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 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.