By GIL LeBRETON, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
ARLINGTON -- Say this for Manny Pacquiao: He can really work a room.
Even a room, as it turns out, with a six-figure monthly light bill.
For challenger Joshua Clottey, the odds were long and his opportunities were destined to be tellingly slim.
With the partisan roar of 50,994 ringing in his ears, Pacquiao took advantage of all of that Saturday night. On opening night for big-time boxing at the Cowboys Stadium, he stole the show.
Clottey came armed with size and a dream. But in the end, he probably took no better than No. 3 billing on this historic night for boxing in North Texas.
The second-biggest story had to be the venue, a cozy little room with 72-foot TV screens and seemingly about 50,000 of Manny's closest friends.
The giant video board, so applauded by the football crowds, was a much-needed crutch Saturday night.
True, there was atmosphere aplenty. We'll even excuse the interlude during an undercard bout when the crowd started doing The Wave.
There's no Wave in boxing, people. Some occasional bleeding, maybe, but no Wave.
For so many seated on the stadium floor, however, the boxing ring itself seemed like a thin and distant object. The giant video board was hard to see, if you were seated in the shadow of it.
But for sheer panorama and I-was-there value, Jerry Jones' house of punches delivered as promised.
The main event began with the playing of three anthems -- Clottey's native Ghana, the stirring Philippine of Pacquiao's homeland, and the Star-Spangled Banner, sung by three Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in complete skimpy uniform while standing in front of a Marine Color Guard in full-dress uniform. Only in boxing.
Pacquiao entered the ring with his handlers bearing belts. He has a wide collection of them, he was reminding us and Clottey.
Clottey, on the other hand, came dressed sorta like Santa Claus. Red robe, no white beard.
The first punch finally was thrown at 10:48 p.m., Sunday afternoon in the Philippines.
Clottey's strategy, or lack thereof, was apparent quickly. He wears his gloves at his cheeks, a veritable leather helmet. Pacquiao had the will, but struggled to find a way to reach inside.
With chants of "Manny, Manny" in the air, Pacquiao was able to land enough punches to easily win what was an otherwise lackluster first round.
In the second, Clottey finally mustered the will to use his longer reach. But Pacquiao continued to deliver the majority of punches. The same happened in round No. 3, as Pacquiao overcame a left-right combination by Clottey and finished strongly.
Clottey's plan of survival wasn't earning him many fans, including Pacquiao, it seemed. Frustrated by seeing Clottey peek from between his gloves, Manny delivered a quick, two-handed slap to both of his opponent's ears -- boxing his ears, as it were.
It drew a warning from the referee, as did a low blow by Pacquiao in the eighth.
But he continued to force the action, press the issue and steal the show.
Finally, in the fifth round Clottey seemed intent on making something happen. His long right snapped Manny back briefly, but he quickly went back on the defense.
Close rounds followed, as Pacquiao's frustration seemed to mount. But he was clearly ahead on this night.
The elephant not in the room, of course, was the guy who could have been in the ring with Pacquiao, had $25 million been deemed enough. The dream fight of Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will have to wait for another day, if not another location.
Gil LeBreton, 817-390-7760
glebreton@star-telegram.com
Source: star-telegram.com
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