BY: Carl Hewitt
Clottey’s advantages in size, physical strength, durability and stamina will be offset by Pacquiao’s advantages in speed, maneuverability, activity and the ability to make adjustments. Though Manny is not a “pure boxer” in any sense, his overall advantage in skill will win him this fight. While it appears to be a tough test on paper for the ‘Filipino Flash’, he has to be heartened by the fact that Joshua has never won his biggest fights to date, those against Margarito and Cotto. In June, he had Cotto on a silver platter and instead, tossed him back into promoter Bob Arum’s lap. This lack of a “finishing kick” or “second gear” will doom the Ghanaian next weekend. Barring a bad cut, and Manny has a propensity to swell up in the middle rounds, this one looks like a hard-fought and gritty, but unanimous decision for Manny. And Clottey will fight well enough to ensure that Arum brings him back another day. Pacquiao by UD
By Rick Assad
It’s not a grudge match by any means, like it would be if the opponent was Floyd Mayweather Jr, who still wants a piece of Manny Pacquiao. Joshua Clottey is a seasoned professional, with a solid ring record and remarkable durability. These assets will help the 32-year-old when he faces Pacquiao at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on March 13, with the World Boxing Organization’s welterweight belt up for grabs. But it’s going to take more than Clottey, who resides in the Bronx, New York, by way of Ghana, to end the Pac-Man’s current winning streak at 11 in a row.
Clottey’s last ring encounter was June 2009, and was also one in which he lost a split decision to Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden in a WBO welterweight title match.
Four months ago, Pacquiao (50-3-2 with 38 knockouts) laid waste to Cotto at the MGM Grand in a welterweight title clash. The fight came to a close late in the 12th and final round. Clottey (35-3-0 and 20 KO’s) does have signature victories over Zab Judah (halted in the ninth round) at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas slightly over two years ago, and a unanimous decision over the late Diego Corrales in April 2007. In February 2006, Clottey dropped a unanimous decision to the always-tough Mexican Antonio Margarito at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. There’s a reason why Pacquiao hasn’t lost in five years, and is thought to be the best boxer pound-for-pound employed today.
The Pac-Man will show off his amazing ring generalship, and will use his lightning-quick hands and supreme punching power to seize the fight in the ninth round. Recently, there was some talk out of the Pacquiao camp that this may be his final fight. Hopefully, it won’t, because there’s still some unfinished business left with Mayweather. Pacquiao Will Triumph Late.
BY: Steve Hobden
I honestly think that Clottey does not stand a chance against Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao is on another level in comparison. Clottey’s style is too upright and robotic. This kind of style won’t do him any favours against a guy that throws combinations from all sorts of crazy angles. Clottey has a pretty good left uppercut but I doubt he’ll ever be able to land that against a southpaw who moves in and out as quick as Pacquiao does. Also when Clottey throws the left uppercut he drops his right hand and I think Freddie Roach will take advantage of this. I predict part of Roach’s game plan will be to land the left hook counter and knock Clottey out in similar fashion to the punch that laid out Ricky Hatton. I believe the result of this fight will depend on how durable Clottey’s chin is. Pacquiao by knockout.
I honestly think that Clottey does not stand a chance against Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao is on another level in comparison. Clottey’s style is too upright and robotic. This kind of style won’t do him any favours against a guy that throws combinations from all sorts of crazy angles. Clottey has a pretty good left uppercut but I doubt he’ll ever be able to land that against a southpaw who moves in and out as quick as Pacquiao does. Also when Clottey throws the left uppercut he drops his right hand and I think Freddie Roach will take advantage of this. I predict part of Roach’s game plan will be to land the left hook counter and knock Clottey out in similar fashion to the punch that laid out Ricky Hatton. I believe the result of this fight will depend on how durable Clottey’s chin is.
BY: Rizwaan Zahid
Despite the potential of an entertaining bout, this fight leaves something to be desired since this date was considered to be a night of history with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao squaring off. Instead both fighters will be fighting different opponents in the upcoming months.
But I digress.
Clottey may not have ever been knocked out and he does have a solid chin, however he has never seen the speed that Pacquiao brings. Cotto was able to outbox Clottey and Manny should theoretically have a field day. Pacquiao will start quick, as usual, and eventually the damage will take its toll on a game, but outmatched Joshua. In the end, look for a stoppage around the 7th round.
BY: Rota Em
Joshua Clottey is tough and he’s never been stopped. All of his losses came in championship fights with the most recent being a close split decision loss to Miguel Cotto mid-2009. It could’ve gone either way. Pacquiao, however, seems to be indestructible at this point in his career. I can count on one hand the number of fighters that I believe
can possibly take down the Filipino, and the Ghana native isn’t one of them.
I see an assertive Clottey, much like Cotto was in the beginning against the Pacman, but ultimately Manny will land a flush shot that will change the night. I don’t think Pacquiao will run straight through Clottey but he will cruise all the way to a wide UD if not late round corner stoppage.
BY: Vitali Shaposhnikov
Repetition over time makes people get used to certain things, and thoughts outside of that “box” are hard to take to heart. When thinking about the Pacquiao vs. Clottey fight, and its potential outcome, there is only one thing that comes to my mind: Who can ever beat Manny?
I have made predictions against Pacquiao before, when he fought against very formidable, properly prepared opponents. Manny not only won all those fights, but he did it in a very relaxed and seemingly effortless fashion, via a K.O. or just a simple round by round domination. My prediction on his upcoming fight with a very strong and persistent opponent Joshua Clottey is this: Manny by a dominating UD or a late round K.O.
The more likely result is of course the knockout. Joshua is a power puncher; he likes to put the weight on his punches. This makes him slower and open from a variety of angles. Manny is a virtuoso at catching the open spot and landing a hard punch. I think that Pacquiao will slowly and strategically take Clottey apart, until Joshua starts to lower his arms trying to go for the one punch K.O. Of course many will say that Joshua would never do that, but after consistent punishment, most fighters tend to end up in a situation where their defense is no longer as solid as when the first bell rang
By: Cesar Zuniga
Since this fight has been announced I have been very excited for it. No, it’s not the Mayweather fight that had shivers running through all boxing fan’s bodies but it is a top welterweight. Those that feel like Pacquiao will walk right through Clottey and that he is only there to give Pac rounds have another thing coming. Clottey is a very tough and strong welterweight that would give any top fighter problems with his defensive style. He has shown a strong chin and is coming into this fight very determined. He knows that after his loss to Miguel Cotto, landing a mega fight with Manny Pacquiao is an unbelievable opportunity. The problem is Clottey’s strongest attribute can also be his poison. He’s not active enough and doesn’t let his hands go. Two things that against another fighter he might get away with but not the P4P king. Against the cyclone that is Manny Pacquiao, Clottey is going to have to change his style and look to be aggressive. If he stands there and get into his defensive shell not only will he loose this fight but run the risk of being stopped simply due to not throwing punches. If Miguel Cotto was able to unload a series of punches without being hit back Pacquiao is going unleash an arsenal. If Clottey looks to open up he runs the risk of Pacquiao landing something big. With the angles that Pac’s punches come in one of those could be devastating. It’s hard to pick against Manny Pacquiao and this stage and this writer is not going to do so here. Clottey will be game, he will make Pac work but I don’t see him changing his style enough to take the win. Speed kills and Pacquiao’s speed, movement and angles will be the deciding factor in this fight. PAC Unanimous Decision.
By: Albert Alvarez
In Pacquiao’s last fight, Pacquiao was tested by one of the hardest punchers in the sport in Miguel Cotto. I recall Pacquiao getting buzzed for a second or two in a wild exchange against Cotto in the very early going of their great action packed fight. After the light buzz, Pacquiao then took Cotto’s best shots and took them with ease, Pacquiao later said that the Boriqua Bombers hard shots did indeed hurt, but Pacquiao pretended in his own mind that they really didn’t hurt. Come March 13, can Pacquiao pretend that Clottey’s fierce left hook tickles? I sure hope so, because come March 13 I will be picking Pacquiao to get the W over Clottey. I however do not see this fight as a wipeout as most observers out there are seeing this affair play out. I see this fight as a 8 rounds-4 or 7 rounds-5 kind of fight for Pacquiao. Many are picking Pacquiao based on 2 things, that is speed and power. I will agree that Pacquiao does have the speed and power advantages over Clottey, but speed and power will not win this fight for Pacquiao. The things that will win this fight for Pacquiao will be heart and will.
Will Pacquiao’s heart will The Pac-Man to keep firing off shots when he finds a steel iron chin Clottey resting on the ropes with his ear muffs on? How will Pacquiao react when he discovers that he can’t hurt Clottey as easily as he was able to hurt has past foes? Those are great questions to ask, but the bottom line is that Clottey just doesn’t throw enough shots to derail the Pacquiao Express. If I am Clottey, I would bring the fight to Pacquiao and constantly have Pacquiao backing up, Pacquiao is at his best when he is the one moving forward sitting on his punches and picking his spots. This is why I would push forward and place Pacquiao in a whole different place, take the rythym away from him. Can the Grand Master from Ghana do just that? I don’t think so. Pacquiao By UD.
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