Pacquiao Watch: Breaking down the Pacquiao-Clottey fight

Pacquiao vs Clottey
Manny Pacquiao goes up a very prohibitive favorite against a tough customer in Ghana’s Joshua Clottey on March 13 (March 14, Philippine time) for the defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown.

The Filipino bomber is riding on an 11-fight winning streak – eight of them by knockouts en route to being proclaimed the best pound for pound fighter in boxing today.

The Clottey fight will only be Manny’s third in the welterweight class and the first un-handicapped fight in the division.

Manny is seeking to register another spectacular win following the aborted bout with Floyd Mayweather Jnr. before he plunges into the electoral campaign where he is seeking a seat in the Philippine Congress.

Clottey is coming off a close split decision loss to Miguel Angel Cotto whom Manny badly battered en route to a stunning stoppage with just 55 seconds into the 12th round in November last year.

Clottey is one of the underrated welterweights who has never been stopped in his career and has been fighting at the welterweight limit and beyond since 1998, three years after Manny debuted as a 106-pound professional boxer.

The Ghanian carries a decent punch and is very durable and these qualities make him a dangerous opponent against top-tiered welterweights.

Aside from Mayweather and Shane Mosley, Pacquiao could find no better opponent than Clottey.

Clottey, however, is a slow opponent by Manny’s standards and does not have the counterpunching style that will disrupt the rhythm of the Filipino boxing champ. Clottey comes straight forward, inviting opponents to penetrate his hands-over-his-face-defense - a rather above average one – then waits for the man in front of him to commit to a brawl. He is a slugger and loves to throw short punches from the inside. He occasionally throws jabs that are crisp.

Manny’s trainer Freddie Roach says he saw flaws in Clottey’s fighting style and I agree with him.

Manny’s right crosses off Clottey’s jabs and right hooks to the body will bring down the Ghanian’s defense.

But unless Clottey develops overnight long uppercuts and left hooks that could catch Manny while the Filipino is darting out, Clottey will find the champion a difficult target to hit.

Manny will also try to penetrate Clottey’s defense by throwing powerful lead left straights after faking his rights.

The key is for Manny to keep a frenetic pace using lateral movements and head fakes while digging into the body of the Ghanian.

Again, Manny should stay away from the ropes as Clottey has good hand speed.

I see a late stoppage when Manny shall have broken down Clottey’s defense and frustrated him with his lighting quick speed in the early going.

Source: asiancorrespondent.com

Pacquiao touches a special life

Pacquiao vs Clottey
This was an experience that this writer will never forget. While covering Manny Pacquiao's training camp from the Wild Card Gym, I was fortunate enough to have witnessed many great things. One special moment that I will never forget was when we were exiting the restaurant on Saturday. Manny as most people know has a hard time telling his fans, "No" so he needs others to say it for him.

Pacquiao's time is so in demand that somewhere along the way someone will not get to have his ear. It's impossible for Manny to grant every wish that every fan or business wants. I was invited to dinner by Manny and was sitting right next to him when I heard one of his assistants say, " Manny there isn't enough time for you to take photos with every fan outside." Pacquiao trains close to 5 hours a day. His time is limited. So when his assistant told him this, Manny looked up and seemed bothered by what he had heard. He just doesn't like for a fan to miss out.

Check out more on Pacquiao's training and work ethic here - http://www.examiner.com/x-10947-Filipino-Sports-Examiner~y2010m3d1-Lesson-to-aspiring-world-champs-If-you-want-to-be-the-next-Pacquiao-you-got-to-train-like-Pacquiao

Manny was eating his dinner and signing autographs at the same time. It was amazing to see what Manny deals with. He would sign 20 gloves, then eat, sign a shirt, then eat, sign a sneaker, then eat. Manny looked over at me and said, "Brad Cooney, this is my life." After some time went by, we concluded dinner and it was time to go.

As we exited the restaurant there were a few hundred fans outside in the parking lot. Manny was making his way toward his car and he was immediately surrounded by his fans. Rob Peters (Pacquiao's bodyguard) was doing a good job paving the way and making a path through the fans so that Manny could get to the car. Then the moment happened. There was a Filipino fan in a wheelchair looking up at Manny. The fan had Cerebal Palsy. He had a huge smile on his face, and his eyes were lit up like a Christmas tree. Manny looked at him, and without hesitation walked up to this fan and wrapped his arm around him. Manny had his hands on the fan's shoulder and posed for a few pictures with him. The fan was elated! His family had tears in their eyes. The crowd began to chant, "MANNY, MANNY, MANNY, MANNY!" It was a moment that this writer will never forget.

Pacquiao shows why he is such a role model to the world. Not only is he a champion inside of the ring, but he is a champion outside of the ring as well. His fans in my state of Mississippi like him for his success in and outside of the ring. Mississippians are very spiritual people. The deep south is the Bible belt. Pacquiao's belief in God has touched many of his fans in Mississippi.

Check out Pacquiao training footage - http://www.8countnews.com/news/125/ARTICLE/2357/2010-02-28.html

Source: Examiner.com

Manny will stop him before 12th – Roach

Pacquiao vs Clottey
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 02 Mar 2010

With a little less than a fortnight before Manny Pacquiao fights Joshua Clottey, the Filipino ring icon’s American chief trainer Freddie Roach declared his ward to be in great shape as to deal his Ghanaian challenger his first knockout defeat.

Roach assured during last weekend’s Pacquiao media call held at the Wild Card Gym in downtown Los Angeles that the world 147-pound champion and pound-for-pound king will be tapering off his preparations this week and be ready to drive to Dallas by Monday next week.

“Manny is in great shape. He is getting better all the time and he still wants to improve, “ the three-time ‘Trainer of the Year’ awardee of the American Boxing Writers Association told media men.
The ‘Pacman’ sparred for 12 rounds last Saturday following an 11-round session Friday against four different sparring partners.
“He is looking rally good and he’s got the game plan. He was so sharp, I almost wanted to five him a day off, but Manny won’t take a day off,” he said.

“We are getting better at making the moves. We have watched a lot of tape on Clottey. We know his characteristics, we know his mistakes and we know his habits,” Roach added. “I do feel that the way Manny is training for this fight, the game plan and how to beat Clottey is in place. “

“ I know Clottey is a big strong guy and a great fighter and we respect him and he’s a really tough guy but with Manny, I feel that he’s going to overwhelm him with his speed and combination and I do believe he will be the first person to stop him before the 12th round,” Pacquiao’s handler for the last 10 years predicted.
Pacquiao himself expressed confidence of successfully defending his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown, saying,” I am good. Training camp is good. Everything is great. I know Clottey is taller and bigger than me. I know I can’t underestimate him because he is a former world champion also.”
Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank, who was also in attendance at the media call, agreed, saying, “Manny Pacquiao is having a great training camp, as Freddie will tell you. There is excitement is Dallas. We have less than 8,000 tickets to go and I am fully confident we will have a sellout for the fight. It is very exciting for us and it should be a great, great show.”

When asked of his game plan, Roach said: I don’t want (Pacquiao) to be on the ropes as much as we were in the Cotto fight. Clottey is very effective on the ropes and will throw uppercuts from that position. We are working on not being there when he is trying to counter-punch. Clottey likes to lay on the ropes and counter when we are finished a combination, but we’re not going to be there – he’s not going to find us.”

“He is what he is. Let’s face it. He fights the same way in every tape I watch. Whether he fights southpaws or right-handers, he is predictable,” he continued. “Clottey’s best punch is the uppercut, but we will not fall into that pocket too often to let him use that shot. I have a lot of confidence in my fighter and the reason why is the way he has been sparring. We have big strong guys that fight a lot like Clottey.”

Roach assured the Filipino champ will definitely make 147 and “will go into the ring at 149, 150 max. I am not worried about his size. Size doesn’t win fights, skill does and it won’t be a problem.

Source: PhilBoxing.com

Headline: Can Pacquiao wipeout Clottey?

By: Albert Alvarez

In Pacquiao’s last fight, Pacquiao was tested by one of the hardest punchers in the sport in Miguel Cotto. I recall Pacquiao getting buzzed for a second or two in a wild exchange against Cotto in the very early going of their great action packed fight. After the light buzz, Pacquiao then took Cotto’s best shots and took them with ease, Pacquiao later said that the Boriqua Bombers hard shots did indeed hurt, but Pacquiao pretended in his own mind that they really didn’t hurt. Come March 13, can Pacquiao pretend that Clottey’s fierce left hook tickles? I sure hope so, because come March 13 I will be picking Pacquiao to get the W over Clottey. I however do not see this fight as a wipeout as most observers out there are seeing this affair play out. I see this fight as a 8 rounds-4 or 7 rounds-5 kind of fight for Pacquiao. Many are picking Pacquiao based on 2 things, that is speed and power.

I will agree that Pacquiao does have the speed and power advantages over Clottey, but speed and power will not win this fight for Pacquiao. The things that will win this fight for Pacquiao will be heart and will. Will Pacquiao’s heart will The Pac-Man to keep firing off shots when he finds a steel iron chin Clottey resting on the ropes with his ear muffs on? How will Pacquiao react when he discovers that he can’t hurt Clottey as easily as he was able to hurt has past foes? Those are great questions to ask, but the bottom line is that Clottey just doesn’t throw enough shots to derail the Pacquiao Express. If I am Clottey, I would bring the fight to Pacquiao and constantly have Pacquiao backing up, Pacquiao is at his best when he is the one moving forward sitting on his punches and picking his spots. This is why I would push forward and place Pacquiao in a whole different place, take the rythym away from him. Can the Grand Master from Ghana do just that? I don’t think so. Pacquiao By UD.

Source: diamondboxing.com

Schaefer: Mayweather-Pacquiao off, but 2010 shaping up as wonder year

Pacquiao vs Clottey
“…Always look on the bright side of life.”

“When you’re chewing on life’s gristle, don’t grumble, give a whistle, and this’ll help things turn out for the best.”

That seems to be the attitude around boxing’s biggest fights at present.

Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, insisted to Telegraph Sport today that in spite of the Flody Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao superfight crumpling before the world’s eyes, there is much to look forward to in a packed season of fights to the end of May. One suspects he hopes that Pacquiao will also be on the horizon as an opponent late in the year. What he does have, of course, is the fact that it is would make sense for the winner of Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather, on May 1, in Las Vegas, to face Pacquiao. Either man would be a viable opponent.

“It is shaping up as quite a year. You don’t always get what you want right away. It might not happen today, but it could all change tomorrow… but I am still optimistic that this fight could come by Christmas… (Schaefer was alluding to Pacquiao-Mayweather/Mosley)

“At Golden Boy, we always said we are commited to showing the best fights… whether that be a fight between Mosley and Pacquiao or Mayweather and Pacquiao, and if they do not happen, it is not the end of the world as some people are making out. There are always big match-ups and great fights out there.”

Schaefer believes Mosley “is a very dangerous fight” for Mayweather, but admits that ‘Pretty Boy’ “always finds a way to win”.

I can’t see Mosley defeating Mayweather. In spite of Mosley’s great performances of late, Mayweather will be one step ahead the entire time, and should win it comfortably on points.

Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk

Pacquiao scores a joyful knockout

Pacquiao vs Clottey
By Recah Trinidad
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:38:00 03/02/2010

THE RIGHT STRAIGHT, thrown sharply like a spear, was not (yet) super but is definitely above average.

It’s however the scythe-like left hook, swift and power-packed, which should help greatly Julian Santos Chua in his goal to fight for the Philippines in the 2012 London Olympics.

Santos Chua, 18, was at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym over the weekend.

The kid has been described by the sweet-punching fight chronicler Michael Marley as a Golden Gloves champion from the Midwest.

Of course, despite his credentials, Julian could’ve not made it to Wild Card alone.

* * *

Credit goes to Hammering Hermie Rivera, said Marley.

For the record, the punches described in the first two sentences of this column were courtesy of YouTube.

But more than those inborn gifts, the sharp-eyed Marvelous Marley appeared convinced it was Julian’s dream meeting with Manny Pacquiao last Saturday which would prove the biggest influence and inspiration in the young fighter’s dream to box in London 2012.

“My goodness, even though he (Pacquiao) was busy and tired, he was so gracious,” said Santos Chua’s mother, Ronnet, a physician.

Pacquiao, as Marley would put it, was a joy of a knockout.

* * *

Julian was tearful and overjoyed by the honor of meeting Manny, the mother who was herself overwhelmed, explained.

Maybe it was the first time the lady doctor had seen her usually stoic kid get bowled over.

“Santos Chua has a double-sided dream of becoming the first Filipino to win an Olympic gold medal then go on to a pro career,” Marley reported.

Now, if that dream Olympic gold suddenly appears within reach for the Philippines, it’s all because of Pacquiao and his super trainer, Freddie Roach.

“Roach is set to attend to the young boxer and will start training him at the Wild Card gym on June 1, just right after Julian gets his high school diploma,” Marley confirmed.

* * *

What a thrill, indeed.

Of course, it’s a bit bothersome that Marley, despite his keenness, failed to mention Hermie Rivera’s whereabouts during that unforgettable encounter at the Nat’s Thai Restaurant around Wild Card.

Truth is there’ve been efforts from amateur boxing people in Manila to reopen communication lines with Hermie.

He could’ve been stalled by the happy turn of events over the weekend at Wild Card?

* * *

Anyway, wherever Mr. Rivera may be, the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines is hereby offering to give Julian Santos Chua an all-expense tryout in Manila.

“He can bring his mother, if he cares to,” ABAP executive director Ed Picson told the Inquirer Monday.

Yes, Hermie Rivera has done everything so things could be in place for Santos Chua at Wild Card.

Everything is also in place for Hermie’s proposed tryout for Julian in Manila.

All Hammering Hermie has got to do is pick up the phone or answer his e-mail.

Or has Rivera also been floored by the menacing brownouts that have started to spread all over our luckless, dwarf-plagued Philippine Islands?

Source: sports.inquirer.net

Clottey: I throw punches that cause big damage

Pacquiao vs Clottey
By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated March 02, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Joshua Clottey doesn’t enjoy watching tapes of his opponents on the ring. Not even Manny Pacquiao.

However, that doesn’t mean that the 33-year-old fighter from Ghana is climbing the ring on March 13 not knowing what he’s up against.

“I have never watched his tapes. I never sit down and watch him and I never sit down and talk about him,” said Clottey during a media teleconference the other day to drum up his coming showdown with Pacquiao in Arlington, Texas.

The fight is set at the $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium, and no less than 40,000 fans are expected to brave the cold weather and see the fight. Promoter Bob Arum said there’s only around 8,000 tickets left and by fight time should be sold out.

“The only thing I think about is me and what I have to do when I come into the ring. I have been training very hard for myself to get to the ring and do my best. When I get to the ring, the fight will start and that’s what I’ll do,” he said.

Clottey is facing the biggest fight of his life and he considers this one as a rare opportunity to be with the greatest fighter in the planet. He is getting paid $1.2 million for this fight, and it’s more than what he’s earned over the last couple of years.

He said it doesn’t matter if he hadn’t seen any of Pacquiao’s fights.

“That is right. I never watch tapes of people. I don’t like watching tapes but I know how he fights. When I get to the ring I know how he is going to be,” he said of the gun-slinging fighter from the Philippines.

Pacquiao is staking his WBO welterweight crown against Clottey, and doesn’t see any reason why he’s going home empty-handed, just two months before he runs for a congressional seat in his hometown in Sarangani.

Clottey, however, said Pacquiao could be terribly wrong because he just knows what to do.

“I think you are right,” he told the media conference.

“You know, I’m not a flyweight. I am not a bantamweight. I am a welterweight and welterweights only throw punches that connect. I can throw shots which connect and land and cause damage,” he said.

“Not throw a lot of punches that he is deflecting and blocking. If you look at the last fight, I won the last round. He threw punches and I blocked them and I threw punches and they connected. I will throw punches that cause damage.”

Source: philstar.com