Ace Freeman examines the upcoming welterweight title fight between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey set for March 13 at Cowboy Stadium in Texas.
Photo: Chris Farina – Top Rank No disrespect to Joshua Clottey, but he is the opponent in this fight. Manny Pacquiao is undeniably a phenomenon in professional boxing at the moment, and while this is an extremely viable top welterweight fight and a stiff challenge, it has the feel of a stay-busy fight for the pound-for-pound king. That goes a long way to attest to Pacquiao’s prominence at the moment as Clottey is a top contender in a division the ‘Pacman’ has only fought twice in.
The biggest problem with this fight for many people is that it pales in comparison to the historic Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight for Pacquiao that fell apart at the beginning of this year. Put together without any politics or obstacles, Pacquiao vs. Clottey was an easy alternative for Top Rank (Pacquiao’s promoter) once the biggest fight of all time fell off the table for the time being. The two fighters are sure to meet head on in the centre of the ring and it is much more likely to be a fire fight than a chess match which bodes well for the packed house expected for Arlington, Texas’s “Cowboy Stadium” and the hoards of Fight Fans tuning in on HBO PPV.
Since the signing of this fight Mayweather Jr. has inked a contract to face WBA welterweight champion Sugar Shane Mosley in a much more compelling matchup. Make no mistake about it, that is a more attractive fight against a more significant opponent. It may very well be the biggest challenge of Floyd’s career to date. I am a big fan of Mayweather and I applaud him for taking the challenge, but it’s no secret he needed a fight of that caliber.
I am not one of the many proponents who have accused Mayweather of avoiding challenges over the years. I think he’s taken the right fights at the right times and I had no problem with his hiatus from the ring. But in comparing his overall and recent resume against Manny Pacquiao, Floyd is overdue for a fight like the one vs. Mosley. In my opinion he needs that bout to keep pace with Pacquiao’s emphatic rise over the last two years during which Mayweather had just one fight (a dominant victory over Juan Manuel Marquez).
It is under those pretexts that Manny Pacquiao is set to face Joshua Clottey this Saturday night. Clottey may have dropped a narrow decision to Miguel Cotto last year (who Pacquiao went on to dominate), but he is no slouch.
The African fighter is as tough as they come. He’s never been stopped and has only been down once in his career (a flash knockdown off a jab from Cotto early in their fight). He’s been in with some fierce punchers and has never looked hurt. From Diego Corrales to Antonio Margarito, Clottey has stood up to some tremendous fire power against some very strong fighters and has never looked fallible.
Add to all of that, he is one of the biggest and strongest fighters Pacquiao will have been in the ring against, and it makes for a very intriguing matchup.
If Manny Pacquiao can dominate Clottey, he will have established his reign at welterweight as a remarkable one… adding to his achievements of stopping Oscar De la Hoya and battering Miguel Cotto to snatch the WBO welterweight title.
If the Filipino terror manages to become the first fighter to stop Joshua Clottey, he will stand as a pillar atop the welterweight division, even with Mayweather and Mosley fighting for their share of the 147 pound crown in May.
After examining the style matchup, it is my contention Pacquiao will stop Clottey.
Having sat in on his training camp for this bout, Pacquiao looks as quick and violent as I’ve ever seen him. His footwork (which can be seen in this footage as shot by Ron Gabriel last month) has added a new and dangerous element to his fold as it allows him to reposition himself at a multitude of angles to throw his attacking and countering punches with his trademark blinding speed.
Clottey is a tough customer and his ability to absorb punishment is up there with the best in the sport at present. However, I believe he lacks the versatility to keep Pacquiao honest. He seems to either be on the offensive or the defensive with little ability to counter punch.
His guard is largely impregnable when he’s covering up but when he goes on the attack I see Pacquiao countering him with his speed and unorthodox angles.
From watching him working closely with Roach earlier in his training camp I have a feeling Clottey will absorb an uppercut he won’t see coming at some point in the bout and it will be the beginning of the end. The smart money is on Pacquiao by decision but I believe he’ll get Clottey out of there.
The bout will serve as a measuring-stick of sorts for Pacquiao. If he dominates and or stops Clottey, the former flyweight sends a message that he is a force to be reckoned with… even for the most durable of fighters ten divisions north of where he started.
A telling Pacquiao victory in this fight might not equal a potential Mayweather win over Mosley, but in succession with his last four fights it will certainly have him looming large should he choose to sit ringside for May 1.
