5 reasons Pacquiao-Clottey is competitive ... and 5 it isn't -- The Ring

By Doug Fischer and Michael Rosenthal, The Ring

RingTV.com Co-Editors Doug Fischer and Michael Rosenthal have different takes on the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Fischer thinks it will be a competitive fight, Rosenthal doesn’t.

Here are Fischer’s five reasons the fight will be competitive and Rosenthal’s five reasons it wont.

WILL BE COMPETITIVE

1. SIZE: Clottey is a natural welterweight. Pacquiao has delivered in his two welterweight outings, but it should be noted that Oscar De La Hoya foolishly came in too light and Cotto is not a large 147 pounder. Clottey, who stands around 5-foot-8, is not a tall welterweight but he’s very compact with dense muscle. The Ghanaian, who fights comfortably and effectively at junior middleweight, has not weighed in the junior welterweight range since he was 19 years old. It wouldn’t be a shock to insiders if Clottey weighed a rock-solid 160 pounds on fight night for Pacquiao.

2. DEFENSE: When Clottey covers up behind his high guard, his opponents might as well be fighting a bowling ball. He tucks his chin behind his gloves, offering only the top of his bald head as a potentially dangerous target, while his forearms and elbows almost completely cover his stomach and frontal rib area. Clottey, who seldom drops his hands, also does a good job of leaning away from punches. Few fighters love a shootout as much as Pacquiao because the dynamic southpaw does his best work against aggressive opponents. Clottey’s hit-and-cover-up tactics may frustrate the Filipino, who will have a difficult time landing clean punches to the bigger man’s chin and body.

3. DURABILITY: Even if Pacquiao is able to penetrate Clottey’s high guard, the welterweight contender has the last line of defense for any fighter lucky enough to have this attribute: a rock-solid chin. Although Clottey, who has never been stopped in a professional bout, was dropped by a stiff jab from Cotto in the first round of their bout (the only time he‘s ever been down), he has never appeared to be seriously hurt in a fight. Both Cotto and Zab Judah are known for their power but neither fighter could hurt or discourage Clottey, even when they landed clean shots. Antonio Margarito set an all-time CompuBox record of 1,675 total punches thrown in a 12-round bout against Clottey and never came close to hurting the Ghanaian.

4. BODY PUNCHING: Every hardcore fan knows about Clottey’s quick jab and his textbook left uppercut, but he also has a crippling left to the body with which he’s able to punctuate one-two combinations or sneak in after he lands his uppercut. Clottey’s left to the body is hard and accurate enough to have stopped junior middleweight opponents and it was a key punch in giving both Cotto and Margarito fits in their tough 12-round outings with him. Pacquiao proved to have world-class welterweight whiskers during his showdown with Cotto, but how well does he take a genuine 147 pounder’s punch to the body?

5. UNDERRATED FOOTWORK: Clottey’s not known for his lateral or in-and-out movement because he’s not a stick-and-move specialist but his foot placement (balance) and footwork is better than many fans realize. Clottey’s footwork is subtle but effective. He is very good at taking half a step out of his opponent’s range while blocking in-coming punches with his gloves and then stepping back in range to catch them off guard. Clottey is also good at pivoting to the side of his opponents when in close and catching them with punches at an angle. Like his fists, his feet are deceptively quick; not as quick as Pacquiao’s but perhaps fast and nimble enough to trouble the 4-to-1 odds favorite.


WON'T BE COMPETITIVE

1. TALENT: Sometimes we overanalyze matchups, asking and then trying to answer myriad questions in our minds. Who’s bigger? Who has a better chin? Who’s in better condition? Who’s in a better state of mind? Who has more big-fight experience? Who has a better trainer? These and many more are legitimate questions. However, one question supersedes all others: Who is better? The answer is obvious in the case of Pacquiao vs. Clottey. The Filipino has evolved into a near-perfect fighting machine – skilled, fast, powerful, resilient, experienced, well-prepared, you name it. Clottey is very good, nothing more. This fight will not be close.

2. TRAINERS: The difference here couldn’t be more stark. Pacquiao works with the leading trainer in the world , Freddie Roach, with whom he has developed a zen-like rapport. Roach sculpted a very good, but raw slab of Filipino marble into a work of art. Clottey is being trained by Pacquiao’s former cut man, Lenny De Jesus, who also has some training experience. Godwin Kotay normally works with Clottey but couldn’t get a visa to enter the U.S., reportedly leaving Clottey very upset. Roach and De Jesus won’t be fighting but guidance in preparation and in the corner during the fight can be the difference between success and failure.

3. SPEED: Pacquiao’s opponents seem to have the same reaction after they fight him: “Man, this guy is fast.” His blazing-quick punches also come from all sorts of crazy angles, which makes him all the more baffling. And his foot speed might be more impressive than his hand speed. Pacquiao darts in, punches and darts out before his opponents have a chance to react. Clottey said he’ll be able to hit Pacquiao enough to slow him down – as he did against quick-handed Zab Judah -- but I don’t think he can do it this time. Pacquiao’s ability to land fast, hard punches and avoid Clottey’s counters because of his mobility will be the key to the fight.

4. WORK RATE: One criticism of Clottey is that he doesn’t throw enough punches, which he attributed to the fact he’s a welterweight and not a smaller fighter. Welterweights, he said, must focus more on quality than quantity when punching. That isn’t going to cut it on March 13. Even if Clottey frustrates Pacquiao to some degree with his defensive skills and lands some counters, he will get outworked and lose a one-sided decision or get stopped late anyway. Clottey would have to change his approach to boxing to match Pacquiao’s pace, which isn’t going to happen. Clottey’s only chance to win is to hurt Pacquiao and then take him out. That isn’t going to happen, either.

5. POWER: We’re told that Clottey is the bigger and stronger man, which might be true. Still, Pacquiao is the big puncher in this matchup. You saw what happened when he nailed Miguel Cotto for the first time; Cotto retreated the rest of the fight. Clottey has a better chin than Cotto, meaning he might be able to withstand a good shot or two. However, he will be able to take only so many before he breaks down and Pacquiao finishes the job. One of two things will happen after Clottey feels Pacquiao’s power: He will try to fight back and get knocked out in the middle to late-middle rounds or he will follow Cotto’s lead and go into survival mode. Either way, Clottey loses.


Doug Fischer can be reached at dougiefischer@yahoo.com


Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com


Source: ringtv.com

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8CN Exclusive: Alex Ariza -- 8CountNews

By Brad Cooney, 8CountNews.com

8CountNews caught up with Pacquiao conditioning coach Alex Ariza. The big fight is coming up on March, 13th just a few weeks from now. 8CN got Ariza's thoughts on Manny's progress thus far in camp. Ariza also shares with us his prediction of the outcome of this fight. Check out what else one of the best conditioning coaches in the world had to say.

8CN - Alex, how is Manny looking so far in camp?

AR - I think we are right on schedule, maybe even a little ahead of it. He looks great, the weight is great, the conditioning is great. He boxed really well today so I think we are right on.

8CN - So you feel good about where Manny is so far?

AR - Oh yes, I think we are right on. I think if we were going to fight Clottey this Saturday we would be ready to go.

8CN - Is there anything that you do in preparing Manny differently in this camp as opposed to other camps?

AR - No pretty much the same thing, but with one exception. Clottey is strong so that's my biggest concern. We focused a little more on strength training. The physical punishment Manny might take is my biggest concern. Clottey is so much bigger, but we will have Manny ready for whatever comes his way.

8CN - Are you happy with Manny's focus? There seems to be good focus so far.

AR - I am not a big fan of LA training because of all of the people here. I thought we had a good camp in the Philippines last fight. Manny trained well over there, but he looks good over here too!

8CN - Do you have any predictons for us?

AR - I don't think Clottey will last 12 rounds. I think Clottey might just stop because he will get hit too much. I think Clottey will get tired of getting hit. If Manny moves the way he's been moving in sparring? I just don't see Clottey being able to take the beating that he is going to get.

Source: 8countnews.com

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Breaking News: Vazquez Jr stops Sonsona in Round 4

Boxing News World

A wicked left hook to the body finished the job for Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. Marvin Sonsona could not beat the count. The official time was 2:01 of the fourth round.

Now WBO super-bantamweight champion at 25 years of age, Vazquez improved his record to 18 wins and 1 draw, 15 KOs.

19-year old Sonsona (now 14-1-1, 12 KOs) suffered the first defeat of his young boxing career. Sonsona, who was forced to vacate his superflyweight title for not making the contracted weight of 115 pounds in his last fight against Alejandro Hernandez, skipped the bantamweight class.

Both fighters started off cautiously. A couple of left straights by Sonsona to the head of Vazquez earned him the 1st round on my scorecard.

But it was Vazquez onwards. Vazquez's punches began to find their targets opening a small cut under the left eye of Sonsona.

In the fourth round, Vazquez landed a series of blows to the head and body of Sonsona while the latter was trapped on the ropes. A massive left hook to the liver sent Sonsona to the canvas and ended the fight.

- Marshall N. B., marx1047@lycos.com

Joshua Clottey on Manny Pacquiao - Part 2 to 6 -- Doghouse Boxing

Doghouse Boxing

Joshua Clottey on Manny Pacquiao - Part Two

Do you think you need to throw more punches to win the fight? Against Cotto it seemed as if you needed to throw more…

JOSHUA CLOTTEY: I think you are right. You know, I’m not a flyweight. I am not a bantamweight. I am a welterweight and welterweights only throw punches that connect. I can throw shots which connect and land and cause damage. Not throw a lot of punches that he is deflecting and blocking. If you look at the last fight, I won the last round. He threw punches and I blocked them and I threw punches and they connected. I will throw punches that cause damage.

My training is going to show when I get in the ring, but with Manny Pacquiao you don’t have to miss with him. When he is throwing you have to let him do it. Like you said, they come from many angles. I have my plan.

Manny has made tremendous improvement as he has moved up in weight, which has caused suspicion. Do you have any reason to believe he is doing anything illegal and why aren’t you requiring to take additional tests?

JOSHUA CLOTTEY: I don’t want him to do that because I respect him too much. He is a very nice guy to be honest with you and I feel comfortable around him. He is nice and respects everybody and I know where he is from. I don’t think Manny Pacquiao is doing that thing. If he is doing that thing, he is killing the sport. Between he and God, it is going to some day be a problem. I wouldn’t make him do that steroid thing because I believe in him. I know he throws a pot of punches. I respect him for that so I couldn’t ask him to do that..

Joshua Clottey on Manny Pacquiao - Part Three

What would a victory mean to you?

JOSHUA CLOTTEY: A victory would mean very, very more than a lot to me. That’s why I am so happy about this opportunity. And second, if I beat Manny Pacquiao I am going to be very much happy, because he is the best fighter out there. He is the man now and he’s giving me a chance to fight him and if I beat him, I’m going to be on top of the world. It will be very important to the people in my country and that is very important in life.

What was it like growing up?

JOSHUA CLOTTEY: When I was a young boy growing up I saw the boys in the area and I

said I wanted to fight them. I fought one and then I wanted to fight again like a revenge. I beat him and I became a boxer. My life was not easy for me at all. I had to go all over the world to become champion. I came to America after fighting in England where things were very wrong. Then I came here and things were moving along with Top Rank and Bob Arum and I have to give thanks to them.

These are both your fighters and it must be difficult for you…how do you see this fight playing out?

BOB ARUM: Of course I have and the more I play it over in my head I realize how competitive this fight is going to be. Nobody, with any real certainty, can predict this fight. Everybody knows how Manny Pacquiao fights. Everybody knows the angles that he throws punches from. Everybody knows that Joshua Clottey is a tremendous defensive fighter and can put a real hurting on an opponent. Everybody knows that Clottey is the bigger man and Manny is the smaller man. People talk about how much Manny has gone up in weight, but he really hasn’t gone up much. He couldn’t make 130 so he fought at 135 pounds. He was 138 when he fought Ricky Hatton. If he gets on the scale now at the weigh-in weighing 142 or 143 that’s because he ate breakfast and lunch on the day of the weigh-in, so if he had to he could still make 135 pounds. The idea that suddenly Manny Pacquiao has become a big man is just not true. Joshua has the size and he is a natural welterweight…Manny Pacquiao isn’t and that makes intrigue in the fight. Even Joshua would admit that Manny is the favorite in the fight because he has such a great resume but I can go either way.

Joshua Clottey on Manny Pacquiao - Part Four

What do you think Manny’s weak spots are?

JOSHUA CLOTTEY: No matter what people are going to talk about him, he is the best now. When he beats guys, like in the Cotto fight, he beats guys that don’t have a good defense. I have a defense. I will never say anything bad about the guy because he is the best now. When I walk in the ring with Manny Pacquiao and I lost, I will tell everybody I lost the fight. But I keep telling people I didn’t lose the Cotto fight because I don’t feel that I did. When I walk into the ring, I do what I want to do to win the fight, to do my best.

When I walk into the ring I will know what I need to do to win the fight.

What areas do you need to improve to become great?

JOSHUA CLOTTEY: I trained a lot for this fight. I trained really hard for this fight. I trained when I was in Africa. I run to the beach from my house here and I do everything I can. That is good for me because I am going to be fighting the best guy out there and if I don’t prepare correctly and he is hitting me with the punches he throws, he is going to hurt me so I am protecting myself at the gym. So when I get to the ring I will be fine. I promise everybody a good fight, that’s what I’m telling you.

How surprised were you when this fight came about?

JOSHUA CLOTTEY: I wasn’t really thinking about this fight at all. But I know I can fight anybody and I know I can beat any boxer. It looked like somebody didn’t want to fight. All the guys were talking about Pacquiao vs. Mayweather and it looks like he didn’t want to do it and it’s good for me. If they didn’t do it, I get in. I feel like it was a blessing from God.

Bob, can you talk about the venue?

BOB ARUM: As you will see on March 13, there is no stadium or arena in the world like Cowboys Stadium. It is an architectural marvel – just the paintings alone. But that is not what makes an exciting event. What makes the event super exciting is that screen that goes from one 20 yard line to the other and is super high definition. The screen will be 30 feet above the ring. Every replay and every punch in the fight will be seen in really high definition. Indeed, as pretty as the Cowboy Cheerleaders are, wait until you see them on that big screen, it is something really special. Until you see it and until you’re there, it is very difficult to describe the experience. I know that they just had the NBA All Star Game and the players were on the bench waiting to get in as the game was going on and many of them were watching the game on the screen rather than right in front of them on the floor.

When I saw the Cowboys-Eagles game sitting in Jerry Jones’ box, I found myself half the time watching the game on the screen than watching the field just because just because the picture is so incredible. I think that’s what helps make it. It has lounges, the Patrón Lounge, the concession stands. Yankee Stadium has a lot of that but it is really an experience to be in the huge arena and watch an event.

What about Margarito, was it a disappointment he not being on the card?

BOB ARUM: We are disappointed. The Texas Commission said they would have to hold a hearing and if they did we realized we wouldn’t get a result until it was too late. So instead we did the Humberto Soto/David Diaz lightweight championship in its place.

Did steroid testing come up in the negotiations for this fight?

BOB ARUM: My view is that is not a topic for negotiation. That is something for the commission to decide. If a boxer would like more stringent testing than is applicable in that state, he should go before the commission, present his case and let the commission decide. It is not for a bunch of amateurs to start talking about and start making demands – that is what’s called chaos. That’s what you have to do and that’s what you have commissions for. You go before the commission and you tell them I want such-and-such done and you let the commissioners decide – that’s what they are getting paid for – to handle those kind of questions.

VINNY SCOLPINO: I couldn’t agree with Bob more. If the commission wants to implement other drug testing rules, let them implement them. We abide by the rules that are set for us then we move forward. Manny is a super champion and we all hope he is doing the right thing. If the commission finds it in their drug testing – they find it. We were going to abide by the rules set by the state. W are professionals in the sport, Joshua is a professional and if that commission in that state says to do this, we do it.

Is 40,00 people still a target?

BOB ARUM: We didn’t set the stadium up for 40,000, we set it up for 45,000 and we are on our way to selling out.

There are a lot of Hispanics in Dallas. We are selling a lot of tickets to Hispanics. On the principal undercard bouts we have Hispanics. We have Jose Luis Castillo fighting Alfonso Gomez, John Duddy, who is Irish, fighting Michael Medina, a Mexican from Monterey, middleweight, and David Diaz against Humberto Soto for the WBC lightweight title. On the non-televised portion of the card, it is loaded with Hispanics like Roberto Marroquin of Dallas – the Hispanics and Mexicans will be well-represented. Manny Pacquiao has fought many Mexicans and when I was down in Mexico identified Manny as a Filipino/Mexican and the Mexicans in California feel that Manny is one of them.

When did you feel it was a reality to be having a fight at Cowboys Stadium?

BOB ARUM: Well, you remember back when we were involved in the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, Jerry had called me at home. I knew Jerry, he had come to a couple of fights and he said, ‘Bob, we want the fight in Cowboys Stadium.’ We set up a meeting and Mayweather’s guy, Richard Schaefer, canceled the meeting the day before and it was kind of embarrassing for us. I knew in my mind that Cowboys Stadium would be a great venue for this fight. When the Mayweather fight fell out and the fight was made with Joshua Clottey, the first call I made was to Jerry Jones. I told him I want to come out and make a deal with Cowboys Stadium. He invited me out and it was in conjunction with the Cowboys-Eagles game. I was there that night and the next day, Jerry, Todd [duBoef] and myself and Jerry’s staff and Steve Jones had a meeting and we made a deal.

Could you get more than 45,000?

BOB ARUM: That’s up to Jerry. Right now everyone would have a tremendous view of the fight. We could expand but right now we are on target to sell the 45,000 tickets and we’d be very happy doing that. I know yesterday we sold 350 tickets and we are on course to do that again today. By the time the fighters get into town, we would have sold well over 40,000 tickets. We would then have 3,000 or 4,000 tickets to go and it would be up to Jerry to expand.

Are you worried about the training situation?

VINNY SCOLPINO: I think Lenny [DeJesus] brings a lot of experience, probably over 40 years and he was with Pacquiao during many of his fights. Lenny has always been more than just a cut-man, he also trains a lot of fighters. He brings a wealth of experience, he knows the business, he knows what to do in the ring whether he’s a cut man or whether he’s a trainer. So we are comfortable. Joshua is comfortable with him and we are ready to rumble. We feel comfortable coming out of that rind with a victory with what we are doing. Josh was training in Ghana with another trainer and we tried to get that trainer in but we weren’t sitting on the sidelines hoping and praying that that trainer would get in. We had plans. If the trainer joined us from Ghana we would love it. Right now we are comfortable with what we have and Josh is a true professional. Josh is so excited to get in that ring with Manny. We are ready to rumble. When that bell rings, everything changes. Right now they are respectful of each other and are true professionals, but when that bell rings, those hats come off. Fists are going to fly.

Joshua Clottey on Manny Pacquiao - Part Five

Are you disappointed your trainer could not get to the States, there were reports you brodke down and wept, is that true?

JOSHUA CLOTTEY: It is true. We have been together for a very long time. If he could get his visa, I would fly him here. They are not going to give him his visa and I can’t wait for him because I have to get ready to fight and my life is on the line. When I get in the ring my trainer will give me motivation. I had him in Ghana for weeks and that matters. In other fights, my cut man, Lenny, was pushing me a lot so I thought I would use him as my trainer.

Are you ready for Manny Pacquiao and how do you plan on beating Manny Pacquiao?

JOSHUA CLOTTEY: I am very much ready for Manny Pacquiao. I keep telling people that I am going to fight and I know it’s not easy. It’s not going to be easy for me and it’s not going to be easy for Manny Pacquiao because I am going to fight the guy who the people think is the best.

I have never watched his tapes. I never sit down and watch him and I never sit down and talk about him. The only thing I think about is me and what I have to do when I come into the ring. I have been training very hard for myself to get to the ring and do my best. When I get to the ring, the fight will start and that’s what I’ll do.

Will your size make a difference in the fight like it did in the Cotto fight?

JOSHUA CLOTTEY: I am not talking about whether I am bigger or stronger than Manny Pacquiao. I don’t want to talk like that because little guys beat the big guys out there. I am not thinking about that. The writers make the story so good. I know I’m big and I’m strong but I’m not thinking about that. I just train to get in the ring to do my best. I just know what kind of a fighter he is. I just have to be me. That is most important to me.

I have known Lenny and he is a very good man. He was my cut man with Cotto. So my trainer could not get a visa and I picked him to be my trainer for this fight. Miguel Diaz used to be my cut man but he will be with Manny Pacquiao for this fight.

Joshua Clottey on Manny Pacquiao - Part Six

Do you feel Pacquiao-Mayweather could be made in the future?

BOB ARUM: Life goes on, that what these boys fight for. If Joshua beats Manny, who knows? If Mosley beats Mayweather then we do a Mosley-Clottey fight. That’s what makes boxing interesting. If I did a walkover fight, for example, Pacquiao and Malignaggi, which was at one point bandied about, people would say I was just keeping Pacquiao busy and they would have been right. But there is danger in Manny losing this fight. Clottey is a very dangerous fight. There is also the chance that Mosley goes back to the fountain of youth, which he got for the Margarito fight and if he gets in the ring with Mayweather could very well beat Mayweather – the Mosley that fought Margarito. If these were walk-over fights, nobody would give a damn. The fight that everyone wanted to see didn’t happen for one reason or another and I’m not here on this call to cast blame on the other side, but on March 13 we have a really good fight, a competitive fight, a fight that could go either way and a fight that will be Manny Pacquiao’s toughest fight.

Did you say you haven’t watched tape of Manny’s fights?

JOSHUA CLOTTEY: That is right. I never watch tapes of people. I don’t like watching tapes but I know how he fights. When I get to the ring I know how he is going to be.

Negotiations to get to this fight?

BOB ARUM: In all the fights that I’ve done, this whole series of fights, the Hatton fight, the De La Hoya fight, the Cotto fight…it was never any kind of serious problems in the negotiations. There were a couple of problems that went back and forth and the Mayweather negotiations threw me for a loop because they became so acrimonious and so in a lot of ways nonsensical, that it led me to believe rightly or wrongly that the Mayweather side never wanted to do the fight. Now the negotiations for the Clottey fight took about 24 hours. They contacted Clottey in Africa and I spoke to Vinny and Pat English the lawyer and we put it together quite promptly. But that has been that way with every fight, that we can put it together without much back and forth. Whether it was the presence of Al Haymon because we had problems with the Williams fight with Kelly Pavlik, I don’t really know. I just know that the Mayweather negotiations were extremely difficult and extremely acrimonious and kept the fight from happening.

If we believe, and I certainly believe that boxing is a big-time sport, boxing is on a crest and boxing isn’t a niche sport or a dying sport, but it’s a big-time sport and putting it in big stadiums like Cowboy Stadium, like Yankees Stadium, like the new stadium in the Meadowlands, proves that point. Because when you put your product in venues like that, what you’re saying to the world that boxing is a big-time sport and can hold its own past any other sport. We know what’s happening in Mexico…boxing is getting higher ratings than soccer and certainly any other sport going on regularly on terrestrial TV on a Saturday night. We know it from Germany where arenas are constantly sold out and the ratings are through the roof, we know if from England and the Philippines and Japan. We don’t know it yet from the United States but I’m telling you, it’s like the sleeping giant that is there. Boxing in the U.S. will takes its place the same way that it is doing it in the rest of the world like a big-time sport. Putting these events in these stadiums will prove that and demonstrate that.

JOSHUA CLOTTEY: I would like to thank the media and all the questions that they ask me and the answers that I put through. I want to thank God and Bob Arum and the Top Rank crew. I am very happy that this fight is coming up on the 13th of March and I’m going to do the best that I can.

BOB ARUM: I am really looking forward to March 13 and this great event in Cowboys Stadium. The telecast is $49.95. I have explained the undercard and it will be a great night of boxing. Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders all over the place, fireworks. It will be a real event and that’s why we have named it THE EVENT. More importantly this will be the best fight you have seen. This will be the toughest for many Pacquiao. You’ve heard today how determined Joshua Clottey is and you’re going to see fireworks in the ring and that’s what boxing is all about. Thanks for being on this call and we’ll see you on March 13th.

Source: doghouseboxing.com

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Joshua Clottey Training Videos -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

A native of Ghana who is preparing for a March 13 challenge for the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) crown held by seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs), of the Philippines, Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 knockouts), of The Bronx, N.Y., has been speaking with FanHouse from his training quarters facility at Fort Lauderdale's Contender Gym in Fla.

The bout against Pacqauiao is the biggest in the career for the 32-year-old Clottey (pictured above, with trainer Lenny DeJesus), whose only losses were to former world champions, Carlos Baldomir, Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto.

Clottey never has been knocked out, and is known for his steller defense and punching accuracy.

Under new trainer, Lenny DeJesus, Clottey claims to be in the best shape of his life heading into the bout with Pacquiao.

"I have more confidence this time around because I'm taking this fight like if I win, I have bigger things ahead. I have so much respect for Manny, so that gives me more confidence because I respect the guy," said Clottey recently, telling FanHouse that he weighed 154 this past Thursday.

"I respect the guy because, if he has the chance, he can stop me," said Clottey. "So I respect him because of that, and because of that, I'm more confident."









Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

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Pacquiao: Mayweather was looking for excuse to back out -- New York Post

By George Willis, New York Post

Manny Pacquiao says Floyd Mayweather Jr. wasn't ready to face him this spring, and their disagreement over blood-testing procedures was just a smokescreen to get out of the proposed welterweight championship mega bout.

"What I believe is Floyd Mayweather is not ready for this time to fight with me," Pacquiao said during a conference call yesterday. "That's why he made some reason to cancel the fight. I feel bad, I feel disappointment because he's accusing me of [using] drugs or whatever and trying to ruin my name in boxing. People know that I always pray to God and [believe in] hard work."

Pacquiao and Mayweather, the top pound-for-pound fighters in boxing, had been negotiating on a March 13 bout in Las Vegas. It might have been the richest in boxing history, but they reached an impasse over blood-testing procedures with Mayweather wanting random Olympic-style testing by an independent agency. Pacquiao agreed to undergo three tests, including 21 days before the bout and the night of the bout or have the Nevada Athletic Commission decide on a procedure. When a compromise couldn't be reached, Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, matched Pacquiao against former welterweight champion Joshua Clottey on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium.

"I didn't want to take a blood test right before the fight," Pacquiao said. "I want to have proper focus. It's a big disadvantage for me to take a blood test just before the fight."

Mayweather's demand for Olympic-style blood testing came after Floyd Mayweather Sr. accused Pacquiao of using performance enhancing drugs. Pacquiao has won either world titles or linear championships in seven different weight classes and enjoyed recent dominant wins over Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. He has never failed a drug pre- or post-fight drug test.

Pacquiao has filed a defamation lawsuit against Mayweather, and Golden Boy Promotions executives Richard Schaefer and De La Hoya, who were critical of Pacquiao for not agreeing to the testing.

"The lawsuit will establish beyond any doubt that these innuendos, assertions and statements made by that whole group of defendants have absolutely no basis of fact; are pulled out of thin air; and are fueled only by jealousy of [Pacquiao's] accomplishments," Arum said. "It is absolutely to me outrageous what was said by these people, and that will be affirmed in a court of law."

Arum said the defendants must answer the complaint "sometime by the end of March." For now, Pacquiao is focusing on his fight next Saturday against Clottey.

"Joshua Clottey is taller and bigger than me," Pacquiao said. "I cannot underestimate him because he's a former world champion."

george.will@nypost.com

Source: nypost.com

***

Roach on Mayweather: "We'll knock him out in the ring"; Arum adds "and in court" -- PhilBoxing

By Dennis 'dSource' Guillermo, PhilBoxing.com

Just moments ago, Manny Pacquiao together with his trainer Freddie Roach and promoter Bob Arum answered questions from the press in their scheduled Media Conference Call for Pacquiao's upcoming clash against Joshua Clottey in Jerry Jones' highly acclaimed Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

As much as the topic was Pacquiao vs. Clottey, the interest simply could not be veered off the failed mega-fight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. as media members shot questions regarding blood testing and whether a Mayweather fight was crucial to Pacquiao before he ends his boxing career one after the other.

When asked about the impact of Mayweather's PED and HGH comments and allegations on Pacquiao, Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach replied,

"We're not happy with his remarks and Manny really wants to fight him in the future because of the remarks he made. You know Manny sometimes when he's shadow boxing, he shows me how Mayweather fights and how he's going to take care of the problem. I've never seen him do that before and with the allegations he's trying to ruin our reputation and so forth and we do want to fight him and we will knock him out".

After which, promoter Bob Arum interjected and added,

"And we'll knock him out in the court also because that lawsuit continues on and justice will prevail".

As far as Pacquiao is concerned, the number one pound for pound fighter and 7 division world champion simply shrugged it off saying "that's his style and I can't change him because we are different," referring to Mayweather's trash-talking nature. Pacquiao also pointed out that his accomplishments speak for itself and that a fight against Mayweather is not necessary to satisfy him on the legacy he has already left boxing.

When highly respected writer and our prolific friend in New York Michael Marley asked Pacquiao to elaborate on what he meant about what makes him different from Mayweather, Pacquiao responded saying,

"Some fighters like me, we can be great fighters without trash talk and his style, he is talking a lot of trash talk and to be know as Mayweather and all that and that he is a champion," and added, "but he is not a good example for everybody."

Whether Pacquiao will face Mayweather in the ring is something fight fans will just have to continue clamoring and hoping for until it actually happens and both fighters sign on the dotted line. But with this much interest, regardless of what Team Pacquiao and Team Mayweather says, this fight not to happening might very well be the death of boxing. Oh, don't get me wrong with my figurative assessment, Boxing will continue on, but if you can't make the biggest money making fight between the two best fighters of this era happen, then man, shame on all of us involved in this sport.

Dennis 'dSource' Guillermo is a freelance sportswriter. You can contact him by e-mail through dennisguillermo2@yahoo.com. You can also check out his daily column on Filipino Sports at Examiner.com.

Source: philboxing.com

***

WBC BOXING AIRS MAYOL-OMAR NINO ROMERO TITLE FIGHT -- PhilBoxing

By Ronnie Nathanielsz, PhilBoxing.com

In keeping with its recently launched WBCBOXING.TV, the World Boxing Council will carry the WBC light flyweight title defense of Filipino Rodel Mayol against mandatory challenger Omar Nino Romero of Mexico, the former world champion who won the title from then champion Brian Viloria in 2006.

Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz who handles Mayol along with Pacquiao initially didn't want the fight to be shown via the internet site of WBC Boxing TV but apparently agreed to it after conversations with WBC secretary general Mauricio Sulaiman with whom Koncz was scheduled to have dinner on Friday.

Koncz told us that since they had the Philippine television rights for the telecast and were hoping to sell the event to one of the networks in the Philippines he didn't want the fight shown.

We suggested to Mauricio Sulaiman that strict copyright laws be enforced and a notice be placed before, after and even during the telecast indicating that the fight or any portion thereof cannot be re-broadcast by any network, organization or individual and that violators would be prosecuted.

When the WBCBOXING.TV project was launched some months ago, WBC president Jose Sulaiman said fight fans would be "see boxing LIVE, which we have been doing FREE, every Saturday, hoping that you have clicked in and have enjoyed it."

Sulaiman said "We need many more users to really extend through all the world and make it some day a real option and opportunity for the many promoters, boxers and managers that today do not have enough or no support at all from TV."

Source: philboxing.com

***

Manny Pacquiao: 'Maybe Floyd Mayweather is Afraid of Me' -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Friday's conference call with reporters was intended to promote seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao's, March 13 defense against Joshua Clottey at The Dallas Cowboys' Stadium in Arlington, Tex.

But it seemed that from the opening caller, the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) titlist, his trainer, Freddie Roach, and their promoter, Bob Arum, spent an awful lot of time answering questions about Floyd Mayweather.

And each of the three participants took his best shot.

"Mayweather against Manny is a no-contest," said Arum, adding, "Manny would wipe the ring of Floyd Mayweather."

"Maybe he's afraid of me," said the 31-year-old Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts). "Or maybe he's not ready for this type of fight."

Negotiations for a multi-million dollar bout between Paquiao and Mayweather (40-0, 25 knockouts) fell apart over a drug-testing controversy.

Mayweather wanted random blood-testing in addition to urinalysis; Pacquiao did not want the blood-testing.

Pacquaio has filed a lawsuit charging defamation of character and seeking damages against Mayweather.

The suit goes after Mayweather's father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., his uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, and Golden Boy Promotions' officials, Oscar De La Hoya, and, Richard Schaefer -- the president, and, CEO, respectively.

Golden Boy represented Mayweather in the negotiations with Pacquiao and Top Rank.

"We're not happy with their remarks," said Roach. "Manny really wants to fight him in the future."

Pacquiao said that he believes that the Mayweather camp, collectively, has accused him of using steroids, and that their actions originated from Floyd Mayweather Jr.

"What I believe is that Floyd Mayweather is not ready at this time to fight with me, or to face me. That's why he makes up some reason to cancel the fight," said Pacquiao.

Mayweather, who turned 33 on Feb. 24, is set to fight 38-year-old WBA welterweight super champion, Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs), on May 1.

Pacquiao is set to face the 32-year-old Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs).

"I feel bad, and I feel disappointment because he's accusing me of using drugs and tried to ruin my name in boxing," said Pacquiao.

"I'm disappointed for what he's accusing me of. I really feel bad, but I'm not angry at him, because this is boxing," said Pacquiao. "People know that I'm always praying to God, and it's hard work" that accounts for his punching power.

Pacquiao said he and Mayweather (pictured at right) carry themselves differently.

"That's his style. We can not change that. We are different. Some fighters, like me, we can be the greatest fighter without saying curse words," said Pacquiao.

"But his style is talking a lot of trash talk," said Pacquiao. "To be known as Mayweather is, like that, and to be known as that type of champion -- it's not a good example for everybody."

Although Pacquiao's voice didn't resonate outward ire, Roach said there is a simmering ire within the fighter which occasionally bubbles to the surface during training sessions.

"It's the first time I've seen Manny doing something like this. Like, sometimes, when he's shadowboxing, he shows me how Mayweather fights and how he's going to take care of the problem," said Roach.

"I've never seen Manny do that before," said Roach. "And Manny, he feels like they tried to ruin our reputation and so forth, and we do want to fight [Mayweather,] and we will knock him out."

"And we'll knock him out in the court, also," said Arum. "That lawsuit continues on, and justice will prevail."

A three-time Fighter Of The Year, Pacquiao said that if he never meets Mayweather in the ring, he can retire knowing that he has had a great career.

"For me, what I have achieved in boxing is good enough for me," said Pacquiao, who was named Fighter Of The Decade.

"People know that comparing my achievements in boxing to [Mayweather's] achievements, I'm satisfied."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

***

Roy Jones Jr. Blog 2/27 -- 8CountNews

By Roy Jones Jr., 8CountNews.com

This week has been amazing for me. Things just seemed to pull together in a way I canʼt explain. I can tell you this, I feel great and Iʼm smiling ear to ear looking forward to this rematch because itʼs going to be a very, VERY aggressive night! Yʼall know by now I love different inspirational thoughts and quotes and seeing how they might relate to what I do and who I am. Iʼm either reading them or somebodyʼs passing them on to me. Hereʼs one that sums up my current state perfectly: Pablo Picasso said, “It takes a long time to become young.” Yep. Pic-ass-o. And I feel for the first time I havefinally reached a point where the young fighter in me has merged with the wiser more experienced man to become the most well rounded, dangerous fighter Iʼve ever been. Thatʼs exactly what Iʼve been feeling all week!

My training and fight preparations have a different feel to them this time. And people notice it too! Iʼm surrounding myself with people who have that same vibe, all positive, victorious people. This afternoon, after weʼre both done working out Iʼm going to talk to Manny Pacquiao about one of my favorite subjects. Nope! Not boxing. Ha ha, not that either. Alright enough of that for now. Weʼll come back to that.

You all know how much fun I had being “Capt. Hook” for the Hook Citycard, right? Well I also had fun unloading the hooks on Jeff Lacy and that whole theme really inspired me to let loose. This time Bernard Hopkins is gonna meet The Terminator. Yep, the “Old Executioner” gets to go toe to toe with me as The Terminator. I plan to have alot of fun with this one too. You will be entertained! Now I said itʼs going tobe an aggressive night because I plan to have fun, and that means staying busy doing what Roy Jones, Jr does! Donʼt blink! See when I take myself too seriously I lose myself in that, everything comes off forced. But Iʼm like lightning when Iʼm actually enJOYing the fight and the fans. So hereʼs the plan: Iʼma Terminate the Executioner since Iʼm his only “real” loss, and give the fans an thrilling night they wonʼt forget! Youʼre gonna love the music too.

I have something in the works.However, the real question IS....if Hopkins loses AGAIN, and he WILL,what should he have to do? Iʼve had some people say he should have to take off that “Executioner” mask forever and hand it over to me in the ring. Then heʼll have to come up with a new character to play from that moment on. Not bad, but Iʼd like to know your ideas. Send them to my mail bag and let me hear whatcha got to say about it.

Peace.

Source: 8countnews.com

***

Freddie Roach: Manny Pacquiao Will Knock Out Joshua Clottey -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

When seven-division champ, Manny Pacquiao, defends his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title against Joshua Clottey on March 13 at The Dallas Cowboys' Stadium, in Arlington, Tex., his trainer, Freddie Roach, will have a vast advantage in experience over his counterpart for the second straight fight.

For while Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts), of the Philippines, will be in his 22nd bout with Roach, a four-time Trainer Of The Year, Clottey (35-3, 20 knockouts), a Bronx resident who is from Ghana, will be taking instruction from his former cut man, Lenny DeJesus.

DeJesus will be working as Clottey's chief second for the first time -- this after having served as an assistant to Kwame Assante during Clottey's June, split-decision loss to then-WBO king, Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs), of Puerto Rico.

"We've watched a lot of tape on Clottey. We know his characteristics, we know his mistakes, and we know his habits. I do feel that Manny Pacquiao, the way that he's fighting, and the way that he's training for this fight, and the gameplan on how to beat Clottey is in place," said Roach, who, with Pacquiao, is 19-1-1, with 15 knockouts since June of 2001.

"I know that Clottey is a big, strong guy, and I respect him, he's a great fighter, and he's a really tough guy," said Roach of Clottey, who weighed 154 pounds on Thursday, while Roach expects Pacquiao to weigh "around 149 on the night of the fight."

"But Manny Pacquiao, I feel, is going to overwhelm him with his speed and his combinations," said Roach, "and I do believe that we will be the first person to stop him before the 12th round."


Roach first worked in Pacquiao's corner in June of 2001, when Pacquiao won his second world championship at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas with a six-round stoppage of Lehlo Ledwaba for the IBF super bantamweight (122 pounds) title.

"Nobody wanted to fight that guy (Ledwaba). I mean, he was the most feared 122-pound guy in the world, and we knocked him out in the sixth round," said Roach, during a November interview with FanHouse in Las Vegas prior to the Cotto fight. "And that was after Manny had been knocked out twice -- the second time being like a year and a half before that."

A southpaw, Pacquiao was 11-0 when he was stopped by Rustico Torrecampo in the third round in February of 1996. Pacquiao was 26-1 before losing to Medgoen Singurat by another third-round knockout in September of 1999.

"The first time he got knocked out, he lost the title on the scales. He fought the fight anyway and got knocked out with a body shot," said Roach.

"The second knockout was a countrymen of his who hit him with a really good shot," said Roach. "Manny showed me both knockouts, and I asked him, 'do they bother you still?' He said, 'No big deal, it happened, but it will never happen again.'"

On the other hand, Roach has virtually promised to make a knockout loss a first-time experience for Clottey, whose lone defeats have been against former world champs, Cotto, Carlos Baldomir, and, Antonio Magarito -- the last two by disputed 11th-round disqualification, and, decision, respectively.

"Our job is to present Joshua Clottey as he is. A bigger guy, a stronger guy, probably, and a guy who has never been off of his feet. A real test for Manny Pacquiao," said CEO Bob Arum of Top Rank, who promotes both Clottey and Pacquiao.

Clottey did suffer a flash knock-down after being caught off balance by a Cotto left hook in the closing moments of the first round.

"That's what will sell this fight. Clottey is certainly a well-respected, terrific welterweight. He lost a very, very close decision to Miguel Cotto in his last fight," said Arum. "He won the [IBF] title by stopping [southpaw] Zab Judah. He's a formidable opponent."

For Clottey, however, the situation against Pacquiao, by comparison, could be even worse than it was for Pacquiao's last opponent, Cotto, in November.

Under the direction Joe Santiago, who was in only his third fight as a lead corner man, Cotto was viciously stopped the 12th round.

Clottey split with Assante over money, after which Clottey's preferred replacement, Godwin Nii Dzanie Kotey, was denied a Visa to America.

So DeJesus was recommended by manager, Vinnie Scolpino, and Clottey chose him a little more than three weeks ago.

Roach said that the amount of time Clottey (pictured, below at right) has had to work with DeJesus is not enough time to change what he knows Clottey to be as a fighter going against Pacquiao.

"Joshua Clottey is what he is. I mean, let's face it. He's fought the same way on every tape that I've watched -- whether he's fighting a southpaw or a right-handed fighter," said Roach.

"He's predictable even though he's good at what he does. But he does the same thing over and over and he's predictable," said Roach. "He might try to change that in this fight, but once he gets hit, he's going to revert back to what he is, and we're 100 percent ready for his style."

Pacquaio-Cotto ended with referee Kenny Bayless stepping in, wrapping his arms around Cotto, and ending it.

Roach criticized Santiago for not throwing in the towel sooner, and warns that DeJesus should be ready to stop save Clottey from similar punishment.

Asked if he believed that Pacquaio could dominate Clottey as well as he he did Cotto, Roach said, "Yes, I do."

"The beginning of the fight's going to be hard because he's a very good opponent, but we will break him down," said Roach. "I'm very confident the fight won't go 12 rounds."

DeJesus worked as a cut man in Pacquiao's corner as well, last being there for a March, 2005 loss to Erik Morales at super featherweight (130 pounds).

Since then, however, Pacquiao has gone 11-0, with eight knockouts.

"Lenny DeJesus used to work as a cut man for Manny Pacquiao at one time. He knows us pretty well, except that we've changed a lot since then. If he think that he's going to face the old Manny Pacquiao, then, that's not going to be the case," said Roach.

"But I respect him. He's a good boxing guy. Do I think that I'm a better trainer? I don't know. I just think that I have the better fighter," said Roach. "We've got the perfect game plan, and I don't care who trains Joshua Clottey for this fight. He can't beat us."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

***

Tyson’s Hall or nothing.. -- The Sun

By FRANK WARREN, The Sun

MIKE TYSON is set to join the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
His inclusion, which will formally take place later this year, has proved a controversial one.

On boxing achievements, Tyson is a cert.

The youngest-ever world heavyweight champion, he tore through the division in the mid-1980s.

Not only was Iron Mike the most famous name in boxing, there weren't many sportsmen anywhere bigger than him.

His 'Baddest Man On The Planet' tag wasn't hyperbole.

When Tyson came out of prison after his rape conviction, he became one of only a handful of men to regain the heavyweight title.

Win or lose, his fights have been some of the biggest in boxing.

Few will forget his two showdowns with Evander Holyfield - for good and bad reasons - while his defeat against James 'Buster' Douglas 20 years ago truly rocked the world.

A cultural phenomena, Tyson, 43, has lifted the profile of the sport - both good and bad - more than almost anyone else in recent times.

Yet his behaviour outside of the ring - much of it low-life - has prompted people to question whether he deserves recognition by the boxing Hall of Fame. I've had my run-ins with Mike. Sometimes he's charming, sometimes he's a nightmare.

But there are a few choice characters in the Hall - Sonny Liston was no angel - and Tyson should be inaugurated.

The debate over him reflects a wider one at the moment about what sportsmen get up to in their private lives and their status as role models.

John Terry, Ashley Cole and Tiger Woods have hit the headlines for the wrong reasons in recent weeks after they got caught up in sex scandals.

You can make a judgment on someone's sporting ability, though, without approving of their morals.

Tyson isn't a great human being but at his prime he was one hell of a boxer.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JOE CALZAGHE has given up promoting - and says it's a pain in the a***.

What is a pain in the a*** is promoting a fighter when you don't know if he is going to pull out of a fight or not.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AUDLEY HARRISON says if he beats Albert Sosnowski to become Euro heavyweight champ, he'll skip David Haye and go for the Klitschkos.

He reckons Haye isn't a big enough name. What planet's he on?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RUMOUR has it that Haroon Khan, the talented kid brother of Amir, might end up boxing for Pakistan at the 2012 Olympics.

It's been alleged Haroon is unhappy with the ABA.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KELL BROOK fights a WBO welterweight eliminator in March.

Manny Pacquiao holds the belt and I'm not saying Brook is ready to step into his class.

But I expect the Filipino to vacate soon and Brook can fill the void.


Source: thesun.co.uk

***

Pacquiao says Mayweather didn't want megafight -- New York Post

By GEORGE WILLIS, New York Post

Manny Pacquiao says Floyd Mayweather Jr. wasn't ready to face him this spring and their disagreement over blood-testing procedures was just a smokescreen to get out of the proposed welterweight championship mega bout.

"What I believe is Floyd Mayweather is not ready for this time to fight with me," Pacquiao said during a conference call Friday. "That's why he made some reason to cancel the fight.

"I feel bad, I feel disappointment because he's accusing me of drugs or whatever and trying to ruin my name in boxing. People know that I always pray to God and (believe in) hard work."

Pacquiao and Mayweather had been negotiating on a March 13 bout in Las Vegas that might have been the richest in boxing history. But they reached an impasse over blood-testing procedures, with Mayweather wanting random Olympic-style testing by an independent agency. Pacquiao agreed to undergo three tests, including 21 days before the bout and the night of the bout, or have the Nevada Athletic Commission decide on a procedure.

When a compromise couldn't be reached, Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, matched Pacquiao against former welterweight champion Joshua Clottey on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium.

"I didn't want to take a blood test right before the fight," Pacquiao said. "I want to have proper focus. It's a big disadvantage for me to take a blood test just before the fight."

Source: nypost.com

***

Manny Says He's Content With Career If Mayweather Fight Doesn't Happen -- The Sweet Science

By Michael Woods, The Sweet Science

Say it ain't so, Manny.

Please tell us that you aren't going to get sucked into the politics vortex, and let that uglier-than-boxing arena kidnap you, and keep you. At the top of your game, a seven division champion, you aren't going to win a Filipino congressional seat, and bid boxing adieu, are you? Just when we've come to savor your status as a commendable role model for this sport which is in such need of humble, virtuous ambassadors?

The rumor mill has been grinding out rumors that Pacman will exit the sweet science after he fights Joshua Clottey on March 13 in Dallas, and the boxer addressed the issue on a Friday conference call.

"This is my last fight before the election," he said, and left the door fully ajar for pugilism post election. "I'm not going to say I'm going to retire."

Promoter Bob Arum said he'd be OK with Manny hanging up the gloves after the Clottey scrap and that he'd throw the rapidly climbing all-time Pound for Pounder a big ole bash if he decided to wave bye bye. "He's the best fighter I've ever seen," Arum opined. "I'm an old guy so I never saw Marciano, and Sugar Ray Robinson fight in person. And you can't tell much by watching films. But that includes Sugar Ray Leonard, and Ali, and Hagler. Manny's the best fighter I've ever seen." Arum reiterated Manny's anything-is-possible-but-he's-leaning-towards-keeping-on- fighting declaration. "He's leaving his options open."

Let me go on record, and please mark this statement: there ain't no way Manny's leaving after knocking out Clottey. (You can mark that prediction, as well..I'm with Arum on Manny-as-the-best-I've-seen stance, think Pacquiao's untouchable right now, and his hand speed and angles will be befuddling to the Ghanian). Nope..I see Manny going another five or more years. I'm guessing he does too. When asked what sort of fighter could take him down at this stage of his career, Pacquiao pondered and answered, "When I get old."

Now, regarding another matter that continues to hang over this promotion...will I be so bold in stating that I believe Pacquiao-Mayweather will DEFINITELY happen? No..As long as the announced lawsuit versus Team Mayweather is in play, I think that's a severe hurdle to making it happen. It will be hard for Team Pacquiao and Team Mayweather to separate the suit, and the purely boxing elements of the negotiations, if and when they try and hash out a deal again.

I do, however, wonder if the suit actually gets beyond the talk stages, though. Why hasn't the lawsuit been officially filed yet? For the record, two calls to the office of attorney Daniel Petrocelli, repping Pacquiao, were not returned, so I can't say for certain where the suit stands, beyond what Arum says.

Pacquiao says he'll be secure in his legacy if he and Floyd never tangle, and Arum says he too will be able to leave this plane settled if Pacquiao doesn't fight Mayweather. "I'm OK, I'm content," the fighter said when asked if he'd be alright never battling Floyd. "I don't really need to fight Mayweather. My achievements in boxing are enough for me." Now, Roach, I'm not so sure about him. He seems to reeeallly want Manny to shut Floyd's mouth. "I'd like to shut Floyd up, of course," he said on the call. "I know Manny will knock him out, and the whole world would be happy."

My take: don't think for a second that because Pacquiao comes off as an almost angelic figure, always benevolent and beaming, that he's not capable of posturing for leverage. If part of him does think that Mayweather in fact wants to take him down, and hasn't deliberately shot down a fight with his ultra-stringent testing demands, then he'd be smart to send signals to Mayweather that he doesn't crave a battle. A l'il reverse psychology, right? I still haven't determined, and I don't know anyone who has outside of Floyd's inner circle, what his deal is, if he is truly confident of his ability to better Manny, or if his unease with Pacquiao's skill set has lead him to sabotage a showdown..Manny wouldn't publicly declare without reservation that he thinks Floyd fears him, or for whatever reason doesn't want the fight. Like a skilled politician, he said for whatever reason, Floyd doesn't seem like he wants to fight Pacquiao right now. Unlike a politician, he turned down a chance to score a point when he took the high road, and said he was not "angry" at Floyd for insinuating PED usage, but rather was "disappointed." Gosh, Manny is a skilled pol..is there any doubt he's ready for Congress??

The issue of testing..surprise, surprise...popped up. Arum continued to hammer home the point, which I fully embrace, that no fighter should be attempting to co-opt the system, and make unilateral demands above and beyond what the state commissions are adhering too. He likened Mayweather's demands to a situation where the New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez strikes out against a certain Red Sox hurler a bunch of times, and then demands the pitcher be tested for PEDs. No, not a perfect analogy, because Floyd hasn't been whupped by Manny. He's making the demand and muddying the waters with insinuations before he's thrown down. But I'm in Arum's camp on this matter... "It causes chaos," Arum said. "No one has anything against random testing (or non-invasive urinalysis)." But, he continued, why hasn't Golden Boy been similarly stringent in regards to Roy Jones, who has tested positive for steroids ten years ago, and why hasn't Mayweather been as vocal against known PED user Shane Mosley? Because, he suspects, Mayweather may well not want the Pacquiao fight, and he used the is-Manny-dirty ploy to try and get into Manny's mind. If we do get the bout, what happens, Bob? "Manny-Mayweather is a no contest," Arum said. "Pacquiao would wipe the ring of him."

Along those same lines, one reporter asked Manny why he wouldn't accept Floyd's testing parameters, so he could clear his name. This reporter, I think, as a veteran, should know better. Unless Manny were tested on a daily basis, for three months before a bout, until right after the bout, then even if he tested clean, there would still be those who wouldn't be convinced that his rise from 106 to 147 pounds wasn't aided by PED use. If Floyd tells Manny to jump through 100 hoops, and he does so, there will be folks who won't be satisfied until he jumps through 101.

Arum brought up a couple megamatches that didn't come off, even though it looked like they were a given, or were delayed: Bowe-Lewis; Tyson-Foreman; and Tyson-Holyfield. The 78-year-old dealmaker has a most healthy take on the matter: "These things happen." Or...they don't...and the world will keep turning regardless. And compelling matches will continue to get made. But Arum sounded beyond stubborn when he said that no fighter of his, under his watch, would get pushed around at the negotiating table around the issue of PED testing. "Mayweather," he said, "was totally out of line in making demands."

Let's bottom line it, Bob: will Pacquiao-Mayweather happen? Only, the promoter said, if Team Mayweather softens their stance, and trusts in the testing protocols of the commissions.

As of today, February 25, I do not see that happening, people. What about you? Weigh in!

Source: thesweetscience.com

***

Joshua Clottey in 'Best Shape' of His Career For Manny Pacquiao -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

A native of Ghana who is preparing for a March 13 challenge for the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) crown held by seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs), of the Philippines, Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 knockouts), of The Bronx, N.Y., spoke to FanHouse on Friday from his sleeping quarters near his training facility at Fort Lauderdale's Contender Gym in Fla.

This is the second of four diaries translated from Clottey that appearing regularly on FanHouse as the 32-year-old fighter enters the most lucrative and biggest fight of his career.

Joshua Clottey wept, openly, earlier this month when a work Visa to the U.S. was denied to his preferred chief second, Godwin Nii Dzanie Kotey.

Kotey is perceived by many in their native Ghana as legendary and a father figure, having been the trainer for former welterweight star, Ike Quartey, of Ghana. Kotey was to be in Clottey's corner for the first time against Manny Pacquiao.

Kotey's presence was sought after Clottey had split with Kwame Asante in a reported disagreement over money -- this after Asante had served as Clottey's chief second for June's 12-round split-decision loss to then-WBO king, Miguel Cotto.

But now, with the biggest fight of his life on the horizon, Clottey was trainer-less.

Enter Lenny DeJesus (pictured above, left, with Clottey), a man Clottey had known of prior to employing DeJeus as the cutman for the Cotto fight.

A resident of the Bronx, the 32-year-old Clottey had seen DeJesus working with other fighters at the John's Gym, a venue he, himself, frequents that is located not too far from Yankees Stadium.

"I knew of DeJeus, but I didn't talk to him. Vinnie introduced me to him," said Clottey, referring to his manager, Vinnie Scolpino. "So he was used as a cut man in my fight with Miguel Cotto because he's been around for a long time. He seemed like a good choice."

Clottey said that DeJesus turned out to be even more of an asset during the fight with Cotto,

"When he was my cut man against Miguel Cotto, he pushed me. He sort of wakes you up, tells me some good things. We established a good relationship during the Cotto fight, so I chose him" to be primary trainer for the Pacquiao fight, said Clottey. "It was an easy transition. He motivates you."

Another advantage, said Clottey, is the fact that DeJesus knows a little bit about Pacquiao, having worked as the Filipino superstar's cut man throughout much the early part of his career.

DeJesus was last in Pacquiao's corner for the latter's March, 2005 loss to Erik Morales at super featherweight (130 pounds), after which Pacquiao won his next 11 bouts, eight of them by knockout.

A southpaw, Pacquiao has gotten more-and-more powerful as his weight has risen, having stopped his past four opponents, David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and, Miguel Cotto, respectively, while weighing 134, 142, 138, and, 144 pounds.

"Does DeJesus know a little bit about Manny Pacquiao? Yes," said Scolpino. "But we also know that Manny Pacquiao is a different fighter now than he once was. We're prepared, but we're preparing for the Manny Pacquiao of today."

Clottey said that his respect for Pacquiao's power is among the reasons he will dethrone him.

"I have more confidence this time around because I'm taking this fight like if I win, I have bigger things ahead. I have so much respect for Manny, so that gives me more confidence because I respect the guy," said Clottey. "I respect the guy because, if he has the chance, he can stop me. So I respect him because of that, and because of that, I'm more confident."

Conversely, said Clottey, it was his lack of respect for Cotto that led to his demise.

"When I went to fight Cotto, I knew, within me, or at least my thinking was, 'I could beat Cotto because I knew Cotto had not faced a guy like me before.' That was my thinking," said Clottey.

"I didn't respect him like he was going to cause any damage," said Clottey. "So, compared to that, I respect this guy, Manny Pacquiao, because he's stopped a lot of good guys. So, I'm giving him respect, and the respect will carry me through the fight."

Clottey, who weighed out at 154 pounds on Thursday, claims to be in the best shape of his life, and punching with more power than ever.

"We're two weeks from the fight, and that's where I want to be right now. I don't want to come down too much or too fast from sparring because that might hurt you," said Clottey.

"I eat a lot of chicken and a lot of fish. It's African food. I don't eat any other meat," said Clottey. "Sometimes, I have salads -- things that make me strong and to wake up in the morning and go jogging, or which can make me go to the gym and work out. I drink a lot of water and I'm very strong in the gym at work."

In photos, the challenger (pictured above) appears to have a more muscular upper body than ever.

"This is the best shape that I've ever been in. Because, I know that I've got a really tough fight with Manny, Pacquiao. All that you've seen from my photos is from the hard work of training," said Clottey, who a week ago, already was sparring 10, four-minute rounds with a 30 second rest in between and little if any fatigue.

"You know, I'm always in shape. I train even when I'm not fighting," said Clottey. "I play soccer. So when I start training, it doesn't take long. After a three weeks or a month, I'm strong."

And that, for Clottey, has meant more energy during sparring sessions, and, throughout his training overall.

"I've been trainig to do what I have to do. When the opening's there, I'm going to find them. When he's running, and he's moving around, I'll be able to cut off the ring," said Clottey. "When he stops running, I'll throw punches. And when I throw a punch, and he's there, I will be able to land it."

There are some who have questioned Pacquiao's ability to rise from one weight class to another with power, believing that he is on steroids or some other performance-enhancing drug.

Clottey, however, said that he is not among those who believes Pacquiao is dirty.

"Manny is a good man. He prays a lot. God gave him his power. He is a great champion, and this is going to be a difficult fight," said Clottey. "However, I have a plan: Hard punching, back him up, don't let him take charge. I will pressure him."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

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I cannot underestimate Clottey, says champion Pacquiao -- Reuters

By Kieran Mulvaney, Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - WBO welterweight title holder Manny Pacquiao, who has won world championships in eight divisions, said he would tread carefully when he faces Ghanaian Joshua Clottey in Dallas on March 13.

"Joshua Clottey is taller and bigger than me," Pacquiao told reporters in a conference call on Friday. "He is a former (IBF) champion. I cannot underestimate him."

Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr, widely regarded as the two best pound-for-pound boxers in the world, had been scheduled to fight on March 13.

However, negotiations collapsed when the Filipino refused Mayweather's demands for Olympic-style dope testing procedures.

Pacquiao filed a lawsuit against Mayweather, the American's father Floyd Sr, his uncle Roger and Golden Boy Promotions for falsely accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs.

"I believe Floyd Mayweather was not ready to fight me," said Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs). "That's why he makes some reasons to cancel the fight.

"I feel bad that he is accusing me of doing drugs, that he tries to ruin my name in boxing. I'm disappointed for what he's accusing me of but I'm not angry at him. That's his style."

After the collapse of the Mayweather fight, Pacquiao turned to Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs).

It is a fight Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach is confident his man will win.

"Clottey's a very strong guy, he's a good puncher," Roach said. "I think his best punch is the uppercut.

"But I have a lot of confidence in my fighter. He's sparring with guys who fight quite a bit like Clottey.

"We have big, strong guys and Manny's handling them with ease. I think we will overwhelm him and I think the fight will end before 12 rounds are over," added Roach.

"I think Manny will be the first to knock him out."

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)

Source: reuters.com

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Of HGH Testing, Blood, Sweat and Fears -- FanHouse

By David Whitley, FanHouse

Aren't NFL players supposed to be some of the biggest, baddest dudes on the planet? They're now fainting at the sight of their own blood.

Not the sight, exactly. The mere thought of giving blood has players jumping up on kitchen tables like housewives (or husbands) who've just seen a mouse.

Eeeeek!

To be fair, what really scares them isn't the mouse. It's the mouse carrying an HGH testing kit.

The league wants to start checking for Human Growth Hormone. Until Monday, that seemed pointless since the tests seemed as legit as Vince McMahon's biceps. Then a British rugby player became the first pro athlete to test positive for HGH.

It was one small step for British rugby. One giant leap for catching cheats.

Just don't tell that to the NFL Players Association.

"At this point, there's no reason to believe that blood-testing for NFL players will or should be implemented," George Atallah, the union's assistant executive director for external affairs, told the Washington Post. "We should instead focus on preserving the drug-testing policy we now have in place."

No reason?

How about players saying 20-to-30 percent of the league is HGH doping? How about the fact even baseball is suddenly getting serious about HGH testing? How about a jaded public believing every pro athlete is guilty until proven innocent?

Wouldn't players want to do everything possible to show they're clean?

Not if it means giving a teaspoon of blood, which is currently required to detect HGH. Considering the average NFL lineman is now the size of a beluga whale, you'd think they could spare it.

But critics have always said blood-testing is too "invasive." This from people who routinely parade around naked in locker rooms while TV cameras roll.

I don't like having blood drawn any more than the next wimp. But I'd do it if I were succeeding thanks to talent and hard work, and my competition were succeeding thanks to a good pharmacist.

Just look the other way when they stick the needle in, guys. The players' union would rather just look the other way. Period.

It's standard operating procedure. Unions don't want to give up any of their membership's rights. Baseball did such a fine job of it that Chico Escuela almost hit 60 home runs one season.

Now even the Selig Circus seems to be getting it. Baseball said it hopes to implement HGH testing in the minor leagues this season. The players' union didn't react with its usual Sky-is-Falling shrieks, though it remains skeptical about the test.

That's not without reason. The International Olympic Committee has been testing athletes since 2004. In 900 tests heading into the Vancouver Games, no one has failed. If you believe the Olympics are that clean, I have an Iraqi bobsled gold medal to sell you.

Everything changed this week when the United Kingdom Anti-Doping Agency suspended Terry Newton for two years. Proponents say that proves testing has advanced to where the bad guys should be worried.

The NFLPAs of the world say it proves nothing, and that the test is still too unreliable and easy to beat.

Fine, beat it.

Not just football players, but baseball, basketball, hockey players and boxers. A test doesn't have to be infallible to be useful.

Manny Pacquiao dodged his mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather because he didn't want to give blood. Pacquiao preferred urine testing, but that excuse/defense won't last forever.

Urine tests for HGH may not be far away. You'll know they're here when unions start saying that peeing in a cup is too "invasive." Until then, there's another reason athletes should be subjected to blood testing.

You can store the samples and test them as science improves. Wouldn't you love to have a teaspoon of Barry Bonds' blood from 2001?

He fancied himself as big and bad as any NFL player. But something tells me Bonds wouldn't have been any more willing to give blood then than they are now.

And it's not because they're scared of needles. They're scared of what would be in them.

Source: nfl.fanhouse.com

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