Pacquiao A Good Guy Without a Bad Guy In front of Him

Pacquiao vs Clottey
New England Boxing Examiner | Peter Czymbor

When Filipino Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO's) defends his welterweight title against Ghana's Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KO's) this Saturday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, he'll be the crowd favorite and the overwhelming reason why most viewers tune into PPV. However, the traditional good guy vs. bad guy theme that has been the focus of most boxing promotions is not part of this one, nor has it been the selling point of any Pacquiao PPV's.

Reports are that Clottey spent time signing countless autographs and getting his picture taken with fans in Texas the past few days. Hardly the villain to the hero Pacquiao.

"We have much respect.", Clottey said Wednesday at the prefight news conference. Neither fighter resorted to any trash talk.

He's an unknown but capable boxer who, despite briefly holding a world title, has never really had much fanfare and is often brought in as a "B" side fighter to the stars he's fought (Antonio Margarito, Diego Corrales, Miguel Cotto).

Playing the role of underdog this weekend, Clottey may have some fans rooting for him simply becuase he's not expected to win and a victory would allow us to see his life and fortunes change before our eyes. There's really not much to dislike about him.

(What are Clottey's chances of winning? http://www.examiner.com/x-34564-New-England-Boxing-Examiner~y2010m1d11-Clotteys-golden-chance-can-he-make-the-most-of-it)

This has been a common theme in Pacquiao fights over the years. Pacquiao has excelled and become a major draw and hero to fight fans despite a true villain opposite of him in the ring.

Cotto was a hardworking and skilled fighter, quiet and reserved, and neither him or Pacquiao resorted to trash talk. Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, even lent Cotto a jacket when he was cold at an outdoor prefight news conference months before their bout they liked each other so much.

Ricky Hatton was a likable lad you might find at the bar. Charismatic, but not cocky, "The Hitman" could hardly upset fight fans with any of his antics. The closest thing to it was when his fans booed the American national anthem prior to his fight with Floyd Mayweather. Even then, people chalked that up to his fans being drunk and in a stupor, and held no ill will towards Hatton.

De La Hoya was "The Golden Boy". Even if fans were beginning to tire of the same old smile by the time he and Pacquiao met, De La Hoya was always a gentlemen and gave Pacquiao major props prefight and post defeat.

Some promoters will tell you that a fight needs a good guy vs. bad guy theme to sell. To an extent it works, see pro wrestling, but Pacquiao has never needed that.

(Mayweather's heel characteristics even fire some boxing officials up - http://www.examiner.com/x-34564-New-England-Boxing-Examiner~y2010m1d7-Massachusetts-Boxing-Commissioner-Thinks-Mayweather-is-Ducking-Pacquiao)

Despite not needing it, what will happen when he does has a dance partner willing to play antihero? Enter Floyd Mayweather.

(Floyd doesn't mind playing the villain in the media - http://www.examiner.com/x-34564-New-England-Boxing-Examiner~y2010m3d8-Mayweather-and-The-American--Filipino-Media )

Despite Pacquiao never saying anything bad about Mayweather publicly, Coach Roach has told stories of Pacman claiming he wants to smash Mayweather like no opponent put before him. Surely, Pacquiao's lawsuit against Mayweather for his team making allegations that the fighting Filipino uses steroids can't sit too well with Pacman. There must be some animosity.

(Mayweather's Antics have led to PPv success: http://www.examiner.com/x-34564-New-England-Boxing-Examiner~y2010m3d5-Can-Mosley-vs-Mayweather-Break-the-All-Time-PPV-Record)

However, for now it's amiacable Manny. Smiles when he enters the ring. A smirk after he does something good in the ring. And plans for a postfight concert.

(Pacquiao likes to sing, even "Happy Birthday" - http://www.examiner.com/x-34564-New-England-Boxing-Examiner~y2010m3d2-Roach--Pacquiao-wish-Forbes-Happy-Birthday)

The public will buy Pacquiao, it seems, without needing any personal reason to see him annihilate his opponent.

(Hollywood loves Pacman: http://www.examiner.com/x-34564-New-England-Boxing-Examiner~y2010m3d2-Pacquiao--Pearlman)

Source: Examiner.com