Pacquiao vs. Clottey
Manny Pacquiao scrambled for a legitimate opponent after Floyd Mayweather Jr. demanded additional drug tests. The pound for pound king didn’t want an easy fight so he took on a solid welterweight in Joshua Clottey. Clottey is coming off a controversial loss to Miguel Cotto.
The Ghana native will receive his biggest paycheck to date for fighting Pacquiao. The stage is set for Pacquiao-Clottey on March 13, 2010 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.
Manny Pacquiao
Upside
Pacquiao has the advantage in speed and presumably power after he dropped Cotto twice. Not to mention he has the best trainer in the world in Freddie Roach. His camp is peaceful, free from turmoil and on schedule. Pacquiao is still sharp and in good shape because it’s been only three months since his last fight in the ring.
Downside
Clottey’s clamshell defense will take time to bust through. This will be a tactical fight for Pacquiao because Clottey is not an easy fighter to break down.
Pacquiao has the tendency fight toe-to-toe as seen in some of the rounds in his fight with Cotto. He may disregard his advantage in footwork and side-to-side movement and decide to slug it out in the middle of the ring.
Upside
Pacquiao will have a hard time hitting Clottey with clean shots because of his tight defense. Clottey also has a granite chin and has never been knocked out. He has fought some of the best in the welterweight division; Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto, and Zab Judah.
Clottey throws sharp punches and rarely takes a wild swing. He has the ability to lure an opponent to fight in the inside where he is most comfortable. His right uppercut is his most dangerous punch.
Downside
Clottey doesn’t throw many jabs in his fights and is content with standing at the center of the ring and slugging it out. He lacks the necessary footwork to keep up with Pacquiao and seems to employ the same game plan for every opponent – stand, clam up and trade shots.
There’s turmoil in his camp because his head trainer, Kwame Asate, has been denied a visa to work in the United States. Clottey hasn’t had a good start to training and lack of preparation may lead to his downfall.
It seems that Pacquiao possesses all the advantages against Clottey: speed, power, footwork, trainer and crowd support. He is an overwhelming favorite over Clottey. So far, all signs point to a Pacquiao victory and an opportunity to re-open negotiations for a Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight.
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