterweight title bout. Clottey defeated Judah with a technical decision in the 10th round for Clottey's lone world title.

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum has endured all sorts of pre-fight hype and theatrics.

"Some people say trash talking makes a fight," Arum said. "I say it kills the sport."

Pacquiao good for HBO

HBO's Mark Taffet said the cable network has produced 106 pay-per-view events, but never one in a stadium.

Taffet said Pacquiao brings home the financial bacon with nearly $290 million in pay-per-view money so far.

Pacquiao's past three fights have averaged 1 million buys, which at $49.95 means roughly $150 million total.

Arum and the UFC?

Promoter Bob Arum thanked UFC president Dana White for throwing his support behind the fight. Arum said White will be in attendance for Saturday's fight.

"I am of a generation where mixed martial arts is strange to me. I don't particularly care for it, but that's personal taste," Arum said. "I know that they've done a wonderful job promoting it and they're nice people. I think it's good that we're going to help each other."

Clottey at weight

The official weigh-ins, which are open to the public, will be 5 p.m. Friday at the East Plaza in Cowboys Stadium. However, Clottey's manager, Vinny Scolpino, said Clottey is already at the 147-pound limit and won't have to drop weight.

Ticket talk

Online ticket marketplace StubHub.com has seen the lowest average prices for the Pacquiao-Clottey fight of any championship bout due to the 45,000-seat capacity at Cowboys Stadium.

Tickets have sold as low as $33, with the top transaction so far at $2,730 for a center ringside seat. On average tickets are trading at $137 with about 1,000 remaining.

In comparison, the 2007 Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Oscar de la Hoya fight in Las Vegas averaged $1,892. It ranks as StubHub's highest grossing fight. However, Saturday's fight already ranks second in terms of gross.

Source: star-telegram.com