In the United States, Saturday night’s Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight is viewed by many as a mismatch, with Clottey playing a role of part sacrificial lamb, part placeholder for Floyd Mayweather Jr. The betting odds list Pacquiao as an enormous -800 favorite. Pacquiao winning, it seems, is a sure thing.
But the folks in Pacquiao’s native Philippines don’t seem to feel so confident.
Here’s a quick scan of the headlines in the Philippines, a number of which are over stories questioning whether Pacquiao is ready for Clottey:
Pacquiao in trouble, if Clottey’s chin holds ‘Pacquiao will end up in hospital’ Three ways for Clottey to shock the world Clottey will send Pacman to hospital, says cook Malacanang concerned about Clottey’s tactics
That last one refers to Malacanang Palace, which is the Philippines’ presidential residence, their equivalent of the White House. Click the link and you’ll get an idea of just how big a deal Pacquiao is in the Philippines: The president’s spokesman held a press conference to say he was concerned about Clottey fighting dirty.
Ultimately, Pacquiao is a heavy favorite for a reason: He’s the best boxer in the world, and Clottey is not. But for all the talk in this country that Pacquiao should win this fight easily, in Pacquiao’s homeland they’re not exactly brimming with confidence.
