While it’s a fight that the mainstream media probably won’t cover as in-depth as that of a Mayweather-Pacquiao bout, Pacquiao-Clottey is about as great a substitute fight as humanly possible.
(Click here to see the fan backlash on Pacquiao-Mayweather not taking place.)
Joshua “The Hitter” Clottey is one of the most skilled and rugged welterweights on the planet who will definitely provide Manny Pacquiao with a substantial challenge on March 13. It’s a stylistically very tough fight for the “Pacman” being that Clottey is a natural boxer ala Juan Manuel Marquez which is the same style that provided the Filipino superstar some issues in the past.
This past weekend I contacted veteran boxing line-maker Joey Oddessa in regards to this match-up and here was his take:
“Pacquiao-Clottey is a tough, tough fight for both guys. It’s a damn shame that the Mayweather fight fell through as the betting action on that fight would have been possibly in the tens of millions. As for this new fight… it’s gonna be close in the ring but the betting action has to go to Manny. He’s been on a tear and the bettors have been raking in huge payouts on the guy.”
“I’d be comfortable betting Clottey at +270 so it’s a definite that Manny opens up somewhere around the 3-1 favorite region on this fight. Even at 3-1 his backers will be letting the benjamins fly.”
While the value on Clottey at +270 makes it a strong play in my eyes, at this point in time I just cannot pick against Manny Pacquiao. He has shown such depth coupled with a seek-and-destroy attitude when competing that it makes it damn near impossible to see him defeated right now.
In any case, it will be a war while it lasts… Pacquiao-Clottey might just be “Fight of the Year” for 2010.
