Seven-division boxing champion and current pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao defends his WBO welterweight title against Ghana’s Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the mammoth Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
After superbly finishing the previous year with sensational knockout victories over England’s Ricky Hatton and Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto, the 31-yr old Filipino ring icon (50-3-2, 38 KOs) is going to be in the position to add another feather to his already well-adorned cap by becoming the first boxer to stop the durable former IBF welterweight champion Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs).
I sought the opinions of some boxing experts for their prediction on the 147-pound matchup. Check out what they had to say.
Adam Pollack, Cyber Boxing Zone
Much tougher fight for Pac than folks may realize. Clottey has an iron jaw, solid punch, is a true physically strong welterweight, comes forward the entire fight, and will fight right up to the final bell. He beat the hell out of Corrales and gave Margarito a very tough time of it. That said, I think Josh loses a decision to Pacquiao because Pacman is so much faster, has enough in and out footwork that he can build up points and win rounds. Even though Pac will have some trouble with Clottey's strengths, overall, Clottey does not exert enough fast pressure or nonstop punching to really get the job done. Still, this is no easy walk in the park and will be Pacquiao's toughest fight at welterweight. Clottey is actually the sturdiest welter Pacquiao has yet faced, despite his lack of marquee value name. He isn't going to fall apart as the rounds progress like the others did. So Pacquaio had better be in good shape to go 12 solid rounds.
Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times
Pacquiao… I think the Vegas book already has him close to 5-1.
Geoff Poundes, Ringside Report
Pacquiao, narrowly on points. I actually think Clottey will give him one of his toughest nights, but that Manny will be just marginally too quick for him.
Mark Whicker, Orange County Register
Pacquiao, knockout, 9th.
Graham Houston, FightWriter
Pacquiao by decision or even a late-rounds TKO.
Frank Lotierzo, The Sweet Science
Pacquiao by decision.
Amy Green, BoxingInLasVegas
Pacquiao defeats Clottey by unanimous decision.
Tony Nobbs, Eastside Boxing
Pacquaio wins by decision or late TKO.
Matthew Goldstein, Boxing Talk
I like Clottey by UD. Pacquiao has never faced a big, skilled welterweight who can box. Clottey might be one of the best boxers in the world. For the money, I'm betting Clottey at +350.
Chris Ackerman, Doghouse Boxing
It's pretty hard to go against Pacquiao these days... continuing to go after these bigger welters means at some point he will bite off more than he can chew from a pure size standpoint. Where's the limit? Imagine Manny in there against Paul Williams. For now, it's all about the speed so I will go with Pacman.
Michael Rosenthal, Ring Magazine
Pacquiao by middle-round KO if Clottey fights him; one-sided decision if he retreats..
TP Walker, Eastside Boxing
After watching the sensational job that Pac did against Hatton, ODLH and Cotto it is hard to argue that he isn't a legitimate welter. Did he demand certain things that gave him advantages in each fight? Sure but that's the game. Against ODLH he demanded the fight at 147, a weight Oscar hadn't boxed at in a long time. Against Cotto he demanded a catch weight something that I believe depleted Cotto a little. Would the result have been the same if Cotto didn't have to cut the extra weight? Who knows but it is a reality. Having said that Joshua is about as tough as they come and I have been a fan of his for years. Clottey will give him hell but I think Manny wins.
Ramon Aranda, 411mania
Gotta go with Manny via decision. Clottey is like a brick wall and I don't envision him going anywhere. In fact, he'll be in Pacquiao's face but the speed advantage that Pacquiao will have is going to be the deciding factor in this fight. Clottey is game but will be outworked over 12 rounds.
Brandon Estrict, Doghouse Boxing
Pacquiao will be way too much. If I had to bet on KO or decision, I'd say the decision is the safe pick. Manny may be able to get him out of there late though.
Tony Penecale Jr, Fight News Unlimited
I am picking Pacquiao to win by unanimous decision or possibly late-round stoppage. Clottey is a very tough and durable fighter with good skills. But Pacquiao's speed will be the difference. Clottey has a chance due to his physical style and solid chin.
Jim Amato, DM Boxing
Although I feel Clottey will be the strongest opponent Manny has ever met. I look for Manny to outbox him and win a comfortable decision.
Springs Toledo, The Sweet Science
Pacquiao's style, specifically his speed, angles, precision and power is a foil for Clottey. Clottey's style has been described as negative. He throws relatively few punches behind a wall designed to make things difficult for his opponent. The problem is that he will be under constant siege here. Pacquiao will find holes. If Clottey opens up, he will be found and nailed. Picture a man hiding behind a shield facing three archers in range; that is the position Clottey will be in against Pacquiao unless he has a sound strategy. He's never been stopped but his odd tendency to look for a way out may force one. Roach will be wary of Clottey's head and the potential for butts so he will have Pacquiao fighting at angles , stepping in and out at both sides, and punching and sliding as Clottey moves in. Watch for Pacquiao's hooks sneaking in around Clottey's guard. However, Clottey has a chance. He is physically far stronger than Pacquiao and if he can rally himself to fight aggressively, move the smaller man off balance and fight rough, he can cut him as he has several others and/or take over. Pacquiao can get upset in there and Clottey is good at creating frustration. I see Pacquiao beginning well with the Roach plan described above, but Clottey will make things rough, butt him, and temporarily take him out of his game. It will get dangerous. Pacquiao will have to be calmed down by Roach and will either stop Clottey late or take a decision.
Ronan Keenan, The Sweet Science
Pacquiao by wide points victory - too fast for methodical, but resilient Ghanaian.
Don Stewart, Reading Eagle
This could potentially spoil our hopes at a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight as I feel Clottey has an excellent chance to pull the upset, especially if Manny is looking too far ahead. Either way, I expect a very tough, brutal fight. It won't be easy for him, but I see Manny pulling out a close decision.
Michel Joseph, Boxing Talk
Pacquiao wins this fight, the only intriguing question is whether or not he can take Clottey out, or whether or not he has to fight for 12 rounds. Pacquiao is the superior athlete, and the superior fighter in every way - what Clottey brings to the table is a great chin, and sheer toughness. If Pacquiao needed 12 rounds to take Cotto out, facing a fighter who has a better chin than Cotto and who's roughly the same size doesn't help his chances of scoring a knockout. The call here is Pacquiao by unanimous decision, and if he can get Clottey out of there, than that's a feather in his cap - I should state here I wouldn't be surprised if he does, given his ability to exceed expectations now in almost every fight he's had for the last two to three years.
Paul H. Burbridge, Eastside Boxing
I’ve written about this fight (Pacquiao vs Clottey: Set Up OR Sacrificial Lamb?) and think it offers some interesting possibilities early. I just think that Manny has too much of everything for Joshua. Clottey is a good fighter but Manny is a great fighter and the only thing that could tip the scale is if Manny fights below his capacity which I don’t think is possible at this point. I made this statement in my recent article on this fight but the old timers have a saying for fighters like Clottey, “he fights just hard enough to lose!” There’s a lot I like about Joshua as a person but there’s not much I like about him as a fighter. When the best thing that people can say about you is that you have a good defense then there’s a problem. What people are really saying is that you only have 1 of the 2 required elements to be a level 1 successful boxer. He simply doesn’t let his hands go enough and his stamina is questionable. Pacquiao has it all and the only way he loses is if he gets careless.
Manny by UD!
David Greisman, BoxingScene
Clottey can't be discounted. He's a tough out for any welterweight. But I learned long ago not to pick against Pacquiao. Some things are just meant to be.
Igor Frank, Burbank Times
Clottey presents a very formidable challenge to pound for pound king, Manny Pacquiao. He is a very strong welterweight, fast, durable with excellent boxing skills and he has the ability to hurt Pacquiao. Clottey has a high guard defense which is hard to penetrate and he has never been hurt in a fight; Cotto has dropped him with a jab, but it was an off-balance knockdown. However, Clottey lacks killer instinct - evidenced in the bout with Cotto which he had won but allowed it to slip away in the final rounds - and he is not busy enough to outpoint the champion. Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, feels that they should have no problems with the high guard defense. So unless Clottey knocks out the champion, which is highly unlikely, I predict that Pacquiao will win a twelve round unanimous decision by wide margins.
Charles White, Eastside Boxing
Pacquiao by UD, possibly SD. Clottey, while a good fighter, is simply too mechanical and slow to beat Pacquiao in my humble opinion. He also tends to not be active enough in fights, and that simply won't work against a very active fighter like Pacquiao.
Vikram Birring, Doghouse Boxing
Pacquiao will beat up Clottey and stop him. I believe this because Pacquiao's confidence is at an all time high. Clottey has a chance but he does not throw enough and sometimes gives up on himself like the end of the Cotto fight. He had the fight won but stopped throwing punches the last two questions.
- My gratitude extends to all the above experts for sharing their thoughts - Marshall N. B., marx7204@lycos.com
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