Pacquiao agrees to fight Clottey
by Scott Christ on Jan 8, 2010 5:28 PM EST
in Boxing News Analysis
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ESPN.com is reporting that Manny Pacquiao has formally agreed to a March 13 fight with Joshua Clottey. As of the last report, Clottey was on his way back to the United States. He had been vacationing in his native Ghana when this all came up quite suddenly yesterday, and there's a question of whether or not he's up to date on the events at hand.
Top Rank has spoken with Vinny Scolpino, Clottey's manager, about the fight. I'd have to guess that with Top Rank promoting both fighters, Clottey's past willingness to fight top fighters, and the fact that he turned down a weak January 16 fight because he was unhappy with the money (of which there will be no shortage for him here), Clottey will agree. If this fight is truly Top Rank's priority, you'd have to be almost 100% certain that it will happen.
Clottey has been inactive since a debated June 13 decision loss to Miguel Cotto. He was then slated to fight Shane Mosley on December 26, but HBO pulled the plug on that in order to budget in a December 5 fight between Kelly Pavlik and Paul Williams, which fell through. Clottey was also set to fight on that card against former welterweight titlist Carlos Quintana, which was canceled by Top Rank when Pavlik pulled out of the 12/5 card. There was talk of moving Mosley-Clottey to January, too, but when Clottey took the Quintana bout, Mosley and Golden Boy set up a bout with Andre Berto for January 30.
Top Rank had him set up for a fight with Michel Rosales on January 16, and Clottey balked, and in a lot of ways rightfully so. He deserves much bigger fights than that.
And fights don't get any bigger than having one against Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Whatever you might think of That Other Fight seemingly falling apart, Pacquiao-Clottey would present a whole new challenge for Manny. Clottey is a rock-solid welterweight who has never been stopped, and I don't even recall off the top of my head ever thinking he seemed particularly hurt. He's faced a lot of different styles and done pretty well against them all, from the tall and powerful Antonio Margario to the cunning and savvy Miguel Cotto to fast southpaw Zab Judah. None of those guys are Manny Pacquiao, but Manny Pacquiao's never faced a guy quite like Clottey, either, whose defense can be impenetrable at times. Not exactly the loose counter-punching of Juan Manuel Marquez or the bull-forward style of Ricky Hatton.
Styles make fights, and they might make this one a hell of an interesting battle.
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I'm fascinated by the style matchup
in this fight. but also by their different physical gifts and features. This would be a damn good fight.
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
Hmmm....
Good fight. Interesting fight. Too bad it’s going to happen in the wake of a colossal fuck up. I’m not a fan boy of either Pac or Floyd but I’d much rather watch this fight than any non threat Floyd might step in with.
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
Its a cracking fight
But it stinks. The fight with Floyd is clearly there to be made, but for some reason Arum and/or Pacquiao don’t want it.
"I don't like him. He talks too much" Muhammad Ali on George Foreman
by Oli Goldstein on Jan 8, 2010 5:46 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Tough, tough
fght. He wins this and then fights and defeats Mosley, nobody has anything to complain about. …
And then, maybe that 20-40 million payday with young Floyd will loom again.
Anyway, it’s the right thing to do, taking a tough fight. Let’s see the Jr. counter.
It can't be Maglinaggi, it just can't be.
Outboxing the undersized Baby Bull is one thing but stepping in as a replacement fighter for one of the two best in the world is quite another. Paulie has no business is the ring with Mayweather and Floyd should be ashamed if that’s the route he chooses. Cotto might be a nice option for ’ol Floyd if he had the balls.
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
Zero chance on Cotto
Miguel just took a bad loss in the ring and a worse one outside with his dad passing away. There was talk he might return in June on the Puerto Rican Day show he usually does, but now that might not happen either. He’s also a Top Rank fighter, so even if Miguel was chipper as the day is long, it won’t happen. Mayweather isn’t getting anyone from Top Rank.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
Kermit Cintron? Luis Collazo? Really scraping the bottom of the barrel here. Maybe he’ll fight Tim Bradley.
I guess the “No Top Rank” rule would cross off Yuri Foreman too.
Yeah, I just thought about Cintron
and Collazo too. Floyd would UD both of them but at least they aint Paulie.
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
Paulie, and I’m guessing he’s the leading candidate if they plan to fight in March, but if they hold off, the Mosley-Berto winner is there and that’s a totally acceptable fight. If you operate under the idea that Paul Williams can still make 147 (I don’t), or that Mayweather would fight him at 154 (I don’t see it), then there’s Paul Williams, and frankly Floyd would earn some major points fighting Tall Paul. That’s a huge risk. Tim Bradley still wants to fight either of them. Uh … he could rematch Marquez on May 1?
I think there’s a good chance they wait until July and fight the Mosley-Berto winner. Something seems slightly fishy about a few things overall here. In particular, Mayweather supposedly had March 13 locked in at the MGM Grand and was going to fight. Now Pacquiao is going to fight March 13 after all the talk was they’d hold him until March 20. What happened?
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
Now Pacquiao is going to fight March 13 after all the talk was they’d hold him until March 20. What happened?
You don’t think bringing a better fight to the Thomas and Mack on the same day is a way to stick it to Floyd? Not that that’s Arum’s plan, as he apparently wanted Foreman and Freddie turned it down. But you don’t think the Vegas double booking is intentional?
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jan 8, 2010 6:11 PM EST up reply actions
Of course it’s intentional, but I also wonder if Floyd really intended to fight on 3/13 at all. That was never what he wanted. He wanted May.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
oh okay. I misunderstood what you thought was fishy.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jan 8, 2010 6:20 PM EST up reply actions
I hear Top Rank is still telling everyone that Pac-Clottey will be at Cowboys Stadium
And that Arum intends to fill up the seats by putting Margarito’s return on the undercard.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
jesus christ
He’s so incredibly delusional about Antonio Margarito’s star power.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
There are a lot of Mexicans in Texas
He could probably sell out the stadium if he’s charging about the same for the cheap seats as he’s charging for the PPV.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
baod
representin la raza in tejas
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Jan 9, 2010 1:22 AM EST up reply actions
I know it’s Texas, but it’s hard for me to believe that Margarito helps fill that stadium with real fight fans.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jan 8, 2010 6:19 PM EST up reply actions
You don't need a stadium full of Real Fight Fans (tm).
You need a screaming horde 80,000 strong who want blood.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
Margs stinks like three day old dogmeat these days. His credibility is beyond shot, and he looked like burnt toast without his bricked up gloves
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
That said
It wouldn’t exactly shock me if Arum tries like hell to sell him on Mexican cards. I think he a much harder sell in the states , even to Mex-Americans. Not that that’ll stop Arum from trying, either. Hopefully the commishes will put the kaybosh on the whole thing and just deny his application.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
Do you think that
Jr. would want to fight Mosley?
by Don From Prov on Jan 8, 2010 6:28 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t think he’s got enough credible options to say no, unless he wants to wait until the fall for Pacquiao, and I don’t see Floyd wanting to take a year off to fight Manny.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
I would actually consider buying this PPV. It’s really a pretty good matchup.
There’s just no way in hell Manny can KO Clottey. (Right?) He should still win this, but he needs to do it with his workrate, just like Margarito and Cotto did. (And watch out for those head butts!)
"There's just no way in hell Manny can KO Clottey". -
you sound like me in the pre-bout talk before the last three future hall of famers he crushed.
"Yes Gina, I am a Wise Cracker"
I don’t think he can knock him out, but I think he can earn a referee’s stoppage. If Clottey goes into a shell and Pacquiao unloads, a referee might look at that and step in if the guard is being broken down, especially if it happens repeatedly. Pacquiao would have such an enormous advantage in speed that I think that’s perhaps his best bet, to force Clottey into a hyper-defensive mode and just pour on the offense. Clottey’s biggest flaw is that he sometimes doesn’t throw enough and gives away rounds. Pacquiao is so aggressive that a referee could be swayed pretty easily.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
by Scott Christ on Jan 8, 2010 6:05 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
pretty much
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
Yeah that’s exactly what I was thinking. To neutralize that possibility, Josh would have to fight a Judah sort of fight, against a guy who is two or three times the fighter that Zab is. I mean, I don’t necessarily see a hugely controversial stoppage, but one where his head pops up a couple of times, he hasn’t thrown anything in a year and Pacquiao is just machine-gunning him.
Great fight to make. Good to see that Clottey is still getting big dates, because he is a top shelf fighter.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
That is good to see.
Incidentally, I think that also means he can’t really complain anymore (or at least not too much) about the way Top Rank has handled his career. They certainly could have done a much better job over the years, but still. He’s fought Cotto. He’s fought Margarito. He’s fighting Pacquiao. He would have fought Mosley if not for HBO’s screw-up – and who knows, that fight could come around again. What big name fighters hasn’t he fought? Mayweather, I guess. But no one has fought Mayweather.
OMG HEY MAN COTTO KNOCKED DOWN CLOTTEY WITH A JAB!!!!
pacquiao >>>>>>>>>>>>> cotto = clottey so the math seems to indicate that pacquiao KOs clottey!
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Jan 9, 2010 1:24 AM EST up reply actions
The math isn’t that simple though. This is a serious fight, just as Pacquiao-Cotto was a serious, well contested fight. I think the style match of Clottey is more favorable then Cotto’s was. Doesn’t mean I think he’ll win, but this is a good mesh. Josh doesn’t want to go down as a “good loser,” and he’s got a style that I think is at least a difficult problem for Pacquaio.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
I don't think he was being particularly serious
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 9, 2010 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
yeah i wasn’t being serious. this is going to be a VERY tough fight for pacman, but once he does eventually win it’ll only cement his legacy even more (obv not as much as a PBF fight would, but still).
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Jan 9, 2010 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
(obv not as much as a PBF fight would, but still).
I don’t know about that. Taking on a real welterweight is just a different kind of jewel in the crown to me. Means he didn’t just capture a division, but is actually defending it against real and appropriate challengers. That’s something I’d like to see more of.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
I kinda think this will be a stinker
I think Clottey is going to avoid Manny and play defense. I can’t get excited for this yet, even if I thought it was going to be epic
This could look more like Clottey-Corrales or Clottey-Judah
Both of which were a bit more exciting. He seems to open up a bit when his opponent comes in more wide open.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
He might, but Pac. doesn't do boring fights.
In Bayless I trust.
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><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
Pacquiao-Barrera II was pretty dull, but the blame there is mostly on Barrera.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
I stand corrected.
In Bayless I trust.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
Foreman will get his big fight eventually
Arum’s got a bunch of top welterweights under his control. Eventually someone will want to move up and fight for that title.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Then again
I thought the same thing when he signed Humberto Soto, and Soto still hasn’t gotten his big fight.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
They’ve talked Foreman-Cotto for this year, and Cotto has said he’d definitely consider it. I think that’s a crap matchup for Cotto.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
You know, I’m not sure if you are trying to be funny or not, but without a title on the line Foreman would be a guy that a lot of managers would want to steer away from, particularly if they are guarding some precious “O.” But now that he has the title, he’s going to get a lot of phone calls.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
it's a site joke
Don’t take it seriously. I don’t blame Manny for not wanting that fight any more than I’d blame him for not wanting to fight Kelly Pavlik.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
by Scott Christ on Jan 8, 2010 6:52 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
That pretty much says it all.
It’s not like it would be suicide, but you’re ceding control of the field when you surrender those types of physical advantages to your opponent at the outset.
Winning without terrain can be tough. Not impossible, but tough. Just ask the Persians at Thermopylae.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
I'm willing to bet
that there is _no_way Floyd wants a 147lb. Williams (if one still exists), but now he might be forced to fight someone real. This whole scenario could end up being better than what we were getting in March if it eventually leads back to Manny/Floyd.
Pac Vs Clottey
It’s a shame that the Pac Vs Mayweather fight didn’t happen , but at Least Pac’s taking on a decent opponent.
Which is more than has been rumored for Mayweather's designs.
Eventually he’s going to have to fight some tough opponents in succession.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
Goosen still
insists that P-Will can make 147, theres no belt on the line with PBF, make it for 150, Floyd prolly comes in at 153 anyway, who needs to honor a contract. Clottey-Pac is one tough fight,..for both. Heard that HBO is not interested in Klit-Chambers, due to the march 20 date. Peace!!
that kinda stinks
Wlad-Chambers is one of the few fights at heavy I have any interest in. I’m 97% sure Wlad steamrolls him, but Eddie looked better than ever against Povetkin and Wlad will be coming off of shoulder surgery.
If HBO does pass I bet ESPN Classic grabs it.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
Eddie was awful against Povetkin..
Don’t you mean Dimitrenko? The judge that scored that as a draw was pretty much as bad as the guy who scored Williams 119-110 against Martinez.
"I don't like him. He talks too much" Muhammad Ali on George Foreman
by Oli Goldstein on Jan 9, 2010 6:33 AM EST up reply actions
er, yes, Dimitrenko
Duhr. Eddie gave away the Povetkin fight.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
Somebody
better grab it, I actually think Eddie surprises a lot of people here, I’m not pickin’ him to win but I think he gives a good account of himself. He has shown a willingness to fight other contenders, Povetkin, Peter, Kirilenko, the kid is tryin’ to learn his craft, not bluff his way to a title shot. He should be better prepared than all of the more recent challengers to either Klits title. Good luck to him, respect. Peace!!
not bluff his way to a title shot/blockquote>
You’re obviously talking about David Haye, no? Heheh. =)
Klitscko-Chambers and Pacquiao-Clottey on the same card would be amazing!
Okay, there's no edit function...
… not bluff his way to a title shot.
You’re obviously talking about David Haye, no? Heheh. =)
Klitscko-Chambers and Pacquiao-Clottey on the same card would be amazing!
Or Arreola Perhaps
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 9, 2010 1:02 PM EST up reply actions
Actually
I was refering to Kingpin, Arreola, and anyone that hasn’t really tried to learn to be a fighter that actually WINS the title, when they get a shot. Theres No Way anyone can convince me that the way Haye “fought” against Valuev, he was tryin’ to win the title, not with that (non) effort. Amazing that what was once the most coveted prize in sports has been so cheapened, the alphabet titles are partly to blame, but so are the managers and promoters who match these guys to stay unbeaten, and are happy just to get a shot, never mind commiting to a victory. Then take the money and lay around till its gone, then make a “comeback”, vowing its gonna’ be different this time. Pitiful. Peace!!
If Clottey fights his perfect fight (rounds 1-4 of his fight with Margarito, the middle rounds of his fight with Cotto and the final rounds of his fight with Castillo), I still think he has an uphill battle. How many rounds would have have to win to win a decision? 9? 10?
That said, this will be the best defensive fighter Pac has ever fought. Defense may win championships but it doesn’t win boxing matches. Clottey HAS to let his hands go and Manny is a tough guy to pull the trigger against (ask Oscar). I want Josh to win badly but this smells like a 117-111 type win for Manny with Josh just not doing enough.
One final point. Has there ever been a bigger look-past spot in boxing? 2 months to train for a fight against a 3rd-choice opponent with a 40 million dollar payday later in the year still within sight.
I love this fight, I actually wanted to see this fight for a while now , i wonder if Manny Makes Josh fight him at a catch weight, i mean he made cotto do it and they were pretty even in size, Clottey is huge for the weight, cant wait my bday is on the 13 so this is A OK with me, Margarito has my attention in a way a freak show sort of way, im curious to see if this guy was all hype filled plaster fighter, i know its sick but im sure im not alone, and yeah i would buy this on ppv, mayweather’s gotta fight a real threat or he’ll lose any remaining fans he has left.
Catchweight
Whats the catchweight for this fight? Also whats the ring dimensions? This is part of the Freddie Roach game. Get a respected fighter, and put him in an unwinnable situation. I see the ring size being under 18 feet and at least a 145 catchweight.
They’re going to want space with Clottey so I’d imagine they’ll try to get a Nevada standard ring, actually. The catchweight just might not be possible for this fight. Clottey isn’t tall, but he’s bulky as hell and I just don’t see him getting below 147.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
They'll get Laurence Cole as the referee
Who will personally ensure that Clottey doesn’t turn the fight into a foulfest by giving Clottey a big hug each time he gets anywhere near the inside.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
My thinking was to get a small ring to keep Clottey in front of Pac so that Pac can create angles and break down the defense. I mean this can backfire if Clottey makes this fight super ugly fight with dirty tactics. The difficulty in Clottey getting below 147 is precisely the reason why there is going to be a catchweight.
I hope there isn't a catchweight
It would be silly if there was.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Team Pacquiao will try to get a catchweight because the downside to Pac man is minuscule whereas the downside to Clottey is huge. I hope Clottey just says Pac’s doping and he’s just collecting a big paycheck. That would be hilarious (although there is no chance in hell of that happening).
Hilarious
and terrible for the sport.
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 10, 2010 4:07 PM EST up reply actions
Get ready for silly, then
I have a feeling that Josh’s shot here doesn’t com with some price tag. I’m going to guess they’ll ask for 146, which wasn’t a big deal for Cotto but will kind of be hell on Josh. Of course, he could just pay to skip it, like Floyd did against Marquez.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
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