Joshua Clottey believes his ability to take a punch may give him a chance in his Saturday bout against the world’s current best, pound-for-pound boxer, Manny Pacquiao.
Anticipation is building for what could be Pacquiao’s last fight. Pac-Man put his WBO welterweight crown on the line against Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20KOs) on Saturday before either taking an extended break, or retiring altogether to focus on his political career.
Ghana-born, but New York-based Clottey, meanwhile, will have it all to do at the Cowboys Stadium before Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38KOs) concentrates on his congressional gig in the Philippines.
“I am going to fight Manny Pacquiao and we’re going to see whose going to win and it’s going to be a tough fight for both of us. I will be stronger than him, because after the weigh-in I am going to eat and I am going to blow-up,” Clottey told Fightnews.com.
Former IBF welterweight champion Clottey has got another chance at the WBO belt, after taking previous holder Miguel Cotto to the limit and coming up just short in a split-decision less than a year ago.
And Pacquiao’s rival is well known for his ability to take a punch, which may be very useful for him during Saturday’s bout.
“I have a good chin, we [African boxers] take a lot of punches, but I have a good chin! I never expect myself to get in the ring to get knocked out, I never expect that, no,” he said.
