MANNY TOPS HBO PPV FROM DALLAS SATURDAY
San Francisco, CA- There is nothing quite as difficult as rating fighters from different eras. That being said, the best fighter of the century, Manny Pacquiao will be called upon tomorrow night to slay the welterweight tough guy that is Joshua Clottey. No one can knock Clottey’s ability, as he can certainly fight a little bit. But when it comes time to “close the show,” this is where Joshua Clottey is lacking.
SPARRING PARTNER SYNDROME APPLY HERE?
When I watch Clottey (38-2, 20 KOs) work, I sort of get the feeling he just doesn’t have what is known as the “killer instinct.” Even when he had an inflated & shot Diego Corrales in front of him back in April 2007, in what was Diego’s last fight before his death the following month, Joshua couldn’t, but should have stopped Corrales in his tracks in addition to dropping him twice. In reviewing his resume, prior to penning this, there is nothing there to make me not think that the “”sparring partner syndrome doesn’t apply here.
THE MIGHTY, MIGHTY PACMAN
Like the fabled American cartoon character of the 50s & 60s, Mighty Mouse, the Pacman has rose like a Phoenix through ten (107 to 147 lbs) weight divisions. The break out fight in 2001 with Lehlo Ledwaba at 122 lbs., this is where Pacquiao began a reign of terror that has gone unanswered for 20 fights. Forget that close decision loss to Erik Morales in 2005 as Pac mopped the floor with him on two subsequent occasions.
PINOY IS ON A HELL OF A ROLL!
If you believe the Las Vegas bookies, Pacquiao is a 7 to 1 favorite meaning you wager $700 to get $100 back in addition to your bet. Go the other way with Clottey and you throw down $100 to get back $550. If you want to bet the under/over of 9.5 rounds, the under odds are +$150 & the over odds at -$180.
PUT FIGHT IN PROPER PERSPECTIVE
This fight was put together by Top Rank management. That being said, Joshua Clottey is a Top Rank fighter. This is a “win-win” situation for Top Rank for even if Clottey were to pull off a hail Mary, they would keep the rematch in house. That’s the worst case scenario. Anticipating the best, Pac beats Clottey and then comes the $64,000 question: Will Pacquiao accept steroid and EPO testing if that is a prerequisite to fighting either Floyd Mayweather or Shane Mosley?
