Pacquiao vs Clotttey: Close and Tough Fight for Pacquiao

I've read this news from ABS-CBN regarding the comment of the people's champ Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao regarding how tough and difficult the upcoming Pacquiao vs Clottey "The Event Match."

Here's what the report said and write your comment below about it:

MANILA, Philippines – It will be tough and it will be close.

World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao said he expects his March 13 date with challenger Joshua Clottey to turn out just like the Ghanaian boxer’s match against Miguel Cotto.

“Sa tingin ko pa nga, close ang labang iyon at puwede ring si Ginoong Clottey ang nanalo,” Pacquiao said, referring to the June 2009 fight between Clottey and Cotto.

Cotto got a split-decision win, but many fans felt it could have been gone either way.

“Ganyan din ang dapat kong asahan sa laban namin sa Marso 13,” he added.

Pacquiao said the size and ability of Clottey, who has won 35 fights against 3 losses, makes the Ghanaian fighter a very dangerous foe.

Pacquiao has 50 wins against 3 losses.

Clottey stands 5-feet-8 and is a full welterweight, while Pacquiao, the only boxer to win 7 world titles, is 5-feet-6.5 and last fought at a 145-pound catch weight.

“Naniniwala akong isa siyang mapanganib na kalaban,” said Pacquiao, who has started training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California.

Still in good condition

Pacquiao’s physical conditioning expert, Alex Ariza, meanwhile, said Pacquiao is still in good shape two months after his 12th round TKO victory over Cotto last November.

“He is looking sharp already,” Ariza said in a report by InsideSports.ph.

Trainer Freddie Roach agreed that the Filipino boxer is in “pretty good shape” at 148 lbs.

“We’re gonna start sparring one day earlier than normal and get the rounds in,” Roach said. “We'll have the game plan down by next week.”

Not giving up on Pacman-Floyd

Meanwhile, boxing promoter Oscar de la Hoya said that despite the bitter feud with the Pacquiao camp, he hasn't given up on trying to convince Pacquiao to fight his client Floyd Mayweather.

"That fight has to happen," De la Hoya said Tuesday of the proposed bout, which fell apart earlier this month over a drug-testing procedure dispute. "It's too big not to happen. We just have to cross one hurdle."

Speaking at a news conference Tuesday to promote a non-title junior welterweight fight, de la Hoya said Mayweather and Pacquiao will fight sooner than people think.

Pacquiao, boxing's pound-for-pound king, was already scheduled to square off against Mayweather on March 13, but they couldn't agree on a 10-day gap in the timing of the pre-fight drug tests.

"The public will hopefully make him change his mind," de la Hoya said. "Why would you not want to earn 40 million dollars? Why would you not want to show the public that all this speculation is nonsense? Be the one to stand up and say it."

De la Hoya also said Mayweather and Shane Mosley are in talks for a possible bout on May 1 which will likely be in Las Vegas. Source: ABS-CBN News

Well, I should agree with Pacquiao as his opponent is not an ordinary fighter who he just get as to replace Mayweather but an opponent that can really go the distance with him on the fight. Of course, analysts would say that Clottey got a really small edge to win on this bout but we can't take away the possibility that he can and capable of delivering an upset against the 7 title holder. But if you will asked me, if who among them I will select to win, I'll still go for Pacman!

Pacquiao Clottey Press Conference A Success

The recent Pacquiao - Clottey "The Event" press conference was a success. It is held in the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas last January 19 and over 1,500 fans filled the field as they listen to the jokes :) , and talks of the two fighters. "It was a fun announcement. With the stature of Pacquiao, we're going to be able to put on a unique fight. Manny Pacquiao is boxing's No. 1 pound for pound attraction and the world champion. Manny's title defense against Joshua Clottey is not just a great fight, it is THE EVENT, and one we can showcase to the fullest in Cowboys Stadium. We're going to promote this like it was the Super Bowl. This will be the fight to remember." as said by the owner of the said location of the fight, Jerry Jones as he witness the big event.

Aside from this, Bob Arum also announced that HBO has given the Top Rank Promotions and the Pacquiao vs Clottey "The Event" the right to televised in PPV the said fight of the two welterweight fighters. Of course accompanied by this is a good TV promotions and the legendary documentary series HBO 24/7.

Now where is Mayweather? Latest news said that he might be fighting not on March 13 as he previously brag but on May 1 with Shane Mosley who recently got a canceled fight versus Andre Berto.

Pacquiao vs Clottey Press Conference Set on January 19

The March 13, 2010 fight of Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey is inevitable and they are all set to start their training. In connection with this the promoter and the organizers of this fight set a press conference in Dallas Stadium this coming January 19. Here's the detail of the said upcoming presscon from PinoyGigs.com:

Everything is set for the Pacquiao vs. Clottey match on March 13 at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. All terms had been agreed by all concerned parties and the contract is already signed for the pay-per-view fight of Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey.
The Pacquiao vs. Clottey match on March 13 is dubbed as the “The Event” and it will be aired live worldwide on a pay-per-view broadcast.

The official kick-off of the Pacquiao vs. Clottey: The Event match will be a press conference that will be held at Dallas Stadium on January 19, 2010.

Lee Samuels of Top Rank Promotions says it will be a grand press conference. The veteran ring announcer and host Michael Buffer will be hosting the conference and the billionaire and owner of Dallas Stadium will be the speaker for the event.
Organizer of the Pacquiao vs. Clottey press conference lined up exciting events. A total of 50 Cowboys cheerleaders will be present to dance for the audience. Plus a special fireworks display is also expected to happen, afterwards.

Pacquiao will be flying to New York on a private jet for the second press conference that will take place at the Madison Square Garden on January 20. After that, Pacquiao will head straight to train in Los Angeles, California. Pacquiao is expected to make 7 weeks of training at the Wild Card Gym. - Source: PinoyGigs

I will try to look for an online streaming or replay video of the said grand presscon and will share it with you later. (I am excited with this fight.)

Pacquiao-Clottey Fight Possible Classic Match

I found an interesting article today from BleacheReport regarding the possibility that the upcoming Pacquiao vs Clottey welterweight bout will become a classic match that boxing fanatics around the world would never forget. He base this remark on the fighting style of both fighters. On the said article,Clottey was described as have a great counter puncher and possesses nice defenses. Here's what Lorne Scoggins said about Clottey:

(Pacquiao watching the Cotto vs Clottey match)

Joshua Clottey is a rough, tough, genuine welterweight with a rock-solid defense. The 33-year-old boasts a record of 35-3-0 with 20 knockouts.

Stylistically, he relies heavily upon his quick footwork and superb blocking abilities. When attacked, he consistently holds his hands high with elbows tucked in tight to the body. He’s very hard to hit when he’s on his guard.

He’s also impressively resilient. This guy doesn’t run out of gas in the later rounds.

In addition to his boxing abilities, his demeanor inside the ring should provide plenty of quality entertainment. He tends to engage in overly dramatized theatrics at every hint of a foul. Read the original article from BleacherReport.

However, Pacquiao's weird style and evolving fighting skills makes it a great edge for the Filipino fighter. In the conclusion of his article, Lorne said that Clottey can be knocked-out by Pacquiao but not the same with Hatton which is on the earlier round but on the later round of the match.

Now what do you think, will it really happen that Pacquiao will KO Clottey? Let me know your reactions by leaving your comments below or casting your vote on the poll found on the sidebar.

Pacquiao vs Clottey this March 13 at Cowboy Stadium

Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2 38KOs) will be fighting Joshua Clottey (35-3-0 30KOs) this coming March 13, 2010 at the Cowboy Stadium at Dallas, Texas. It is the first boxing that will ever happen to this $1.2 billion stadium. The match will be a 12-round welterweight bout. The match Pacquiao vs Clottey happened because of the failure of negotiating the megafight Pacquiao vs Mayweather.

Long time trainer of the 7-title holder Pacman said that this fight will be an action-packed match. "I wanted Manny in an action fight, and that's what we got with Clottey," said Roach in an interview.

Now, here's the full detail of the much awaited match from BoxingScene.com:

BoxingScene.com spoke with a very excited Bob Arum [CEO for Top Rank] on Sunday afternoon. Arum just closed a deal with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to stage Manny Pacquiao's defense of the WBO welterweight title against Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas on March 13. Arum and Top Rank president Todd duBoef flew to Texas on Saturday to meet with Jones. They sat and watched the Cowboys' big win over the Eagles. They plan to scale the venue for a crowd of 50,000 fans.

"We have deal for March 13. Rick, I have to tell you something - this place blew me away. It was the greatest place that I've ever been to. This boxing event will be so memorable for the fans and this not a normal stadium. It's hard to picture it unless you come here and see it for yourself with all of the electronics and the big screens," Arum said to BoxingScene.

There is still no word on HBO's involvement with the pay-per-view. Arum would like to get HBO on board, but he plans to move forward either way.

"We've been with them for a long time and if they want to participate that's fine, but if they don't we have major media companies that are ready to jump on board especially with the Cowboys and everything else," Arum said.

A two day press tour is already in play. Pacquiao-Clottey will have the kick-off press conference on January 18 in Dallas and the next stop on the tour will be in New York on the 19th. He plans to pack the undercard with Hispanic talent. Former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito is one of the fighters they are planning to put on the show. A three fight undercard is being put together for the pay-per-view.

"We're looking to put a lot of Hispanic fighters on the card. Margarito is one of them. I've already spoken with Dickie Cole [Texas Athletic Commission] on when he can apply [for a license]. Roberto Marroquin will definitely be on the show. They love him out here. And Bruce [Top Rank's head matchmaker] will put together some more matches," Arum said.

"There will be three fights underneath Pacquiao vs. Clottey. A press conference is scheduled for the 18th in Dallas and a New York press conference on the 19th. And as part of the deal we made with Jerry, is for them [Cowboys organization] to be involved." - BoxingScene.com

Now, what can you say about this? Are you excited about this upcoming fight?