arlington, texas
— It's Manny Pacquiao's crowd, and Joshua Clottey knows it.
As a chorus of "Manny!" chants rushed the Cowboys Stadium outdoor stage where the two fighters weighed in Friday (Clottey at the limit 147 pounds, and Pacquiao at 145 3/4 pounds) for Saturday night's WBO welterweight title fight, challenger Clottey briefly mouthed "Manny!" himself.
It's public gatherings like this that Pacquiao will repeat starting later this month as he campaigns for a May 20 congressional election in his native Philippines.
"He thrives on the chaos, he loves the followers, having people around him all the time," said Pacquiao's boxer friend Brian Viloria. "When it comes to the fight, he understands how important that is."
But Clottey's confidence is interesting. A Clottey cornerman told Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach on stage that, "If our two corners were fighting, we'd kick your [rear]." When Pacquiao stepped a bit too close to the edge of the stage, Clottey's beefy cook, known as "Alligator," playfully acted as if he'd provide a little shove to ensure Pacquiao would fall off.
"Good to go!" Clottey trainer Lenny DeJesus said after the Friday weigh-in. "We're right where we want to be."
When Clottey was seen working feverishly Thursday, jumping rope and spending time in the hotel's fitness center, there were whispers that perhaps he was overweight. Not true, says DeJesus, who expects to send a fighter weighing close to 160 pounds into the ring.
"We wanted him to eat [Friday] – salmon, provides lots of energy," DeJesus said.
"I feel so good," Clottey said onstage. "I know Manny's a good fighter, but I'm ready for him. I'll be more strong than in any other fight. I've never trained so hard."
Pacquiao ate breakfast Friday too, then packed on a big late lunch of beef, pork and rice.
He'll be smaller than Clottey, but his massive popularity fits the stadium. "I'm not going to promise you a knockout, but I'll do my best to make the people happy," Pacquiao told the crowd.
"[Clottey's] not going to be able to take the fight," Pacquiao said.
lance.pugmire@latimes.com
Copyright © 2010, The Los Angeles Times
Source: latimes.com
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