Philippines, 08 Jun 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Pacquiao teaches Clottey a boxing lesson in decision win


PhilBoxing.com




Filipino World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao dominated challenger Joshua Clottey in settling for a 12-round unanimous decision victory to retain his 147-pound crown and cement his claim as the world? s finest fighter this era before a boisterous 51,000 throng at the giant Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington,Texas.

There was no knockdown but the predominantly pro-Pacquiao crowd, the third biggest in history of boxing in the United States, cheered the Filipino ring hero all throughout the more than one hour encounter that saw the defending titleholder giving the Ghanaian contender a neat lesson in fighting.

The crowd took a glimpse of what the result would be right after the opening bell rung with Pacquiao, following the game plan to the letter, controlling his taller and heftier opponent throwing punches with both hands from all angles.

So dominant was the Pacman?s style of fighting, the same he used in his spectacular triumphs in his last three fights, that Clottey was reduced to merely fighting back albeit sparingly.

"Everything's working now," Pacquiao?s American chief corner man told his ward right after the third round. "It's easy."

Indeed it was as the scorecards of the three judges overwhelmingly revealed ? 120-108, 109, 109 ? two of them giving Clottey one round and the two others seeing Pacquiao the winner in all of 12 rounds.

The Manila Times also scored all rounds in favor of Pacquiao.

This was because the 32-year-old Clottey contented himself in holding both his hands high in a peek-a-boo defensive style he has been known for through much of the first nine rounds, picking off Pacquiao's punches apparently waiting for an opportunity to give his own.

He succeeded in landing some clean punches but he gave away points round after round as Manny kept digging his belly with hard lefts and rights while switching to the head at times when the challenger?s defense opened.

By the end of the ninth, a mouse was developing below Pacquiao?s right eye, a testimony to his punching power that was seen only occasionally.

"You gotta take a chance," Clottey's trainer Lenny DeJesus, who once worked as Pacquiao?s cutman, told the Ghanaian in between the sixth and seventh round sensing his boy was at that stage, lagging behind on points. "You're in a fight and you gotta start taking chances."

Clottey failed to follow instructions and paid dearly for it although he kept his distinction as the first fighter in Pacquiao's last six fights that remained standing as the final bell sounded.

He also protected his reputation of not having sent to the canvas in his entire career.

"He has speed, I lost the fight," Clottey said. "He's fast, that's why I was taking my time."

Pacquiao threw an average 100 punches a round and landed as many power shots as Clottey threw. Final punch stats showed Pacquiao landing 246 of 1,231 punches, three times more than Clottey?s 108 of 399.

Clottey had gotten the fight off a good performance in his last bout against Miguel Cotto, but he was clearly more concerned with surviving the all out assault that Pacquiao is noted for than winning the fight.

"Joshua Clottey had the power to knock him out but was reluctant to punch," DeJesus said. "We clearly got beat. I don't think he won a round."

Roach agreed, saying he saw nothing in Clottey to win.

"He had a good defense, but defense isn't enough to win a fight," Roach said.

?Joshua has the power to knock him (Pacquiao) out) but was reluctant to punch,? De Jesus rued. ?We clearly got beaten. I don?t think he won a round.?

The 50,994 fans that witnessed the fight in the Cowboys? first attempt in boxing came third largest after the 63,350 that saw the great Muhammad Ali beat Leon Spinks at the Louisiana Superdome in the 70s and the 59,985 in the Pernell Whitaker-Julio Cesar Chavez at the San Antonio Alamodome.

The nearly 51,000 crowd came about after promoters added thousands more standing room only passes in addition to the capacity 45,000 seat the Cowboys can accommodate in boxing event.

Pacquaio, thus, re-established himself as boxing?s biggest crowd-drawer.

"He's a very tough opponent," Pacquiao, for his part said of Clottey. "He was looking for a big shot."

Last night?s bout was supposed to be Pacquiao against unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. but the supposed to be megafight was aborted due to a dispute over blood testing.

"I want that fight (against Mayweather), the world wants that fight, but it's up to him," Pacquiao said when asked after dispsosing off |Clottey. . "I'm ready to fight any time."

That has to be shelved for the meantime though as Mayweather is fighting Shane Mosley on May 1, and the earliest the two could get together would be in the fall and only if Mayweather backs off his demands for blood testing.

Besides, the Pacman himself would be very busy this coming two months as he is to return to the country soon to resume his campaign for a congressional seat in the province of Saranggani this coming May 10.

(Eddie Alinea writes for the Manila Times)


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Saludar arrives in Japan to fight on June 10
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 07 Jun 2026
  • Eala wins her 2nd WTA title at Lexus Birmingham Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 07 Jun 2026
  • Mindoro beats Mexican, stays undefeated
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 07 Jun 2026
  • Panamanian Government, Roberto "Hands of Stone" Durán, and the Mexican Márquez Brothers Join Forces for Amateur Boxing Megaproject
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 07 Jun 2026
  • Alex Eala advances to Birmingham Open finals
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 07 Jun 2026
  • Santé Barley Trilogy Run Asia 2026 Davao Leg 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 07 Jun 2026
  • Casimero stops Nery in 4th round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 06 Jun 2026
  • Edward Vazquez keeps title hopes alive by winning razor-thin unanimous decision over Daniel Lugo in Main Event of ProBoxTV
    , Sat, 06 Jun 2026
  • LABAN PILIPINAS! Kenneth Llover Ready to KO His Way to a World Title Shot
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 06 Jun 2026
  • Nery Does It Again: Overweight, But Casimero Says Let’s Fight!
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 06 Jun 2026
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez to Challenge Elif Nur Turhan for IBF Lightweight World Title June 13 in Glendale, AZ
    , Sat, 06 Jun 2026
  • SHEFFIELD FIGHT WEEK: OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS, FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER FOR PADLEY VS FIAZ – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Sat, 06 Jun 2026
  • Bruce “2.0” Seldon Jr.: From a Champion’s Son to Heavyweight Headliner
    , Sat, 06 Jun 2026
  • Mexican fighter ¨Artillero¨Rodriguez passes away after suffering brain injury on weekend fight
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 06 Jun 2026
  • NEGROS OCCIDENTAL PILLARS CROWNED SBA SEASON 2 CHAMPIONS
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 06 Jun 2026
  • Weights from Japan: Llover - 117.7 lbs., Angeletti - 117.5 lbs.
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 05 Jun 2026
  • Antonio Vargas Locked in for Career-Defining Title Defense Against Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez as Training Camp Winds Down
    , Fri, 05 Jun 2026
  • Weights From ‘Vazquez vs. Lugo’ Event from College Park Center in Arlington, TX, & Broadcast Live on ProBoxTV
    , Fri, 05 Jun 2026
  • SHEFFIELD FIGHT WEEK PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AS JOSH PADLEY AND AQIB FIAZ FACE OFF
    , Fri, 05 Jun 2026
  • “I would not say Yoka is more dangerous.” Murat Gassiev's coach Kadushin on boxer's training camp
    , Fri, 05 Jun 2026
  • Homecoming for super middleweight prospect Elijah Garcia to be showcased June 20 on Kingsley Ibeh vs. Dante Stone card in Phoenix
    , Fri, 05 Jun 2026
  • Amateur Standout Kayla "The Truth" Gomez Set for Professional Debut on MF Pro's "Pugilist Revolution" June 19 in Long Beach
    , Fri, 05 Jun 2026
  • Tancontian to lead PH team in Sambo Asia-Oceania
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 05 Jun 2026
  • Clarion to fight for WBC Youth World super flyweight title in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 04 Jun 2026
  • 2026 NBA Finals: Knicks Steal Game 1 in San Antonio 105-95
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Thu, 04 Jun 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.