Size not such a big edge for Clottey -- Dallas Morning News

By BARRY HORN, The Dallas Morning News

ARLINGTON – Joshua Clottey is bigger and stronger than Manny Pacquiao. He won his first minor 147-pound title back in 1999 when Pacquaio was still a 122-pounder dabbling in the super bantamweight division. Clottey won the IBF welterweight title in 2008, a year before Pacquaio beefed up to win his WBO 147-pound crown.

Still, not many give Clottey, a plodding fighter with a chin of stone who has never been knocked down, much of a chance against Pacquaio, who has relied on speed and furious combinations in growing himself into the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

Pacquiao will be the prohibitive favorite tonight when the two enter the ring for the first major boxing match inside Cowboys Stadium.

That's because Pacquiao has made a living moving up in weight to fight bigger, stronger men. The favorite son of the Philippines, who fights left-handed, has retired his last four opponents in brutal knockout fashion. Pacquiao (50-3-2 with 38 knockouts) has won his last 11 fights.

And then there is this: A giant payday awaits Pacquiao when his promoter and Floyd Mayweather's promoter can agree to terms. He could earn three or four times the $8 million he should make against Clottey.

Why would Pacquiao and his handlers risk that treasure for relative chump change? Undoubtedly, the reasoning goes, they know that Clottey, whose take will be $1.5 million, will be theirs for the taking.

But in boxing, just as in all sports, you never can be certain. Ask Buster Douglas, who entered the ring a 42-to-1 underdog to Mike Tyson in 1990 and emerged the heavyweight champion of the world.

Clottey, a native of Ghana who fights out of the Bronx, has lost only three times in 38 fights. Once he was disqualified for head-butting, once he broke his hand in mid-fight, and in his last bout back in June, he lost his chance to win the WBO welterweight title from Miguel Cotto by split decision when he inexplicably stopped fighting hard in the late rounds. Cotto then lost the title to Pacquiao in November.

The 5-9 Clottey weighed in Friday at 147 pounds. Pacquiao, 5-51/2, weighed in at 145 ¾ . By fight time, Clottey is expected to hydrate and beef up to as much as 155 pounds. Pacquiao should remain the same weight.

"I am bigger than him," Clottey said after a training session this week. "I have every advantage on him ... and I know how to fight southpaws. I know what he is going to do. He's going to throw a lot of punches."

And batters knew Nolan Ryan was going to throw fastballs.

Although he is primarily a counterpuncher, Clottey, 32, moves forward in the ring. Pacquiao, 31, will rely on hand speed, quick feet and finding odd angles to make sure he does not remain a stationary target. Neither Pacquiao nor his trainer, Freddie Roach, was eager to share their game plan this week.

"We will try our best to give people a good fight and make them happy," said Pacquiao, who is expected to be a heavy crowd favorite.

COWBOYS STADIUM FIGHT SCHEDULE
PAY-PER-VIEW FIGHTS

10 rounds, middleweights –John Duddy, New York (28-1, 18 KOs) vs. Michael Medina, Monterrey, Mexico (22-1-2, 17 KOs)

10 rounds, welterweights –Jose Luis Castillo, Sonora, Mexico (60-9-1, 52 KOs) vs. Alfonso Gomez (21-4-2), Guadalajara, Mexico

12 rounds, WBC lightweight championship –Humberto Soto, Los Mochis, Mexico (50-7-2, 32 KOs) vs. David Diaz, Chicago (35-2-1, 17 KOs)

12 rounds, world welterweight championship –Manny Pacquiao, General Santos, Philippines (50-3-2, 38 KOs) vs. Joshua Clottey, Accra, Ghana (35-3-0, 21 KOs)

EARLY FIGHTS (NOT ON PPV)

Eight rounds, featherweights –Salvador Sanchez, Mexico (18-3-2, 8 KOs) vs. Jaime Villa, Midland (8-7-2, 3 KOs)

Eight rounds, featherweights –Michael Farenas, Gubat, Philippines (26-2-3, 23 KOs) vs. Joe Morales, San Antonio (20-13, 4 KOs)

Six rounds, super bantamweights –Roberto Marroquin, Dallas (12-0, 9 KOs) vs. Samuel Sanchez, Dallas (4-1-1, 0 KOs)

Note: Order of early fights to be determined

bhorn@dallasnews.com

Source: dallasnews.com

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Doors of world's greatest stadium open on Manny Pacquiao v Joshua Clottey -- Telegraph

By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk

When the 80ft pairs of glass doors of the Dallas Cowboys Stadium slowly eased their way open for the arrival of Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey for a windswept weigh-in – the event which has become known officially as ‘The Super Brawl’ truly came alive. Thousands of specatators had gathered on the quad outside this great temple to sport, built at a cost of $1.2 billion dollars. It is staggering in its detail, its levels, and its finishing. It is both gaudy and classy, all at once. The 70ft screens in the arena – they have to be seen to be believed, and are in High Definition – have been lowered by some distance on giant pulleys, and now hover like floating craft above the ring.

Their proximity to the ring enables them to dwarf the taught canvas and ropes where the brutal dance will be enacted in just over 24 hours. The fight is a sell-out. The anticipated chatter has begun. Pacquiao weighed in last.

145 and three quarter pounds. Clottey dead on 147. There is speculation that the African fighter, naturally the bigger man, may be as much as 20lbs heavier when they collide in the ring. Pacquiao will have to throw and run, and plans to trap Clottey, who will unleash upper cuts that may be dangerous for the Filipino who holds the WBO welterweight crown.

The giant canvas of the Cowboys stadium would befit a classic fight. The venue’s 45,000 seats have sold out, Jerry Jones announced through promoter Bob Arum that ‘party tickets’ would be on sale at $35 dollars, which means standing tickets around the flat bowl tiers of this great expanse to sport. Another 10,000 may now come.

No wonder they called it ‘The Event’. And little wonder that Arum, once more, has proven that he is a promotional genius.

Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk

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Pacquiao looks to knock out Clottey -- AFP

By Greg Heakes, AFP

DALLAS, Texas — Manny Pacquiao says he is hopeful of a knockout against challenger Joshua Clottey as both weighed in Friday for their world championship welterweight fight at 1.2 billion-dollar Cowboys Stadium.

The weigh in for Saturday's World Boxing Organization title fight took place outdoors at the north end of the huge facility on a makeshift stage surrounded by hundreds of fans who were kept behind barriers.

"I am not going to promise you a knockout, but I will do my best," Pacquiao told the crowd. "We have a strategy that we created in our training so people are going to be surprised."

The 31-year-old champion Pacquiao, who has won 11 consecutive fights since losing to Erik Morales in March 2005, weighed in wearing grey and blue boxer shorts and white socks as he tipped the scales at 145 pounds.

Ghana's Clottey, whose only career losses have been to three world champions, weighed in at 147 pounds.

Both fighters appeared relaxed at the weigh-in and when Clottey tried to engage Pacquiao in a staredown, the Filipino boxer just looked down and laughed and then joked with members of Clottey's camp.

Pacquiao, who will be fighting in front of the largest crowd of his career, told the throng outside Cowboys Stadium that he is hopeful of a knockout.

Pacquiao also talked about his plans after the fight in which, win or lose, he will host a bash and sing with a band.

"After the fight we will have a party," Pacquiao said.

Clottey's trainer Lenny DeJesus said his fighter should reach about 160 pounds by the time he steps in the ring, giving him a possible 10-pound weight advantage over Pacquiao, who won his first title at the 112-pound flyweight class.

"I will be the stronger than any fight before," underdog Clottey said. "I am ready."

Promoters are expecting a crowd of about 45,000 for the first fight card in the new stadium, which opened last year. The stadium is the home of American football's Dallas Cowboys and has been modified to suit a boxing ring which is dwarfed by the size of the venue.

Fighters' images will be shown on a 72-foot tall, 40 million-dollar high-definition jumbo telescreen, making it possible for those in the nosebleed seats to see what is going on in the ring.

Pacquiao (50-3-2, 28 KOs) has looked unstoppable in his last three fights and he isn't showing any signs of losing power as he fights bigger and stronger opponents.

His plan is to wear down the 32-year-old Clottey on Saturday so he can finish him off in the later rounds.

"He is the greatest fighter of his era," said Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach. "He has seven world championships. When people say who is the next Manny Pacquiao from the Philippines that is a lot of pressure to put on somebody.

"You might have a couple more champions from the Philippines but you are not going to get another guy that's going to win seven world titles in our lifetime. He is a 'once in a lifetime' deal."

Clottey's only losses have been to world champions -- Miguel Cotto in June 2009 by a close decision, disgraced boxer Antonio Margarito in 2006 and Carlos Baldomir by a controversial disqualification in 1999.

Margarito, who was caught using illegal hand wraps under his gloves for a fight against Cotto, also attended the weigh-in, as did actor Robert Duvall, who joined the two on the main stage.

The fight will start about 10:15 pm Dallas time (0415 GMT) and organizers expect it to be shown live to 80 million homes worldwide.

The undercard features David Diaz fighting Humberto Soto for the vacant World Boxing Council lightweight title.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.

Source: google.com

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Manny Pacquiao, Joshua Clottey both make weight in Arlington -- Las Vegas Sun

By Brett Okamoto, Las Vegas Sun

ARLINGTON, Texas — As expected, there was a mixture of Manny Pacquiao fans, Joshua Clottey fans and Dallas Cowboys fans at Friday's weigh-in for the first fight in the team's $1.2 billion structure.

And as expected, the Pacquiao fans made the most noise.

"Who all out there are Dallas Cowboys fans? What about Joshua Clottey fans?" asked former Dallas Cowboys safety Darren Woodson to a lukewarm response.

"What about Manny Pacquiao fans?" he finished as the crowd erupted.

A large audience gathered outside of the east end of the stadium where the weigh-in was held to get a final glimpse of the fighters before they take the ring Saturday in a welterweight championship bout.

Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO), who set boxing history by winning a world title in his seventh weight class with a TKO win over Miguel Cotto in November, was the lighter fighter, weighing in just less than 146 pounds.

Clottey (35-3, 20 KO), who is coming off a split decision loss to Cotto in June, weighed in at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was on-stage throughout the proceedings and promised he would do his best to make sure his site would host more boxing events in the future — something he's been hinting at all week.

"On behalf of myself, the Cowboys and this stadium I thank you and (Top Rank promoter) Bob Arum for being here," Jones said. "Hopefully this is one of many boxing events here at Dallas Cowboys Stadium."

A short promotional video was shown on numerous screens set up on the outside of the stadium, highlighting some of the fighters' previous bouts.

Footage of the left hook Pacquiao used to knock out Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in May brought out the loudest response from the crowd.

The two fighters were respectful toward one another and even laughed and turned away while giving media photographers the traditional stare-down pose.

"I feel good, I'm very conditioned for this fight," Clottey said. "I know Manny is a great fighter and I'm ready for him. I'm ready to show the world how good I am."

Pacquiao closed the weigh-in by thanking his fans and, although not guaranteeing a knockout, promised he would do his best to not let them down.

"I'll do my best for them," Pacquiao said. "I'm not going to promise a knockout, but I'll do my best to make them happy and not be disappointed tomorrow night. We have created a strategy, and people will be surprised tomorrow."

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com. Also follow him on twitter: LVSunFighting.

Source: lasvegassun.com

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Pacquiao plans to head off any butts in this fight -- Los Angeles Times

By Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times

From Arlington, Texas

The best strategy for challenger Joshua Clottey in his fight against Manny Pacquiao may be to use his head.

Not his brain, his head.

There is a history here, and the Pacquiao camp is aware. Their fighter is so heavily favored that some odds on Pacquiao winning have been as high as 15-2. There has been more discussion about where the fight is taking place — massive Cowboys Stadium in front of 45,000 people — than how it will turn out. To most, it's a foregone conclusion.

Still, Pacquiao and his people know that danger lurks in any ring battle, no matter the odds. They know that, in this one, Clottey's forehead may be as dangerous as his fists.

"We're not going to fight him in the box, straight on, where his head can get at Manny," says Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, of the Saturday night match.

The memory of Clottey's fight last June 13 against Miguel Cotto in Madison Square Garden remains vivid to all in boxing.

In the third round, Cotto and Clottey banged heads and Cotto was cut over his left eye. The remainder of the fight was a struggle in Cotto's corner to stop the blood flow, and it wasn't until the last two rounds that Cotto seemed to recover enough to chase down Clottey and score enough points to escape with a split decision.

In November 1999 in London, a then-unbeaten Clottey fought Carlos Baldomir of Argentina. Ahead on all three judges' cards, Clottey was penalized two points in the 10th round for what was termed an "intentional head butt" that opened a cut over Baldomir's left eye. In the 11th, Clottey was warned again about leading with his head, and when he did it one more time, the referee stopped it and gave Baldomir the fight on a disqualification.

The rules state that if a fighter is cut by a head butt, but is deemed by medical personnel to be able to continue, then there is no recourse for the wounded fighter, other than disqualification for repeated offenses, as happened in the Baldomir fight. With Cotto, there were no further detected head butts, so he had to fight his way back through it.

The exception occurs if the head butt happens in the first four rounds and the wounded fighter is judged to be unable to go on. Then they go to the scorecards to get the winner.

The head-butting issue is especially significant in this fight because Pacquiao has a history of not doing well when cut.

"He freaks out a little bit," Roach says.

Pacquiao has lost only three fights on the way to his current 50-3-2 record and status as the best boxer in the world. One loss occurred March 19, 2005, when Erik Morales cut him over the right eye — ruled a cut by punch, not head butt — and Pacquiao lost a unanimous decision.

"I couldn't see out of one eye, and it was very hard," Pacquiao said then.

He went on to avenge that loss by knocking out Morales twice.

Interestingly, the cut man in Pacquiao's corner Saturday night will be Miguel Diaz, whom Roach calls "the best in the business."

There is some history there too.

In May 2004, Pacquiao, still a little-known boxer on the rise, took on Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas. In the first round, Pacquiao nearly destroyed Marquez, knocking him down three times. The third time, Marquez barely made it to his feet in time, but his nose, clearly broken, was a bloody mess.

In his corner, veteran trainer Nacho Berenstein struggled to stop the bleeding in Marquez's nose. Sitting nearby at ringside, having worked an undercard fight, was Diaz, who saw the problem, knew how to help and went to Berenstein's aide, despite some resistance from security guards. He wasn't allowed in the ring, but he handed Berenstein the extra medical tools needed. Marquez went back out for the second round, survived, and Diaz did the same thing for Berenstein in the corner after the round.

Somehow, with the blood stopped just enough for him to be effective, Marquez turned the fight around enough to get a draw from the judges, one of whom had not realized he could have scored Pacquiao's three knockdowns in the first as a 10-6 round, rather than the 10-7 he made it.

Saturday night, Diaz will be on Pacquiao's side, just in case Clottey uses his head too much.

"I told Manny," Roach says, "that he's got the best cut man in the world in his corner. I told him not to worry."

bill.dwyre@latimes.com

Source: latimes.com

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Pacquiao and Clottey meet on the star -- The Associated Press

By TIM DAHLBERG, The Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas — The phenomenon that is Manny Pacquiao grew with a series of wins against some of the biggest names around. Now he has a fight to win against a guy who has nothing to lose.

It wasn't supposed to be that way, but things rarely turn out as planned in boxing. Instead of fighting in one of the biggest bouts ever against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Pacquiao will have to settle for fighting in one of the biggest stadiums ever.

The opponent is Joshua Clottey, and he's what the wise guys in Las Vegas would call a live dog. A talented boxer who has never been stopped and briefly held a piece of the welterweight title, he brings some credentials of his own into Saturday night's 147-pound fight at Cowboy Stadium.

But while he may be fighting on the star, there's only one star in this show. Little guys aren't supposed to fill big stadiums, yet some 45,000 fans are expected to be on hand to watch Pacquiao up close and personal — and on the huge overhead video screens that will show every drop of sweat and blood.

"The best fighter I've ever seen," said promoter Bob Arum, who includes Muhammad Ali in that group. "No one has ever punched with equal power from both hands like Manny."

Arum has a financial interest in saying that, of course, but there are few in boxing who would argue that Pacquiao is a talent unlike any the sport has seen in recent years. He's coming off a stoppage of Miguel Cotto that cemented his credentials at 147 pounds, and he has created a buzz about boxing the sport desperately needed.

Twelve years ago he won his first title at 112 pounds. Now he's a champion in seven weight classes who will make at least $12 million in a gleaming new stadium far from the bright lights of Las Vegas.

Just as importantly, Pacquiao's doing it without Mayweather, now a bitter rival after talks for their megafight collapsed over Mayweather's insistence on blood testing — and what Pacquiao believes was the inference he bulked up on performance-enhancing drugs.

"Some fighters like me, we can be the greatest fighters without fast words and trash talk," Pacquiao said. "His (Mayweather's) style is talking a lot of trash and it is not a good example for everybody."

Pacquiao is a 5-1 favorite in the scheduled 12-round fight (HBO pay-per-view beginning at 9 p.m. EST) which is expected to sell out a stadium scaled down for boxing.

Pacquiao weighed in at 145 3/4 pounds for the fight while Clottey weighed in at 147 pounds on Friday.

The odds are probably more lopsided than the talent differential between the two fighters, but it takes long odds to get anyone to bet against Pacquiao these days.

He was already a well-respected fighter when he began his current streak by stopping Oscar De La Hoya and forcing him into retirement. He followed that with a knockout of Ricky Hatton before stopping Cotto in November.

Now he plans to add Clottey to his list of victims, and then take some time out to run for congress in his native Philippines. Mayweather could await in September, assuming Pacquiao wins and Mayweather beats Shane Mosley on May 1, but Pacquiao has also hinted it may be time to hang the gloves up after fighting as a pro for 15 years.

"This is my last fight before the election," he said. "I am not saying I'm going to retire. It is hard to say right now when I'm going to retire, but this is my last fight before the election and I'm very excited about that."

Clottey, a native of Ghana who lives in New York City, was picked as an opponent largely on the basis of his fight last June against Cotto. Most believe he was winning that bout before inexplicably backing off in the last few rounds. He throws a lot of punches and has a strong chin, but his style of standing in front of an opponent seems perfectly suited to Pacquiao's frenetic pace of punching.

"He is what he is. Let's face it. He fights the same way in every tape I watch," said Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach. "Whether he fights southpaws or right-handers, he is predictable. He's good at what he does, but he does the same thing over and over again and he is very predictable. He's going to try to change for this fight, but once he gets in he will revert back to it."

Clottey (35-3) faces the additional challenge of fighting without his usual trainer, whose visa issues kept him out of the country. But he's quietly confident he can rise to the occasion, hoping to use his excellent defense to thwart Pacquiao.

"It's the key to the fight because he throws a thousand punches," Clottey said. "Everybody that he's fought, when he throws a thousand punches, they've all landed. When I'm blocking mine, I'm going to see how he's going to think."

If Pacquiao wasn't enough to sell this promotion, Arum and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones have combined to promote the $1.2 billion stadium as an attraction of its own. Boxing has been done in stadiums over the years, of course, but this may be the first time even those in the cheap ($50) seats will have a good view of the action.

Jones wanted to host a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, and was bitterly disappointed when it couldn't be made. But his investment in this fight could have a big payoff for future fights.

"It didn't take me long to make my mind up that somehow, some way, we wanted to have Manny fighting here," Jones said. "I made my mind up in building this stadium I was not going to be associated with anything but the best."

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Source: google.com

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Like Super Bowl, Pacquiao Fight Has Global Reach -- DallasCowboys.com

By Rob Phillips, DallasCowboys.com

ARLINGTON, Texas - Forty-four years ago, Bob Arum promoted Muhammad Ali-Cleveland Williams in the brand new Houston Astrodome - a structure vast and extravagant enough to greet the Greatest of All Time.

"That building just blew me away," Arum, the legendary Top Rank promoter, said. "I'd never seen anything like it before in my life. The suites, the amenities, there was nothing like it anyplace in the world."

Until now, he says, having returned to Texas for another mega-fight in another revolutionary venue: Cowboys Stadium.

"It's the most phenomenal building that I've ever been in," Arum said. "Words can't describe it. You've got to see it in person."

Some 45,000 will pack it Saturday night for "The Event:" Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey for the WBO welterweight championship. It's arguably the stadium's largest international sporting event yet until Super Bowl XLV arrives next February.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones dreams about his team playing for the Lombardi Trophy in its home arena. To that end, the franchise is discussing ways to improve the roster through free agency and the upcoming NFL Draft this month.

This week, Cowboys Stadium is boxing's premier destination. Pacquiao, a proud Philippines native, is the main draw. He's the welterweight champ and the only man in history to hold titles in seven weight divisions. What he lacks in size and bravado compared to Ali, he compensates with historical career accolades and global earning power.

Jones envisioned more than a football home when designing Cowboys Stadium. Championship boxing was one of many prospective events. The stadium's 60-yard, center-hung digital video board ensures a quality vantage point for every fan - a unique feature that makes a 45,000-seat boxing capacity feasible.

"I'm really curious, I'm really anxious and excited about seeing how that setup shows a fight, especially one of this magnitude," Jones said. "I saw (Pacquiao) work out. It's going to be a good test for my screen to see if it can capture those fists. He's fast."

Jones and Arum both said they're not looking past Saturday's fight yet, but both would like to continue bringing big bouts to the area.

"If this is as good as it has been for some of the other events - basketball for instance - if this gets to that level, which I have every reason to think it will be, then I think we're really on to something as to how to present boxing," Jones said. "We know that we have the location to attract large crowds for boxing."

Source: dallascowboys.com

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Weights from Arlington: Pacquiao 145 3/4, Clottey 147 -- Bad Left Hook

Bad Left Hook

Manny Pacquiao came in at a career-high weigh-in of 145 3/4 pounds and Joshua Clottey at the 147-pound limit for tomorrow night's WBA welterweight title fight in Arlington at Cowboys Stadium.

Pacquiao, it must be said, did not look as ripped or cut as he did before his November fight with Miguel Cotto, or really before any of his recent fights. That may mean nothing at all, which is likely, but it could be worth something. We'll find out tomorrow. Clottey looked like he always does, in fantastic shape.

First up on the scales were lightweights Humberto Soto and David Diaz, who will be in the main co-feature tomorrow night. Diaz came in at 134, followed by Soto at 134 1/4. They meet for the vacant WBC lightweight title, which Diaz held before losing it to Pacquiao in 2008.

The PPV opener will be Jose Luis Castillo and Alfonso Gomez in welterweight action. Castillo came in at 144, Gomez at 145. Castillo being three pounds under a weight limit is craziness. John Duddy and Michael "Murder Man" Medina made weight for their middleweight bout.

For those who haven't seen the building setup yet, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated Tweeted this photo earlier.

Some notes:

•Robert Duvall was there!
•Darren Woodson was a co-host! He was all like, "Where my Cowboy fans at?! Where are my Joshua Clottey fans at?! How 'bout Manny Pacquiao?" Predictably, Clottey's reaction was a distant third. Then Woodson's bit was cut way short.

•Bob Arum all but guaranteed 1 million U.S. PPV buys.

Source: badlefthook.com

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Hatt’s off to Ricky if he quits -- The Sun

By FRANK WARREN, The Sun

THERE were strong rumours this week that Ricky Hatton is set to retire - let's hope for his health they are true.

He later distanced himself from comments he would quit the ring and pulled the plug on a proposed comeback against Juan Manuel Marquez.

But he is said to be 4st over his fighting weight, looking dreadful in training, and quit camp after just 10 days to go on a stag do in Tenerife.

It doesn't sound like he's got the eye of the tiger - mind you those Tiger Beers aren't bad!

I wrote a couple of weeks ago that Hatton is so out of shape I'd be surprised if he fought this year.

His trainer Lee Beard recently quit to work with Joan Guzman. That indicates where he thinks Hatton's future lies.

He will leave quite a legacy though as one of the better, most exciting fighters to have come out of Britain in the last 10 years, and a great ticket seller.

But I don't think he made full use of his talent, and let himself down by failing to look after himself outside the ring.

His two losses were against P4P greats Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Yes, he wasn't good enough but he would have stood more of a chance if he'd lived the life.

Hatton's greatest moment came in his last fight for me - his stoppage of Kostya Tszyu to win the IBF light-welterweight title. After that he was a major star but never quite the same fighter.

Now he is forging a career as a promoter. He'll find it's not as easy as it looks and is often a very expensive exercise.

For up to date boxing new and reviews please visit www.frankwarren.tv

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VITALI KLITSCHKO now defends his world title against limited Pole Albert Sosnowski.

That's hardly a fight to get excited about - but it could have an impact on David Haye as Nikolai Valuev declined the clash, allowing Sosnowski to get a shot.

That could mean the giant Russian's promoters will look to use one of the options they have over Haye to force a rematch. Great news for insomniacs.

Source: thesun.co.uk

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Khan: Drug talk is rubbish -- The Sun

By PAT SHEEHAN, The Sun

AMIR KHAN has hit back for the first time at drug slurs that have engulfed the Los Angeles gym where he trains and roared: I am clean.

The WBA light-welterweight champion defends his title on May 15 against New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi in Madison Square Garden.

Khan, 23, will prepare, as usual, at his trainer Freddie Roach's Wild Card gym in LA, alongside Filipino fight legend Manny Pacquiao.

Malignaggi, 29, has admitted to suspicions about the use of performance-enhancing drugs as Pacman moved from flyweight to welterweight, winning seven world titles along the way.

The controversy flared, though, when Pacquiao refused enhanced drug testing ahead of his proposed fight against Floyd Mayweather Jnr. The bout was called off.

Khan does the same training and drinks the same vitamin supplements as Pacquiao.

And before heading for America, he said: "I train with Manny and keep up with him and everything he does. I do as much or more. Does that mean I'm on drugs?

"We love working hard and only a few fighters work like we do. We put ourselves in the uncomfortable zone. A lot of fighters don't like to go there.

"To talk about drugs is rubbish. Malignaggi just wants to build up publicity for himself.

"Any time they want to do a drugs test on me, I'll put my hand up to prove I'm clean.I'm a natural athlete - like Manny."

Malignaggi has since declared both Khan and Pacquiao are clean. But the Bolton star reckons an apology is in order.

He added: "It's not so much he should apologise to me, it's more to the trainers and for disrespecting Manny. I'll make him feel sorry on May 15."

Sheffield welterweight KELL BROOK, 23, moved closer to his world title dream by stopping Poland's Krzysztof Bienias in six rounds last night to win the WBO intercontinental title.

Source: thesun.co.uk

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