WBO world welterweight champion Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao will defend his crown against former IBF welterweight titlist Joshua “The Hitter” Clottey Saturday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) was initially scheduled to fight “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) on the identical date.
Unfortunately, the two childish camps were ridiculously unable to agree to terms on a matchup that was expected to pay both prizefighter’s in excess of $30 million apiece.
So, after the Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown disintegrated, Top Rank boxing promoter Bob Arum quickly arranged a fight for his client versus Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs).
Clottey, a native of Ghana who currently lives in the Bronx borough of New York City, did not require Pacquiao to undergo extensive blood testing and “The Hitter” stated that he believes “Pac-Man” is clean.
However, if Pacquiao is a cheating weasel, Clottey said, “God is going to solve the problem.”
“I respect him (Pacquiao) so much,” said Clottey, who has never been defeated by knockout. “I respect that he’s a sportsman. He’s a nice person, and I’m comfortable around him. I don’t think Manny Pacquiao is doing that thing. But, if he does that, he’s cheating the sport.”
Mayweather’s draconian request for Olympic-style drug-testing still chaps the derriere of Arum.
“My view is that it’s not a topic for negotiation,” said Arum, who admitted during a 2000 federal trial that he is a bribing and corruptible snake. “That is something for the commission to decide. Any participant in a boxing match that wants more stringent testing than applicable in that state, should go before the commission, present his case and let the commission decide. It’s not for a bunch of amateurs to start talking about and making demands. That’s wrong. That’s what’s called chaos.”
Pacquiao, 31, is the first boxer to win seven world titles in seven different weight divisions and he deserves his rating by Ring Magazine as the number one pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
“Pac-Man” is tough, agile, quick and incredibly powerful for a man of his relatively diminutive frame.
Nonetheless, it’s important to understand that Pacquiao’s stock has been drastically elevated since his recent demolitions of solid scrappers Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs), Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KOs), and Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs).
“The Fighting Pride of the Philippines” will justifiably enter his bout with Clottey as a decided favorite to emerge victorious.
Still, Clottey is a sound pugilist and the 33-year-old will prove to be a very difficult opponent for Pacquiao in the ring.
Last June, Clottey was trumped by Cotto in a controversial split-decision at Madison Square garden in Gotham.
Granted, Cotto was badly hindered by a cut that he received when Clottey accidentally head-butted him in the third round.
Nevertheless, Clottey validated himself as a true performer against Cotto and there is no reason to believe that he won’t be a worthy adversary for Pacquiao this weekend.
Subsequent to his battle with Clottey, Cotto fought Pacquiao last November at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Cotto scrapped valiantly and displayed true grit before he suffered a TKO loss to Pacquiao in the 12th round.
Pacquiao will outclass Clottey in approximately 72 hours and extend his consecutive winning streak to 12.
Howbeit, “Pac-Man” will be struck by “The Hitter” and this fight should be more intriguing than most analysts predict that it will be.
*Boxing fans in the greater Boston area should flock in droves to the Sports Depot restaurant in Allston to watch Saturday’s Cotto versus Pacquiao fight.
The Sports Depot is located at 353 Cambridge Street and they feature an astounding 72 televisions.
The renowned sports bar is one of the only establishments in and around the Hub that purchases and broadcasts prizefights.
The general manager of the Sports Depot, David Taylor, said he anticipates that there will only be a $10 cover charge to watch Saturday’s fight.
Sports Depot
www.sportsdepotboston.net
353 Cambridge Street
Allston, MA 02134
(617) 783-2300
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