Pacquiao Vs Clottey - Road To Dallas

PACQUIAO IN GREAT SHAPE, NO PROBLEM WITH HIS LEG

Pacquiao vs Clottey
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 08 Mar 2010

Filipino boxing icon and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao no longer has any problems with his left leg that bothered him some weeks ago and looked in great shape when he sparred six rounds at the Wild Card Gym on Saturday.

Conditioning expert Alex Ariza said trainer Freddie Roach had problems holding Pacquiao back even though he will be allowed to spar on a non-sparring day which is Monday, before the entourage flies out to Dallas aboard a chartered jet.

Ariza told us that he was particularly happy because Pacquiao’s “footwork was great and Freddie was very, very pleased with his footwork. Today he (Pacquiao) focused on footwork in moving and lateral movements and was doing just what he was supposed to do and me, I’m so happy because I asked him about the leg and the leg is a hundred percent now.”

Pacquiao sparred six rounds with Abdullai Amidu, the undefeated Ghana fighter with 17 knockouts in 18 wins and longtime sparring partner David Rodela, the super featherweight who helped him prepare for the rematch with Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera and whose quickness and hand-speed are his assets.

Ariza said that before they leave for Dallas, they would taper off and “slow down a little bit” although Pacquiao will spar a few rounds on Monday after taking Sunday off .

The conditioning guru who together with Roach who refined Pacquiao’s fighting style helped add explosive power to Pacquiao. He has since Ariza joined the team scored devastating victories ovr David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton and Miguel Cotto.

Meantime, the Texas Boxing Commission has picked former US Army boxer and a native of Puerto Rico, Rafael Ramos to be the referee in the Pacquiao-Clottey fight on Sunday (Manila Time) which will be telecast in the Philippines by Solar Sports.

Ramos was referee in the 2009 "Fight of the Year" between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz and also officiated in a couple of world title fights in Japan.

Ramos has refereed fights in Texas for over 20 years and was chosen over another Texas favorite Laurence Cole who handled the first Pacquiao fight against Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alamadome in San Antonio in November 2003 in which Pacquiao annihilated the Mexican legend in eleven rounds.

It was Cole who ruled that a slip by Pacquiao was a knockdown and a clear knockdown by Pacquiao a slip.

John Whisler of San Antonio Sports reported that the 53 year old Ramos was not the first choice as the WBO whose welterweight title held by Pacquiao is on the line, wanted Cole. However, Whisler reports that the executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation which oversees boxing in Texas is said to over-ruled the WBO and assigned Ramos as the third man in the ring.

Internationally respected referee Bruce NcTavish of New Zealand who makes his home in the Philippines told Ramos was "a good choice."

Even in Las Vegas, the Nevada State Athletic Commission exercises its jurisdiction and assigns the officials often incurring the displeasure of world organizations such as the World Boxing Council.

However, the NSAC has come under some criticism for its failure to assert its position on the issue of random blood tests demanded by Floyd Mayweather Jr which torpedoed a mega-fight with Pacquiao. The "Fighter of the Decade" agreed to blood tests 24 days before the fight and immediately after the fight but Mayweather insisted on 14 days before, resulting in negotiations falling apart.

When we asked executive director Keith Kizer whether the NSAC will supervise or have anything to do with the random blood tests of Floyd Mayweather Jr and Shane Mosley who will clash on May 1 at the MGM Grand, Kizer replied “we will review the results.”

Source: PhilBoxing.com

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

Clottey Working His Butt Off For 'A Miracle'

Pacquiao vs Clottey
A native of Ghana who is preparing for a March 13 challenge for the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) crown held by seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs), Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 knockouts) of the Bronx, N.Y., spoke to FanHouse recently from his sleeping quarters near his training facility at Fort Lauderdale's Contender Gym in Florida.

This is the third of four diaries for Clottey that will appear regularly on FanHouse as the 32-year-old Clottey enters the most lucrative and biggest fight of his career, one that will be aired live on HBO pay per view.

ad things just kept happening to one of boxing's good guys.

The initial thing was Joshua Clottey's first major fight against future world champion, Carlos Baldomir, in November of 10 years ago, when he was disqualified for head-butting in the 11th-round of a matchup he needed only to stay on his feet to win.

Clottey, to this day, believes he was the victim of foul play against Baldomir, but he never thought that it would be the story of his career.

"That was a very, very, big frustration for me. We were dealing with two promoters. Frank Maloney, he was the one who had the money. The other promoter, Panos Eliadis, loved us African guys. Too much for Maloney's tastes, in seemed like.

So Maloney was jealous because we always surprised him by winning. He didn't like that," said Clottey, who is 32.

"The day of the fight, I went to the bathroom, and I saw Maloney, and Baldomir's managers and trainers talking. Then and there, I thought to myself, 'Something bad's going to happen,'" said Clottey. "I think they did something to the referee, because he was all over me. You know, everything that I'd do, he warned me too much. It was painful to me."

Next up was his December, 2006 loss to Antonio Margarito, during which he led early before his two, injured hands betrayed him over the course of a unanimous decision loss and his bid to win the vacant WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title.

"I had planned out a good gameplan for Margarito, and it was working so perfectly. You could see the surprise in the place and in his face when I was winning, because nobody knew me. They didn't know me as a big fish. They were like,

'Wow,' where is this guy from?" recalled Clottey.

"But the first hand, my left, one, just went out on me. The knuckle in my left hand was experiencing a sharp pain," said Clottey. "And then I started to throw the right hand, and I was really trying to throw, but the pain was just too much in that one also."

Clottey rebounded, however, earning the IBF crown over southpaw, former world champion, Zab Judah via ninth-round technical decision stoppage in August of 2008.

Clottey was then informed that he would get a break against WBO king, Miguel Cotto, but the IBF would force him to give up the belt if he took the challenge rather than facing an organization mandatory.

With Cotto being his largest, career pay day, and a shot at seemingly endless possibilities in victory, Clottey bit the bullet and bagged the IBF crown.

Then, Clottey lost June's disputed, split-decision to Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs), against whom he suffered a flash knockdown from a first-round left hook.

"After the fight with Cotto, I was shocked, and I was so, so, so sad. Because I felt like what they did to me was something," said Clottey. "I thought that I won the fight, and that they just took the fight away from me. I was really tired of these things happening to me in championship fights."

But it only got worse after the fight, when Clottey split with trainer, Kwame Assante, over money.

"On Sunday or Monday, I was having a discussion with the trainer [Assante,] and he just came out and started talking and telling me things [about paying him] that I don't even know anything about," said Clottey. "It's great in that he's the trainer, and that he's going to make so much money. But now, it's not going to go to him, because of his selfishness. Now, he's gone."

Adding to the problems, however, was the fact that two successive opportunities -- one against WBA welterweight super champion, Shane Mosley, and another opposite former titlist, Carlos Quintana -- fell through.

"You know, about that, there was yet another very big frustration. But I kept thinking to myself, 'One thing about life is that good things always come to good people,'" said Clottey.

"All of those fights that we talked about where they said I lost, and the fights that fell through, I figured that it had to end sometime. You never know what is going to happen," said Clottey.

"When they called off the fights, I just kept on training, and was continuing to think about the next option," said Clottey. "I'm patient, I'm very respectful to everybody, I'm very nice to everybody. I push myself. So, you know, I thought, 'Good things happen to good people."

This time, Clottey was right.

For in early January, things began to look up for a dejected Clottey, who received an offer from Top Rank Promotions' CEO, Bob Arum, to face seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao, for anotther chance to earn the WBO crown.

More than that, the 31-year-old Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) represented the largest career payday for Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs), who arrived from his Ghana in New York in mid-January and informed FanHouse that he had signed the contract for the fight an hour earlier.

Nicknamed, "The Grand Master," Clottey's purse will surpass $1 million for the first time, with an upside to the pay-per-view.

But there still would be hurdles for Clottey, who was in need of a new trainer.

Clottey thought that for sure that he had had the perfect one in Godwin Nii Dzanie Kotey, a legendary father figure to his fighters who had worked with Clottey's countryman and former welterweight star, Ike Quartey.

But Clottey would receive yet another blow when Kotey was denied a work Visa to the U.S.

"That was very disappointing," said Clottey, who wept openly about the decision, "because I have my trainer in Ghana, and he doesn't get a Visa to come, that was unexpected."

Manager, Vinnie Scolpino, suggested Lenny DeJesus, who had worked as Clottey's cut man and an assistant to Assante during Clottey's loss to Cotto.

They had known of each other from John's Gym in the Bronx, where Clottey has trained, and DeJesus, worked with other fighters.

"That's why I chose Lenny. The training is going fine, because it's easy with me to connect with anybody. Lenny, he's a nice person. He talks to me. Lenny talks to me about boxing. Whenever your manager or your trainer feels for you, it's good. It's not like they just want money," said Clottey.

"Lenny's the guy who in it for me. So I love it that he's there for me, because I can go into the ring and fight. I'm okay with him, I'm nice with him," said Clottey.

"Lenny can tell me things like, 'Go into the ring, go to his body.' If I go to the body, and it doesn't work, I have to change my whole plan in the ring," said Clottey. "So sometimes, the trainers talk, and they work good the way they're talking, they become heroes."

Clottey said that he and DeJesus are on the same page.

"Everything is fine with me and Lenny," said Clottey. "We're nice, we're cool. I'm so happy with him."

And since he first received the call from Top Rank offering the bout with Pacquiao, Clottey has been looking for, and, finding positive signs.

The first one, said Clottey, is the fact that Pacquiao did not request a catchweight of 145 pounds, something that is a big help since Clottey has fought several times at weights higher than 147.

"They never talked about me moving to a catchweight. We're fighting at the welterwelterweight limit, so it's like, a miracle," said Clottey, who can concentrate more on technique than simply wearing himself down cutting weight.

"But you can't just be there and pray to God, 'Oh, God, I want money to buy food and eat,' and God will come from heaven and give you money," said Clottey. "No, have got to continue to work your a** off and go to work. So I know that I'm going to go there and that I'm going to be in a fight."

In Pacquiao, Clottey is facing a man who simply seems to have forgotten how to lose, and whose focus is unflappable.

He is running for congress, has made a movie, been the focus of features in major, crossover magazines, and even delivered food to his native Filipinos during a typhoon -- a move that briefly interrupted his training only days prior, but, nevertheless, did not affect his performance in his 12th-round knockout of that dethroned Puerto Rico's Cotto as WBO champ.

Pacquiao has been named Fighter Of The Year for the past three, and was recently honored as The Fighter Of The Decade, owing largely to an 11-0 record that includes eight knockouts since a March, 2005 loss to Erik Morales at super featherweight (130 pounds).

Pacquiao is in his 22nd, consecutive bout under Freddie Roach, who has been named a Four-Time Trainer Of The Year, and under whom Pacquiao is is 18-1-2, with 15 knockouts since June of 2001.

But for Clottey, there are just too many things that are positive for the Grand Master not to believe that this is not part of the grand, master plan.

"I never expected for me to be fighting on pay per view this early, and I never expected to be fighting with Manny Pacquiao this early, and I never expected to be fighting in March this early in the year," said Clottey.

"And you know one thing, I don't like any thing being around me when I'm training. That's the only thing I think about is the training. Nothing makes me happier now than thinking about the training and the fight, and believe me, I've trained so, so, so, so hard," said Clottey.

"When I'm in the gym, that's the time I fight more. My mind has always told me that "Everything is going to be fine,' and it might not work out the way that I want it to," said Clottey. "But I never expected to be in such a huge fight like this, which is the biggest pay day of the year. It's like a miracle, like something is being worked out. It's like a miracle, something is coming, and I'm so happy."

Source: ghanaweb.com

Roach predicts 6th round KO win for Pacquiao

Pacquiao vs Clottey
By NICK GIONGCO
March 7, 2010, 5:55pm

LOS ANGELES – Freddie Roach is now giving Joshua Clottey a shorter shelf-life against Manny Pacquiao on the evening of March 13.

“Six or seven rounds,” said Roach, who had previously predicted a ninth-round knockout victory by the Filipino fighter at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

After presiding over Pacquiao’s penultimate day of sparring inside the Wild Card on a rainy Saturday afternoon, Roach was compelled to alter his forecast a week before the scheduled 12-round world welterweight title fight.

“Manny looked very, very sharp today,” said Roach, stressing that “there’s not much that he (Clottey) can do” against a fighter who is going to “overwhelm him with punches from all angles.”

Roach said he expects Clottey to be in the thick of the fight only in the first four rounds but Pacquiao will take charge soon after, paving the way for another smashing win by the fighter many consider as the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound.

Pacquiao picked up apart Abdullai Amidu, his Ghana sparmate, and the regular guy David Rodela, for a total of six rounds in another dazzling display of power and speed.

On Monday, Pacquiao will have his last sparring session – this time for only four rounds – before he hops on a chartered flight en route to the venue for next week’s fight.

Joining him on the three-hour trip on a jumbo jet leased by Pacquiao are members of his huge entourage and select individuals with legitimate business to take care of going into the final days before the fight.

Pacquiao is a huge favorite although Clottey is a livewire underdog owing to his being a natural welterweight, somebody who should be much bigger than his foe by the time they get it on around 10 p.m. Dallas time (12 noon of March 14 in the Philippines).

Team Pacquiao will be billeted at the Gaylord Texan Hotel in the city of Grapevine, which will put up a makeshift gym on its basement for the sole purpose of hosting Pacquiao’s final workouts.

Meanwhile, Clottey admitted that he’s longing for the attention that Pacquiao is getting from almost everybody.

Almost two years ago – after crowning himself the International Boxing Federation welterweight king – Clottey arrived to a rousing welcome in his native Ghana.

Clottey said in the documentary The Road to Dallas, which is being aired on US television, that he is craving to experience the same thing all over again.

“I want it to happen again,” said Clottey, who has a stab at stardom on March 13 versus Manny Pacquiao at Cowboys Stadium.

Clottey, who has been living in New York the last seven years, has a huge following in his native land but is unknown in America and when people say he doesn’t stand a chance against the pound-for-pound king, the boxer doesn’t feel insulted.

“It doesn’t make me upset,” said Clottey “(but) it makes me stronger.”

Former Pacquiao cutman Lenny De Jesus, who has assumed the role of Clottey’s chief trainer, summed it all up with a curt message.

“If we hit him right, we’ll knock him out,” said De Jesus, who was in the corner of Pacquiao in at least four fights, including the landmark victory over Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003.

Source: mb.com.ph

Cowboys Stadium: Eighth Wonder of the World

Pacquiao vs Clottey
Sports Extra

Texas billionaire Jerry Jones' new $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium will once again place Texas at the center of the sports world map on March 13th when Manny Pacquiao faces Joshua Clottey.

PHOTOS: Cowboys Stadium

Antiquity brought its architectural glory to ancient life: the Colossus of Rhodes - a stunning statue of the Greek god Helios - on the Greek island of Rhodes nearly 2,300 years ago. Then the breathtaking Lighthouse of Alexandria in ancient Egypt, saving the sea navigators who at the time but had only the night stars to rely upon for guidance, as among the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The modern world's contribution to architectural marvel is Cowboys Stadium. There is of course the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Great Wall in China, among others.

Texas is the biggest state in the continental United States, and the second largest state next to Alaska. Driving from Houston, Texas to West Texas - say El Paso, Texas - often takes over 11 hours at 75 miles per hour (mph).

Cowboys Stadium - as the name implies - is home of "America's Team," the Dallas Cowboys and its world famous Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

It houses more than 100,000 seats - for the Pacquiao vs Clottey showdown, close to 50,000 seats will be prepared to host Fight fans, southern-based fans, hispanic fans, Filipinos and Filipino-Americans, everyone.

Sure, the stadium is outfitted with the modern technologies of any new sports facility. Except this one houses the world's largest big screen television which cost Mr. Jones $40 million.

That's one expensive tv. Hopefully, the antenna works well on March 13th. Is there a single electrical plug for this television?

The stadium is so massive that there are 10 entrances.

Outsized Costs >

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is listed as no. 196 on Forbe’s list of richest Americans. The construction began in 2006 and originally had an estimated cost of over $500 million. Costs escalated. A lot.

The construction cost of $1.2 billion became plausible as Arlington voters increased the city’s sale tax by 0.5%, hotel occupancy tax by 2% and car rental tax by 5%.

The city of Arlington was able to provide $325 million in additional funding. The NFL also gave their share and provided the Cowboys $150 million for stadium financing.

The naming rights to the stadium also had a story behind them. A lot of fans referred to it as “Jerry world” or “Jerry dome” or “Jones town”. There was a petition that the new stadium be named after longtime cowboys’ coach Tom Landry. However, Jerry Jones announced that the official name would be “Cowboys Stadium”.

The NBA All-Star Game was held in Cowboys Stadium on February 14. Jones sees more high profile events in the future. And why not? The stadium is likely a negative cash flow machine given the outsized operating costs. The Texas businessman may be losing lots of dough on this world wonder.

The Dallas Cowboys can only play a maximum of eight regular season games there per season. You do the math. $1.2 billion. Financing (debt). Operating costs.

Following the March 13th fight, the new Cowboys Stadium will be hosting the Monster Energy AMA Supercross FIM World Championship on March 20, 2010. Jones - and Arlington taxpayers - need more big time events at the behemoth facility. It is a behemoth money burner.

Source: Examiner.com

A Filipino icon, 'PacMan' Pacquiao has fans everywhere

Pacquiao vs Clottey
By TOBIAS XAVIER LOPEZ

tlopez@star-telegram.com

For years, Manny Pacquiao has possessed the ability to paralyze a nation, to freeze 96 million Filipino citizens and hypnotize them with every punch.

Yet, his influence grows. He forced Oscar de la Hoya to quit. He destroyed Ricky Hatton in two short rounds. He systematically dismantled Miguel Cotto.

On Saturday, the fighter regarded as the best pound-for-pound in the world returns to the ring against Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium to defend the WBO world welterweight title.

The Philippine Islands make up only a portion of the Pacquiao universe. "I am expecting a lot of Mexican fans to be at the fight," Pacquiao said during a teleconference.

Pacquiao, 31, reigns as the boxer of this generation, dabbles as a singer, aspires to be a political candidate and continues to grow in popularity, whether with Mexican fight fans or the late-night television crowd.

Boxing society has evolved to a point where race doesn't matter as much as the individual fighter's ability to induce a thumping heartbeat and uncontrollable screams pleading for a knockout.

"PacMan" provides just this with fists that fly like uninhibited falcons, feet that glide like a marble on ice and a willingness to fight as if he wore an invulnerability cape.

Fort Worth boxing trainer Vincent Reyes serves as an integral part of both the Mexican community and the local boxing scene.

"He's beat the top Mexican fighters and the Mexican fans like a crowd pleaser," Reyes said. "He's certainly a crowd pleaser. He's not boring. The Mexican fans want action and that's what he gives."

George Rincon holds a Texas State Golden Gloves championship and at 18 sits fully entrenched in pop culture awareness. The Hispanic fighter and his father both appreciate the pure fighting skills Pacquiao exhibits and consider him the fighter of this generation.

In fact, the boxing community thought it laughable that Tiger Woods, a golfer, was named the "athlete" of the decade. The notion that someone in a non-contact sport, who demands complete quiet, doesn't worry about opposition hindering his efforts and walks during his competition is simply ridiculous.

"I believe in boxing you have to be tough," Rincon said. "When you say you are a boxer, that's saying a lot. When you say you are a boxer, you are a true athlete."

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said having Hispanic fighters on Saturday's undercard helps sell the bout locally. However, he suggested the Mexican population has embraced Pacquiao because of his accomplishments. Pacquiao became the first fighter in history to win seven world titles in seven weight classes.

"Our goal when we started with Manny was to break him out from the Filipino base that he had," Arum said. "We were able to pick up millions of Hispanic fans and we have broken him into the general conscience of the people around the world.

"He is truly a crossover star. How many fighters of our time go on Jimmy Kimmel Live and go on Good Morning America and have a big article coming out in Time magazine? I think that is saying something."

Something else to be said is that Pacquiao plans to run for Congress in the Philippines with campaigning beginning on March 26.

If he wins, it certainly will force him to split time between political service and jumping rope, working the speed bag and knocking people out.

"After the fight I will go back to the Philippines and start campaigning," Pacquiao said. "It is going to be busy. I want to pass some bills that will be good for the livelihood of the people there and education for the children."

As for Rincon, he'll continue to support/emulate Pacquiao as long as his career lasts.

"He has speed and power, good defense and offense and he's very aggressive," Rincon said. "He has been beating the top Hispanic fighters and to me it doesn't matter. It's not about his race."

TOBIAS XAVIER LOPEZ, 817-390-7760

Source: star-telegram.com

Local ref lands Pacquiao-Clottey fight

Pacquiao vs Clottey
by John Whisler

San Antonio referee Rafael Ramos says being assigned to work Saturday's Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey pay-per-view fight at Cowboys Stadium is the highlight of his career.

Yet Ramos knows if he's doing his job properly, no one will know he's there.

“Fans don't pay to see me,” he said.

It's a philosophy all officials acknowledge but not all of them embrace. Some like to put their imprint on a bout when it's not warranted, irritating fighters and fans alike.

Ramos doesn't do that, which is a major reason the 53-year-old native of Puerto Rico has become one of the top ring officials not only in the nation, but also the world.

One of his biggest fans is veteran matchmaker Wayne Harrison of Fort Worth.

“He's a world-class referee,” Harrison said. “He knows what it means to be neutral, when to step in and when not to. He does a very professional job.”

Ramos was not the first choice for Saturday's main event. The World Boxing Organization, the sanctioning body whose title belt will be at stake, wanted Laurence Cole as referee.

But William Kuntz, executive director for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which oversees boxing in the state, reportedly overruled and assigned the fight to Ramos.

That probably was a good move. While Cole also is a top referee, he carries some baggage. He's been involved in a couple of controversial, high-profile fights, including one in 2006 that resulted in a fine and suspension for Cole.

To boot, Cole is the son of longtime state boxing coordinator Dickie Cole, so with eyes of the boxing world focused on Arlington on Saturday, Kuntz no doubt wanted the attention on the fight and not the choice of referee.

Ramos says he's looking forward to the big event. A crowd of more than 40,000 is expected.

“Manny Pacquiao is the No. 1 fighter in the world,” he said. “Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys. That alone is reason to be excited.”

Ramos is no stranger to the big stage.

Since his first pro bout in 1987 in Toscana, Italy, Ramos has refereed more than 300 fights and 50 world title fights, in places such as Japan (20 times), Korea, Thailand, France, Germany, Spain and Panama.

Prior to Saturday, his biggest assignment came Feb. 28, 2009, when he refereed the Juan Diaz-Juan Manuel Marquez world title fight in Houston in what was considered by many as the fight of the year.

Ramos was praised for his work in the fight.

“You have to be honest with yourself and the fighter,” Ramos said. “You have to allow the fighters to fight as long as they stay within the rules. And you have to be consistent.”

Morales on card: One San Antonio fighter is scheduled to appear on Saturday's non-televised undercard.

Joe Morales (20-13, 4 KOs), who trains under Tony Ayala Sr. at Zarzamora Street Gym, is set to take on Michael Farenas (26-2-3, 23 KOs), a southpaw from the Philippines, in an eight-round featherweight matchup.

“This is a great opportunity,” said Morales, 35, who will earn $6,000 for the fight. “I can say I was one of the first ones to fight at Cowboys Stadium.”

Morales' record is nothing to write home about, but he has fought tough competition that includes Joel Casamayor, Zahir Raheem, Rocky Juarez and Joan Guzman.

Morales is coming off a win Nov. 6 in Laredo when he beat Idelfonso Martinez in a 10-round decision.

JOHN WHISLER'S VIEW FROM THE CORNER

Opening flurry

Saturday’s fight card at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington (pay-per-view bouts only):

- Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) vs. Joshua Clottey (35-3, 21 KOs), 12 rounds, WBO welterweight title

- David Diaz (35-2-1, 17 KOs) vs. Humberto Soto (50-7-2, 32 KOs), WBC interim lightweight title

- John Duddy (28-1, 18 KOs) vs. Michael Medina (22-1-2, 17 KOs), 10 rounds, middleweights

- Alfonso Gomez (21-4-2, 10 KOs) vs. Jose Luis Castillo (60-9-1, 52 KOs), 10 rounds, welterweights

Straight shots

Title fight in S.A.? A Paul Williams-Kermit Cintron world junior middleweight title fight is in the works for May 8, and San Antonio is in the running to host it.

Regional promoter Lester Bedford of Fort Worth said he submitted a proposal Friday to Williams’ promoter Dan Goossen to bring the fight to San Antonio.

Bedford said the fight, to be televised on HBO, likely would be at the Alamodome.

Toney tries MMA: Former super middleweight and cruiserweight champion James Toney is switching from boxing to mixed martial arts.

Toney, 41, signed a multifight deal with UFC this past week. Former football star Herschel Walker won his Strikeforce debut on Jan. 30, and former boxer Ricardo Mayorga is scheduled to make his MMA debut May 15.

King denies rumors: Promoter Don King has denied rumors that Mike Tyson, age 43, has signed to fight 47-year-old Evander Holyfield for a third time, later this year.

But the promoter didn’t deny that a Tyson comeback was in the works. Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) has not fought since he retired following a loss in 2005 to Kevin McBride.

Yankee Stadium comeback: Boxing is making a return to Yankee Stadium, where icons such as Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis once plied their trade.

WBA junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman will defend his title against former welterweight champ Miguel Cotto on June 5 at the year-old ballpark in the Bronx.

Local notebook

Scholarship recipient: Armando Cardenas of Angel’s Boxing Club has been named the winner of the first Caesar A. Cano Memorial Scholarship.

The $2,000 award was given Thursday night at the Real Estate Council of San Antonio’s annual “Fight Night” fundraiser.

Cardenas won one of the three amateur bouts held that night. Other winners were Mark Martinez of Angel’s and Estefania Ibarra of TNT Boxing Club.

OJ fight set: Omar Gonzales Jr. (1-3) of San Antonio is scheduled to fight Gino Escamilla (5-7-1, 2 KOs) on March 26 in Laredo.

Suarez loses: Eloy Suarez (11-8-1, 5 KOs) of San Antonio lost to Carson Jones (25-7-1, 15 KOs) of Oklahoma City in a five-round unanimous decision Jan. 28 in Oklahoma City.

Source: mysanantonio.com

Pacquiao v. Clottey: Ted the Bull's Breakdown

Pacquiao vs Clottey
People have started doubting if I am ready for this deadly fighter but I keep telling them if he is good, I am better. If Pacquiao beats me, it won't be news but if I beat him, the whole world's attention would be on me.

--Joshua Clottey

We are very disappointed because we need to train. Now Joshua is all alone in the US and even if he is training, there is no supervision.

--Dzanie Kotey, Clottey's coach

Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey will fight at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on March 13 in what promises to be a competitive fight between two stars with the WBO welterweight title on the line. Joshua "Grand Master" Clottey is 35-3 with 20 KOs while Pacquiao is 50-3-2 with an impressive KO percentage of 68.5.

These two are skilled, have great heart, are great sportsmen, and represent their respective homelands with dignity and class, but enough of the niceties, let's cut to the chase.

Quality of Opposition

Manny has fought 10 fights against 5 guys who arguably have a shot at being inducted into the Hall of Fame. But he also fought and beat many other outstanding fighters with great records coming in. If you throw a dart at his list of opponents, you might, for example, hit South Korean Seung-Kon Chae (23-0), Mexican Oscar Larios (56-4-1), Thai Wethya Sakmuangklang (41-3), Thai Fashan 3K Battery (44-7-1), Thai Chatchai Sasakul (33-1), or Colombian Jorge Eliecer Julio (44-3).

Clottey's list of opponents, while impressive, does not begin to compare. It includes name like Miguel Cotto, Zab Judah, an aging Diego Corrales, and Antonio Margarito. He is coming off a split decision loss to Cotto, a fight in which he showed he can snatch defeat from victory as he failed to press his backtracking opponent.

Big edge to Manny here.

Common Opponents

Miguel Cotto is their only common opponent, and he was destroyed by Manny but let off the hook by Clottey. If Clottey was unable to force his will on Cotto, it's difficult to see how he can do it against Pac Man.

Clear edge to Manny.

Style

Pacquiao now possesses a full arsenal of weapons the qualitative content to which only Floyd Mayweather Jr. can stake claim. With his in-and-out whirlwind movement (reminicient of Aaron Pryor), effective jabs, fight-ending hooks from both hands, solid stamina, and a sound defense, there is little to criticize. As for speed, Pacquiao is flat out faster than Clottey in every way, particularly with his foot movement. Manny has more power as well, but the Ghanian's chin and all-around strength should offset that.

Clottey is the type of fighter who needs to be set before he can throw. Thus, Pacquiao's foot speed and movement are going to create big problems as he'll have a hard time planting his feet to mount any type of sustained offense. As well, Clottey is a strong defensive-minded fighter who is prone to take rounds off and maintain a low punch volume. Against the always active "Pac Man," this could prove fatal.

Chin

Manny has been hurt badly, but it occurred too far back to be meaningful in my view. Clottey has an almost impenetrable defense and an iron chin, but lacks one-punch knockout power.

Ring IQ

Both are savvy and experienced fighters, but Pacquiao has the edge as he can adapt to different situations faster. Clottey, on the other hand, showed an inability to adopt against Cotto--as he held back for some inexplicable reason and did not press the action? If a similar situation develops in this fight, Pacquiao will not be reticent and will jump on Clottey faster than you can say "Pinoy." Also, in his first step-up fight against Carlos Baldomir in 1999, he was disqualified for continual head butts. Clottey was winning the fight until the 10th round, where he was penalized two points for an intentional head butt. He was warned for leading with his head but did it again resulting in the referee stopping the fight and disqualifying Clottey. Not smart.

Intangibles

1) Momentum: Pac Man gets the clear nod. He is on a great streak of big wins (Cotto, Hatton, De La Hoya, Diaz, Marquez, Barrera, Solis, Morales, and Larios). Clottey, however, is coming off a close SD loss, a TD over Judah, and wins over Jose Louis Cruz, Shamone Alvarez and Felix Flores. His 2006 UD loss to Antonio Margarito may well have provided all the blueprint Freddie Roach needs

2) Cuts: Manny is more prone to cuts, so the effectiveness of their respective cut men could play a key role here. Moreover, Clottey has been known to use the head as a third weapon so Pacquiao must be alert here.

3) Trainers and Camp: Freddie Roach vs. Clottey's somewhat unknown corner. The clear nod goes to Roach. Look, you don't argue with his kind of success. And to make matters worse, Clottey's coach is having US visa problems.

5) Weight: Pacquiao fighting at welterweight favors Clottey, though Pacquiao seems to take his strength with him as he moves up in weight. Edge to Clottey

6) Dimensions: Clottey has a naturally bigger frame, is taller and has the reach advantage. Edge to Clottey.

Outcome

I see "Pac Man" beating the "Grand Master" in a medium-paced fight in which Manny will exploit Clotteys weakness beginning in the mid rounds (but I don't see it happening the other way around). This exploitation will be enhanced by Pacquio's incredibly fast in-and-out movement accompanied by just about every punch in the manual-- and each thrown with malice aforethought-as he befuddles the Ghanaian and slows down his already slow stalk.

However, despite his superb performances against Cotto, Hatton and De La Hoya, I don't see him winning within the distance. Clottey is just too strong in my view. After a competitive start - maybe the first five rounds - I see Manny reaching cruising speed and begin to dominate, In the end, Clottey's trademark pressure and counter-punching will not be able to overcome Pacquiao's foot speed and quick-handed, sharp-punching attacks. Speed will be the decisive factor here and speed is what Manny Pacquiao is all about

I envision Pacquiao outworking Clottey and building an early lead, although possibly without landing a whole lot of hard, clean punches through Clottey's excellent guard. I'm going with Pacquiao by solid UD.

Source: badlefthook.com

What numbers can Pacquiao-Clottey and Mayweather-Mosley realistically sell?

Pacquiao vs Clottey
Pittsburgh Fight Sports Examiner | Scott Heritage

The upcoming fights between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey, and Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley will probably be two of the biggest pay per view sellers this year. But what kind of numbers each will actually sell is a matter of some dispute.

Unlike most fights which more or less sell on the appeal of the two fighters taking part, there are several other confounding factors in how each one of these events will do.

Perhaps just as importantly, the figures that each achieve might well be a deciding factor in whether the two winners ever face off. Floyd Mayweather having said that if he sells more than Pacquiao, he will demand the bigger share of the purse, which in turn will likely put the bout out of commission.

Pacquiao vs. Clottey

+ Appearances from Pacquiao on the likes of Jimmy Kimmel live as well as a host of celebrity fans has helped to raise his profile and recognition in the United States.

+ The fight being held in Dallas at the Cowboys stadium is attracting a lot more mainstream attention than most big fights would get. This should help bolster the pay per view sales as well as ensuring that the live gate is a big one.

- Compared to the rest of the fighters in question, Joshua Clottey is fairly obscure outside of boxing circles, and wont help to shift many tickets in his own right. Manny Pacquiao is probably the biggest star in the sport today, but selling a fight on the back of one name only is difficult and rarely achieved.

- Although Clottey might well represent the biggest test Pacquiao has faced recently, many think his style simply does not give him much of chance of winning. Certainly some casual fans might not buy if they think the fight will turn out to be one sided.

Mayweather vs. Mosley

+ Floyd and Shane fighting has been ten years in the making, with each calling out the other multiple times down the years. For fans of both this is a can't miss fight, not to mention a lot of people are eager to see if Mayweather will finally lose his unbeaten record.

+ Although Mayweather is the bigger draw of the pair, Mosley is a minor draw in his own right and is certainly a lot more well known than the relative empty suit that Clottey represents in terms of drawing power.

- After some of Mayweather's comments and Golden Boy's recent dealings with Manny Pacquiao, some are calling for boycotts of GBP and Mayweather. Aside from this, his often offensive gestures and speeches, such as his remarks regarding Martin Luther King, or his steroid saga with Manny Pacquiao have probably lost him some fans.

- With Mosley at the age of 38, there are some out there who will think that Mayweather is taking another soft option with Mosley as an opponent. This isn't the case by any means, but to the casual observer not well versed in the rankings of records of the fighters, Floyd Mayweather taking on a much older opponent after first beating a much lighter fighter might look like more of the same.

Pittsburgh's predictions:

George Havers, Pittsburgh PA: "Clottey is pretty obscure, and Pacquiao should beat him easily. Mosley Mayweather might be a lot closer, so I think that will sell about 1.5 million to Pacquiao and Clottey's 900k"

Bill Goldman, Pittsburgh PA: "Pacquiao 1,25 million and Mayweather 1.4 million. After which Mayweather will demand extra money to fight Pacquuao and the fight will never happen"

Robert Shankley, Pittsburgh PA: "Pacquiao should sell more than Mayweather, he will be more exciting and he's the better fighter. Both are interesting though because the fight we really all want to see will probably depend on how many each one of these sells"

Bernie Walker, Pittsburgh PA: "Mayweather will outsell Pacquiao by a mile. Richie Shaefer was obviously talking nonsense as usual with his biggest ever prediction, but Clottey has zero appeal to most American fans. Mosley at least is fairly well known and holds a title, and its been a while since there has been a really big fight for people to get excited about. Pacquiao also can't hype a fight like Mayweather can. Mayweather 1.8 million. Pacquiao 1.2 million.

Source: Examiner.com

Pacquiao vs Clottey: Road to Dallas

Watch Road to Dallas: Pacquiao Vs. Clottey HBO Countdown Show

Pacquiao vs Clottey
HBO Sports presents: Road to Dallas: Pacquiao vs. Clottey a 30-minute, pre-fight countdown show leading up to “The Event” Pacquiao vs. Clottey, the first ever boxing event at the brand new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on March 13.

The WBO welterweight title fight, Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) vs. Joshua Clottey (35-3, 21 KOs), will be the first big boxing event of 2010, followed by a mega fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Shane Mosley on May 1st.

If Pacquiao beats Clottey, Mayweather Jr. beats Mosley, and the two boxer compromise on Olympic style blood testing, a possible Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Jr. super fight could happen at the end of the year.

Road to Dallas: Pacquiao vs Clottey will premiere on HBO on Saturday, March 6, right after Boxing After Dark “Devon Alexander vs. Juan Urango” (9:30 pm ET/PT). The special will replay several times on HBO and will also be available on HBO On Demand®, and online, right after it airs on HBO.

Source: NowBoxing.com

Pacquiao- Mayweather: The $25,000,000 Question

Pacquiao vs Clottey
Detroit Boxing Examiner | Bill Shimizu

“I never saw a man who didn’t want to take a $25 million drug test.”
- Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao’s refusal to submit himself to Floyd Mayweather, Jr’s demand to undergo an Olympic- style drug test for their supposed mega fight, an unprecedented and unparalleled demand in the sport that eventually led to its demise, further polarized the fans of both fighters.

There are actually varying opinions and schools of thought on the merits and demerits with regards to the said drug- testing protocol that the writer decided to forego discussing them for now (but will delve into the issue in a future article) and instead will focus on the other side of the coin, which in this case, is the money question.

Mayweather’s brass character and arrogance wherein he loves to portray himself to be awash in cold cash (hence, the moniker, Money) and a shrewd businessman at the same time (he was on record saying that he “only fights for the money.”) is anathema to blue- collar Michiganders who are modest, do things without much fanfare and quietly take pride in their accomplishments.

"I'm a businessman, with or without him, I'm gonna make $100 million for two or three fights."

Time and time again, he would proclaim that he is very smart, especially when it comes to money matters, and is filthy rich and not ashamed to flaunt his wealth in public. Or is he really?

Let us just dig deeper into his past and current financial situations. In other words, let us pick his pocket apart literally and figuratively-

Recently, right after the New York press con of his upcoming fight with Shane Mosley, Money May was once again seen showing off, counting and stacking some greens inside the tour bus. The celebrity website TMZ obtained a video of the said incident-

Now who are we to say that those dollar bills are not real money?

Unfortunately for Mayweather, a lot of people were skeptical about the cold cash that he was showing off to the public, since there were allegations in the past that he used to shower the crowds with fake $100 bills in various clubs that he frequented in Vegas, which is just one example of his many shenanigans.

In a recent interview with ESPN's Sports Center, he was needled by the two anchors when he refused and did not acknowledge the questions thrown at him about Manny Pacquiao and the so-called "fake money" that Mayweather had been "raining" on people in Vegas night clubs.

There were also cases filed by various banks in the state of Nevada against Mayweather due to him defaulting on some car loans like the one on his prized Mercedes Maybach. There were also reports that he was remiss on paying his homeowners association dues as well as a laughable $300+ bill from his garbage collector. All these things were nothing compared to the millions that he allegedly owes the IRS, which he claims to have already settled.

Money May’s history of money problems is a strong indictment against the persona that he wants the public to believe of him. It is contrary to the picture he is trying to paint that he is really swimming in a sea of greens.

On the other hand, Manny Pacquiao, the target of Mayweather’s never-ending diatribes, is not in financial straits whatsoever. He invests his money wisely and earns as much money from his commercial endorsements as his purses for the times he spends inside the ring.

While $25 million is really a big amount of money, especially for a person coming from a third world country like the Philippines, we should bear in mind that Pacquiao is now a billionaire in his homeland and can live off his earnings for the rest of his life.

Thus, he can easily afford to walk away from a fight with a person that he deems is not worthy of his time and the money that goes with it. Westerners may have a hard time understanding this, but to most Filipinos like Manny Pacquiao, a person’s good name and principle is far more valuable than a mountain of cold cash.

Who do you think between Manny and Money really needs the money the most?

Source: Examiner.com

Pacquiao ready to rumble

Pacquiao vs Clottey
By NICK GIONGCO
March 6, 2010, 7:12pm

LOS ANGELES – Sometime during the fast and furious punch mitt sessions that Freddie Roach did with Manny Pacquiao on Friday afternoon, the top trainer did something that he normally didn‘t.

After constant pounding from Pacquiao’s heavy hands, Roach motioned to his prized pupil to stop, telling boxing’s pound-for-pound king that he has done enough to cap another day of hard work at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.

“No more,” a visibly exhausted Roach said as Pacquiao continued to throw punches as the crowd that gathered watched in awe. “Go get some water (for you to drink).”

Pacquiao would not have any of Roach’s excuses, no matter how valid they were.

“I am just warming up,” said Pacquiao as those in attendance laughed.

But Roach still managed to calm down Pacquiao, who still amazed onlookers by training without letup even after two hours of continuous high-paced action.

With exactly a week to go before Pacquiao tangles with Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Pacquiao said he is more than ready, telling a foursome of visiting scribes from the Philippines that “he can’t wait to get to the ring.”

From what took place during the 15 rounds of mitts, it became clearer and clearer that Pacquiao and Roach have all the battle plan all figured out.

As if on cue, Pacquiao would dig a left to Roach’s bodyguard after unleashing his trademark blinding combinations.

“Kill the body,” hollered Roach as Pacquiao was about to unload another barrage.

Roach said the key for Pacquiao is to “win the exchanges” and “stay away” from Clottey’s firing range.

Pacquiao’s superb showing made the day of Roach, who celebrated his 50th birthday.

After the workout, Pacquiao presented his master a cake as some gym rats shared on Filipino culinary delights like lumpia (spring roll), pansit bihon (stir-fried noodles), chicken adobo (stew), and beef caldereta (pot roast).

Source: mb.com.ph

Pacquiao hurts Roach's chin in gym

Pacquiao vs Clottey
By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated March 07, 2010 12:00 AM

HOLLYWOOD – For 15 rounds non-stop, Manny Pacquiao went for the kill.

And a good number of times, he caught his master, Freddie Roach, on the chin or just too hard on the body, and made his two-hour workout at the Wild Card Gym look like the real thing.

“Sorry coach, sorry,” said Pacquiao as he backed off after one of his right hooks glanced the chin of his trainer.

But Roach, who celebrated his 50th birthday Friday by putting on his three-inch body armor and working the mitts with Pacquiao, really didn’t mind. He’s gotten used to it anyway. Even if it hurts.

“He hurts me and knocks the wind off me sometimes,” he said.

But it’s all part of his job, and Roach would like to see Pacquiao do the same against Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In fact, he sees Pacquiao winning by knockout.

“Kill the body,” was Roach’s constant reminder during their 15-round session with the mitts. He believes that Clottey, bigger but older, has never been hit to the body as hard as Pacquiao would hit him.

On top of the ring, they worked on the different angles and on running rings around Clottey and at the same time planting solid blows to the side of the body and to the head which they hope would work.

“There’s nothing he can do when you’re not standing in front of him,” said Freddie during breaks that never lasted more than five seconds. “There’s nothing he can do. Take advantage of that.”

They were almost whispering to each other as they map out the plan, always looking for something new, always looking for ways to make things better and making things worse for the opponent.

“We’re not going to leave a pattern,” said Roach on top of the ring. He wants Pacquiao to keep Clottey guessing all night, guessing where his punches are coming from and guessing what his next move would be.

Pacquiao was just having a good time on the ring when Roach, after 15 rounds non-stop, said it’s time to call it a day.

“Uno-mas. Uno-mas (One more. One more),” Pacquiao kept on repeating.

But Roach would have none of it.

“When will you ever get tired? Go get water. I need to rest,” he said.

And then it was over.

“Masaya kami (We’re happy),” said Pacquiao, who earlier in the morning ran up Mount Lee, the tallest peak in Los Angeles, and ended up looking down at the very famous landmark, the Hollywood Sign.

“Lumampas pa ako doon sa sign. That was my longest run in training and it took me more than an hour to get to the top. It was like running a marathon uphill. Grabe talaga,” he said.

Notes: The birthday song filled the Wild Card Gym after the two-hour workout, and Manny Pacquiao presented Freddie Roach with a birthday cake. Roach blew the candles and made a wish: Knock Clottey out...Each of the 87 persons who joined Pacquiao’s weight loss contest had to sign a waiver prepared by Dr. Allan Recto just to make sure that the boxing superstar won’t be held liable if something happens to any of them. Pacquiao has offered $3,000 to anyone who’d lose 15 percent of their body weight inside three weeks. Dr. Recto said it’s no joke. Most of those who joined the contest, you see, are non-athletes, just plain individuals, and trying to lose so much weight in so little time may cause them harm. Some of them are said to be starving themselves to death just to get the money. Based on Dr. Recto’s official list, there are those needing to lose as little as 15 lb and one as much as 40 lb. “We prepared the waiver to make sure no one sues Manny if something bad happens to him or her,” said Dr. Recto. As an icing on the cake, Pacquiao has offered another $20,000 to the one who will lose the most in weight, percentage wise. The final weigh-in is set Sunday. Get the ambulance ready.

Source: philstar.com

Pacquiao vows new technique vs Clottey

Pacquiao vs Clottey
MANILA, Philippines – With or without the alleged injury, 7-division champ Manny Pacquiao said he is all set for his world title defense against Joshua Clottey, adding that he has a "new technique" against the Ghanaian.

Pacquiao said all he is waiting for is the fight date itself which is on March 13 (March 14 in Manila).

"Right now 100% conditioned na tayo, ready na tayo sa fight. Maintain na lang sa kondisyon," said the Filipino champ, who will be defending his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown.

He also said the alleged injury he earlier experienced will not affect his performance against the bigger Clottey.

"Wala namang injury, sore lang ang muscle," he said.

The power-puncher from General Santos City also claimed that he has the answer to Clottey’s larger build—strong punches and skillful defense.

“We’ve created a new technique,” said Pacquiao. “It’s going to be exciting, and a lot of action in the ring.”

The Pacquiao-Clottey fight, dubbed as “The Event” will take place at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Clottey, for his part, said he is ready to take away Pacquiao’s welterweight title—and Manny’s Filipino fans are afraid that the Ghanaian meant it.

“I’m very, very, hundred percent for sure that I am the only one who can beat him!” Clottey said at a training session for the press at New York’s Kingsway Gym on Thursday.

Lenny de Jesus, Clottey’s trainer, believes Pacquiao is going to pass his prime.

“Pacquiao has been at the top for five years, I think his time is coming. Clottey is ready to fight tomorrow,” De Jesus claimed.

Fight seen to go until late rounds

Pacquiao fans in McAllen, Texas are not taking the fighter from Ghana lightly. Many believe Clottey can bring the scheduled 12-round boxing match to its later rounds.

“Mga ten. Bagsak yan si Clottey,” said Boboy Yongson, one of Pacquiao’s fans.

“I think the fight is gonna go the distance. Pacquiao will win by a close decision,” said boxing promoter Anthony Cavasos.

Foreign boxers also shared their own prediction regarding the outcome of the fight.

Junior lightweight boxer Jorge Luis Teron of the US, ranked 12th by the Word Boxing Association (WBA), said Clottey’s good defense will allow him to hold out: “It’s going to be real hard for Manny to knock him out. I think it might go to a decision.”

National American Boxing Federation reigning lightweight title holder Brandon Rios, also of the US, is confident for a Pacquiao victory before Round 12: “Clottey is a good fighter; he takes a lot of punches. I see a win later, maybe a knockout (for Pacquiao)." With reports from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News; Merpu Roa, Don Tagala and Joseph Pimentel, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau

Source: ABS-CBN.com

Chavez Jr. picks Pacquiao to win by UD over Clottey

Pacquiao vs Clottey
By Roy Luarca
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:26:00 03/07/2010

HOLLYWOOD—THE YOUNG, TALL and good-looking young man slipped quietly into the Wild Card Gym Friday and watches intently as Manny Pacquiao trained.

He stayed for nearly two hours as Pacquiao breezed through 15 rounds of mitts session with trainer Freddie Roach before punishing the double-ended bag and speedball.

After issuing a challenge to fight Pacquiao, unbeaten junior middleweight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. now seems to have changed his mind.

“Maybe someday,” said the 24-year-old Julio, son and namesake of the former world junior lightweight champion and Mexican legend Chavez Sr.

Chavez, who stands nearly 6-feet tall, told Filipino sportswriters that Pacquiao is a great fighter and without doubt, the world’s best at the moment.

Though Chavez, owner of an impressive 41 (30 knockouts)-0-1 record, picked Pacquiao to beat Clottey by unanimous decision, he thinks the Filipino ring icon is in for a tough defense of his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“Clottey is also good and tough,” said Chavez Jr., who’s slated to fight in June against a yet to be named opponent after serving a suspension for having traces of a prohibited substance on his system.

Chavez appeared in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto showdown last Nov. 14, where he was unimpressive in posting a unanimous decision win over Troy Rowland.

His decision over Rowland was in stark contrast with the explosive show of Pacquiao, who stopped the bigger Cotto in 12 rounds to become the only boxer to hold seven titles in as many divisions.

Source: sports.inquirer.net

Mexican pug sees Pacquiao victory

Pacquiao vs Clottey
By NICK GIONGCO
March 6, 2010, 6:41pm

LOS ANGELES – Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., the fancied son of Mexico’s greatest ring warrior, predicted on Friday that Manny Pacquiao will encounter rough sailing against Joshua Clottey of Ghana when the two collide next week in Dallas.

“It’s going to be a tough fight for both fighters,” said Chavez, who didn’t mind waiting for close to two hours for Pacquiao to show up for workout at the Wild Card Boxing Club just to see the Filipino showcase his wares.

Asked whether Pacquiao is going to become the first to deal the Ghana banger a knockout loss, Chavez answered in the negative although he says with conviction that Pacquiao is going to retain the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown.

“Manny on points,” said Chavez, who, once upon a time, had been mentioned as a possible foe of Pacquiao.

Pacquiao and Chavez are both promoted by Top Rank Inc. owned and operated by Bob Arum.

The 5-foot-11 Chavez Jr., who fights in the super-welterweight class, has a record of 41-0-1 with 30 knockouts.

Teased by the Manila-based writers that he might be considered to face Pacquiao in the future, Chavez just smiled before saying his piece.

“Maybe, someday,” said the 24-year-old Chavez, grinning.

Source: mb.com.ph

Just being real: Timothy Bradley calls Pacquiao-Clottey a ‘joke’, claims he’d beat Floyd Mayweather

Pacquiao vs Clottey
Las Vegas Boxing Examiner | Chris Robinson

In the March 2010 issue of The Ring magazine, WBO Jr. Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley goes in depth about his recent success in the sport and the newfound attention he is starting to receive as one of the sport’s finer pugilists. Bradley notes that he feels he came up the hard way much like Shane Mosley in that he came through the backdoor.

As the lengthy interview rolled on Bradley also talks about the love he gets from people in Mexico, fighting in ballrooms for short money and growing up in the ghetto. All the while Bradley refused to pull any punches and was extremely candid during his conversation with the Ring’s Joseph Santoliquito.

Bradley’s upfront nature boiled over when asked his thoughts on today’s current pound or pound king, Manny Pacquiao. When asked by Santoliquito if he would have been willing to fight Pacquiao if the chance presented itself the Palm Springs native was beyond adamant.

“It’s not even about the money,” Bradley stated. “I want to fight the best fighter in the world and I want to see if I can beat him. Manny is human just like I am. All I ask is an opportunity. I worked by butt off to get to the number-one spot just to fight him.”

As the world now knows, Pacquiao is set to face Accra, Ghana’s Joshua Clottey next weekend at Dallas Cowboys stadium. While it is a far cry from Pacquiao-Mayweather, a contest with Clottey has been looked at by many as a suitable replacement. Bradley however, isn’t too keen on the matchup.

“I don’t want to see Joshua Clottey and Pacquiao,” Bradley said boldly. “It’s a joke. Miguel Cotto beat Clottey and Pacquiao crushed Cotto. So what do you think Pacquiao will do to Clottey?”

With frustration apparent in his voice, Bradley continued to speak about his lack of chances to prove himself in the sport. At the end of the day all the 25-year old wants is a chance to show himself against the world’s best.

“It’s a matter of time that the guys who don’t want to fight me will one day fight me. If Floyd Mayweather doesn’t retire before I fight him, I’ll be the first man to beat him. I don’t want to be cocky; I’m just being real.”

Mayweather’s view

It’s slightly surprising to hear Bradley critique the Pacquiao-Clottey fight, especially off of the basis that Pacquiao crushed Cotto and will surely do the same to Clottey, who wasn’t able to defeat Miguel. The phrase ‘Styles make fights’ instantly pops up in one’s head but Bradley is entitled to his own opinion.

Bradley’s statements did spark my curiosity as to whether or not he would be a better opponent for Pacquiao than Clottey, who has shown himself to be durable and willing on the grandest of stages. Looking for a little bit of insight I asked one of Las Vegas’ top trainers, Jeff Mayweather, for his thoughts on who would be a better matchup for Pacquiao.

“To be honest I think Bradley would give him a better fight,” Jeff stated. “Clottey is primarily defense while Bradley is a little more offensive minded.”

Fair enough, but not wanting to let the subject die down I asked Mayweather who he felt had the better credentials thus far into their career, Timothy or Joshua. On this question Mayweather seems to take a different route.

“Honestly I think Clottey is more proven,” Jeff claimed. “He’s fought the higher caliber competition. Bradley really is in a division where there is nobody around him. I mean he’s a champion but who has he fought?”

In closing I asked Jeff for his opinion on what the future holds for Bradley. I also gathered his thoughts on how Bradley would fair against the likes of Pacquiao, Mayweather, Clottey and everyone else lurking around in the Welterweight class.

“Bradley’s a good fighter and he’s well conditioned. I think if he stays at 140 he can be a champion for a while because I don’t see many people in that division testing him. Now if he goes up to Welterweight that’s another story, I don’t think he’d have as much success there.”

Source: Examiner.com

BOXING: Discourage not in Clottey's vocabulary

Pacquiao vs Clottey
By Robert Morales, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/05/2010 08:50:50 PM PST

Joshua Clottey remembers when, as a kid growing up in Ghana, he got sick to his stomach after being punched there during a street fight. He started training and got his revenge.

"I beat him and I became a boxer," Clottey said.

Not just any boxer, but one who does not discourage easily.

In December 2006, he challenged Antonio Margarito for his welterweight title, but lost a unanimous decision. Undeterred, Clottey began a five-fight winning streak by winning a wide decision over former lightweight champion Diego Corrales.

In the fifth fight of that streak, Clottey won the vacant welterweight championship with a nine-round technical decision over Zab Judah in August 2008. Clottey then challenged Miguel Cotto for his welterweight title, but lost a close split decision last June.

But again, Clottey is not the sort to hang his head. And a week from today, he will challenge Manny Pacquiao for his welterweight belt at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas (HBO pay-per-view).

Not only will Clottey be without his longtime trainer, Godwin Dzanie Kotey, he will be taking on a fighter whose epic rise to stardom has resulted in him being accused of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Clottey's credo: No problem.

Kotey was not going to be able to get a work visa in time to make the fight, so Clottey decided to use his cut man, Lenny DeJesus, who will be trying to match wits with Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach.
Roach was recently named Trainer of the Year for a record fourth time by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

"It is true," said Clottey, when asked if reports he cried upon hearing Kotey would not be in his corner were accurate. "We have been together for a very long time. If he could get his visa, I would fly him here.

"They are not going to give him his visa and I can't wait for him because I have to get ready to fight and my life is on the line. In my other fights, my cut man, Lenny, was pushing me a lot so I thought I would use him as my trainer."

Clottey's manager, Vinny Scolpino, is not concerned because DeJesus has more than 40 years in boxing.

"Lenny has always been more than a cut man," Scolpino said. "He also trains a lot of fighters. He brings a wealth of experience, he knows the business."

Clottey and Scolpino also have no issue with the accusations and insinuations that have come Pacquiao's way regarding performance-enhancing drugs. Pacquiao has fought in Las Vegas 11 times and has never had a test come back dirty.

But Pacquiao's fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. was killed when Pacquiao refused to submit to Olympic-style testing that requires random blood samples and urinalysis.

Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs) said he didn't consider asking Pacquiao for more drug-testing than any state commission requires, meaning urinalysis only.

"I don't want him to do that because I respect him too much," Clottey said. "He is a very nice guy, to be honest with you, and I feel comfortable around him. He is nice and respects everybody and I know where he is from. I don't think Manny Pacquiao is doing that thing.

"If he is doing that thing, he is killing the sport."

Bob Arum, who promotes Clottey and Pacquiao, said if any commission ever requires more than standard urinalysis, Pacquiao will do it. But he would never agree to it as part of a negotiation, which is what happened with Mayweather.

Scolpino is on board with that way of thinking.

"I couldn't agree with Bob more," Scolpino said. "If the commission wants to implement other drug-testing rules, let them implement them. We abide by the rules that are set forth for us, then we move forward.

"Manny is a super champion and we all hope he is doing the right thing. If the commission finds it in their drug-testing - they find it."

Besides, Clottey is not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. He is more the bring-it-on sort. He knows how fortunate he is to have a chance to dethrone boxing's pound-for-pound king. If not for Pacquiao-Mayweather falling apart, Clottey would not be getting this shot.

"A victory would mean very, very more than a lot to me," said Clottey, 32, who these days lives in the Bronx. "That's why I am so happy about this opportunity. He (Pacquiao) is the man now and he's giving me a chance to fight him and if I beat him, I'm going to be on top of the world."

Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) is the favorite. But Arum suggested he wouldn't be surprised at anything that might transpire.

"The more I play it over in my head, I realize how competitive this fight is going to be," Arum said. "Nobody, with any real certainty, can predict this fight. Everybody knows how Manny Pacquiao fights. Everybody knows the angles that he throws punches from.

"Everybody knows that Joshua Clottey is a tremendous defensive fighter and can put a real hurting on an opponent."

Cotto can attest to that.

Source: pasadenastarnews.com

The Accidental Trainer

Pacquiao vs Clottey
By George Kimball

NEW YORK --- You don’t hear much about it otherwise, but the Kingsway Gym periodically gets its moment of fame whenever there’s a big fight in New York -- and sometimes even when the big fight is in, say, Dallas. Its location, at Fifth Avenue and 28th Street, makes it easy to reach for Manhattan-based media types, many of whom are prone to developing allergies at the very mention of words like “Bronx” and “Brooklyn,” and, as boxing gyms go, you’d have to say that it borders on the hygienic, in that the toilets flush and nobody spits on the floor. The interior is sufficiently bright that photographers and TV crews know they won’t have to hump in a bunch of lighting equipment up a flight of stairs from street level, so they like it too.

Of course, the very factors that make it an ideal location for these Media Day extravaganzas are counterintuitive to boxing tradition. A boxing gym is supposed to be dark and dank and, if not foul-smelling, exude that blend of 40 year-old cigar ash, human body odor, rodent excretia, and backed-up plumbing that provides a gym with its own distinctive aroma.

In that respect the Kingsway can only function as an impostor. It doesn’t smell like a gym, feel like a gym, or even look much like a gym in any traditional sense.

On the other hand, on this day at least, Lenny DeJesus looks every inch a trainer: As he waits for Joshua Clottey to go to work he is wearing clean dungarees a zippered jacket over a t-shirt, a jaunty black Kangol cap on his head, and a white towel draped over his left shoulder.

DeJesus is a 64 year-old boxing lifer, one of those guys most boxing fans have seen climb up and down the steps for years without ever knowing his name. On the other hand, you’ve probably read his name a lot in the last two weeks. That was when the March issue of ESPN: The Magazine hit the stands, with a story (“The Substitute”) on Clottey that described DeJesus as a “part-time locksmith and long-time boxing satellite” and conveyed the distinct impression that as he heads into he biggest fight of his life against Manny Pacquiao, the supervisory role in Clottey’s corner had been entrusted to the Village Idiot.

Now it looks like one of the PR minions had instructed Lenny to drop by the wardrobe department and pick up a trainer’s uniform.

1:15: Josh is in the ring

DeJesus stands off to one side and watches Clottey go through the motions while a large Ghanaian named Bruce wields the mitts. The other one-third of the corner DeJesus will be running, an even larger Ghanaian named Kwaku Gyamfi, keeps time. Lenny just watches. He seems to be paying attention, but he issues no instructions.

“Look,” says one member of the fight mob as he watches Clottey’s workout, “Clottey is 32 years old. He’s had almost 40 fights. There’s nothing you can tell him now that’s going to turn him into a different fighter. You just wind him up and let him go.

“And what’s the corner going to tell him during the fight -- other than “Get up, Josh!”

Maybe “Josh! Stay down!”?

1:35: Josh hits the double-end bag

Irish middleweight John Duddy has had a place on the Pacquiao-Clottey undercard since its inception, but he was just added to the Media Day lineup this morning. Half the photographers and most of the print guys seem more interested in Duddy, and they keep watching the door behind Clottey.

In December of 2007 De Jesus was in Duddy’s corner at the King’s Hall in Belfast when the Irishman beat former Commonwealth champion Howard Eastman. Irish Ropes had just begun to shake up the Duddy corner; Don Turner had replaced Harry Keitt, and Lenny was the cut man, taking George Mitchell’s place. Both Keitt and Mitchell are back and De Jesus long since moved along. That is the live of a vagabond cornerman. Hell, earlier in the Filipino champion’s career he even worked as Pacquiao’s cut man.

“There are five things you can do in a corner and I’ve done all of ‘em,” says Lenny. “Not even Freddie Roach can say that. I’ve been the bucket guy, the stool guy, the advisor, the cut-man, and I’ve been the head guy before, too. But mostly I’ve been a cut man.”

It has been nearly 22 years, in fact, since the last time De Jesus was the chief second in a world title fight. He was in charge of Miguel Santana’s corner, and led the celebration when IBF lightweight champ Greg Haugen, his face bloodied from a deep cut to his right eyebrow, failed to answer the bell for the 12th round.

“We had the title for about 15 minutes,” he recalled. “The fight was in Seattle [Tacoma, actually], and after they’d raised Santana’s hand they decided that the cut had come from a butt, so they went back to the scorecards.”

Referee Jim Cassidy said that he was aware of the rule, but assumed that Santana was ahead on all three cards anyway. As it turned out he was ahead on only one of them, and, long after most of the crowd had gone home, a “stunned” Haugen was awarded the decision. The headline in the local paper read “Santana ‘robbed’ as Haugen gets bizarre win,” and the story noted that “Santana’s trainer, Lenny DeJesus, of New York City, thought his fighter had been robbed. ‘My fighter’s hand was raised in victory, and my fighter was awarded this fight!” said the distressed DeJesus.”

“They never looked a replay or nothing. Even the referee told is he knew it was a punch and not a butt,” adds Lenny. “The reason they did it was everybody knew Haugen had already signed to fight Jim Watt in London -- for a lot of money.”

Lenny has been doing pretty well until he says that. And here we thought cut men didn’t have to worry about taking too many blows to the head.

Watt had retired after his 1981 loss to Alexis Argello -- seven years before Haugen-Santana.

1:40: Josh hits the heavy bag

When the gloves are pulled off Clottey, the towel comes off Lenny’s shoulder for the first time all day. He vigorously sets about drying the fighters forearms and hands, sending a spray of sweat that glistens beneath the lights. Joshua is wearing a dark red t-shirt with a baseball on the front. On the back it says “Baseball.”

Does Clottey play baseball? DeJesus is asked.

“I don’t think so,” says Lenny.

After a January press tour that opened at Cowboys Stadium and moved on to New York, Clottey returned to Accra, where he hoped to secure a visa that would have allowed his trainer, Godwin Nil Dzanie Kotey, to work his corner against Pacquiao. Kotey’s previous visa expired in December of 2009, and the security regulations involved in the process had changed dramatically between then and the time he applied for a new one; over Christmastime a Nigerian passenger had attempted to turn himself into a Roman candle on approach to Detroit.

So when Clottey flew back in February to open camp in Fort Lauderdale barely a month before the Pacquiao fight, De Jesus had more or less by default become his trainer.

“I guess I’m it,” he told ESPN’s Chris Jones at the time. Jones did not, it should be noted, seem exactly bowled over when Lenny explained that his “first job will be getting this kid up those stairs and into the ring.”

Lenny assumes that Clottey must have worked while he was back in Ghana. DeJesus, in any case, was there to meet him in Florida, and claims that over the last several weeks the challenger has sparred close to 90 rounds.

“I got the sparring partners,” he says. “They was all lefthanders, too.”

1:45: Josh hits the speed bag

John Duddy shows up, in street clothes, and announces that he is not going to work out.

“Nobody told me about this until it was too late,” he explains. “I already did all my work this morning.”

He does pose for a few pictures with Clottey, and chats amiably with boxing writers. Around the gym, grumbling photographers begin to pack away their equipment.

Over on the other side of the gym, Media Works’ Ed Keenan describes the Clottey camp in Florida.

“I finally went to Lenny and said ‘Look, you have to give me your phone number. I keep setting up these interviews with Clottey, but then he won’t answer his phone.”

“Lenny tells me ‘Aw, mine won’t work either. A few days ago I fell in the swimming pool with my clothes on and my phone was in my pocket.’

“That was last week. He still hasn’t gotten a phone.”

This might mark Lenny as old school, or maybe just stubborn. Just imagine for a moment, for instance, having to make a split second decision which to carry out of a burning building, his training mitts or his cell phone. It wouldn’t even be close.

But Lenny, we felt like asking him, doesn’t a locksmith need a phone, too?

1:50: Josh talks

Albeit briefly.

For the past month the question has been whether DeJesus or anyone else actually had enough time to get Clottey ready for this fight. The groundwork in Florida was by all accounts preliminary jousting, and from a preparation standpoint, the dog-and-pony show at the Kingsway has largely been a wasted day.

Now Joshua Clottey says “I have done all the work I need. I wish I did not even go to Texas for the next eight days. I want the fight to be now.”

Is the tail wagging the dog here, or what?

1:53: Josh done talking

Josh says he’s ready. Lenny says he’s not.

“But that’s not exactly what I’ll say to him,” says Lenny. “Dealing with fighters is dealing like little kids sometimes. If you don’t want them eating candy, you can try to show them how it’s harmful, but if you give them an order -- Don’t eat candy! -- the first thing they’re gonna do is go eat even more when you’re not looking.

“Sure, he needs more work between now and March 13th. He’s fighting Manny Pacquiao! I just gotta figure out a way to make him think it’s his idea.”

Source: thesweetscience.com