Pacquiao to crack Hollywood with Seagal

Hollywood legend Steven Seagal may be set to work alongside Manny Pacquiao after the pair discussed the possibility of a collaboration at a dinner party hosted by the seven-division world champion and three-time fighter of the year.

A seventh degree black belt, Aikido master and blues musician, the box office action hero had plenty in common with the boxer.

Pacquiaio said: “We had a great time together. The time just flew by.

“We discussed the possibility of working together in movies and making joint concert appearances.

“We also discovered that we share a bond in Asian philosophy and philanthropy. I invited Steven to be with me at Jerry Jones’ Cowboys Stadium on March 13 when I defend my world welterweight title against Joshua Clottey and he accepted.”

Pacquiao was recently awarded the 2009 fighter of the year by the Boxing Writer’s Association of America (BWAA) for the second year in a row.

The 31-year-old will defend his WBO welterweight title defence against Joshua Clottey on March 13.

This fight was arranged following a breakdown of negotiations on the previously scheduled Pacquiao v Mayweather March 13 fight, due to a disagreement over drug testing.

Source: sports.stv.tv

Size doesn’t make Clottey unbreakable

Chris Farina - Top Rank
Being big, strong and durable do not make Joshua Clottey unbreakable.

This is the belief of trainer Freddie Roach, who tries to steer Manny Pacquiao to another victory on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Acknowledging that Clottey could pose problems with his physique, strength and his chin that is said to be made of anvil, Roach said the Ghanaian banger “makes too many fundamental mistakes,” lapses that Pacquiao is sure to take advantage of come fight night.

Speaking to fightnews.com, Roach is confident Pacquiao will become the “first” fighter to knock the African out in their 12-round welterweight match before an expected sellout crowd.

Clottey has fought 38 times and despite losing three times on points, the 32-year-old has never been stopped although he suffered a flash knockdown in the first round against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in June last year.

Pacquiao is in the thick of training at the Wild Card in Hollywood, California, and had logged his 32nd round of sparring Saturday afternoon, racking up four rounds each with Ray Beltran and Mike Dallas Jr.

“There’s not even a small problem as far as Manny’s preparation is concerned,” said the fighter’s Canadian adviser Mike Koncz Sunday after handing the two sparmates their weekly pay.

This early, Team Pacquiao is finalizing the travel arrangements for the trip to Texas.

“Manny said he would like to travel to Dallas after he spars for the last time on the Monday before the fight,” said Koncz.

“I told him that it would be much better if we travel on Sunday, which is his day-off, but he told me it’ll be Monday.”

Pacquiao will likely be billeted at the Gaylord Texan Hotel – the official hotel of the Dallas Cowboys – in the city of Grapevine.

Source: mb.com.ph

Old King Cole may not shove son in as Pacquiao-Clottey referee

It's never too early to agitate for some sort of official selection controversy, be it real or imagined, I always say.

But five weeks out from the March 13 Joshua Clottey-Manny Pacquiao bout at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, I might as well bring up the Laurence Cole situation.

There's a good, some might say excellent chance that Cole might get the nod as the referee in this bout between the Pinoy Idol and the Ghanaian now living in The Bronx.

His father, Dickie Cole, runs the Texas boxing commission.

It's a reminder of when someone asked Muhammad Ali, strident advocate and member of the Nation Of Islam (commonly referred to as the Black Muslims) why he had white man Angelo Dundee as his trainer.

"Because, with Angelo, he gets me the proper affection and connection," Ali replied.

Something along those lines.

Then Ali had a second thought.

"Besides," he said, "Angelo ain't white, he's Italian."

If you're scoring--or just boring--at home, you may want to be reminded that in 2007 when Manny beat up on Jorge Solis in San Antone, Nevada's Vic Drakulich was the referee. Cole The Younger was the ref for Pacman-Barrera back in 2003 in San Antonio, an 11 round stoppage victory for Manny.

Surely, Pere Cole wants his son to be the third man in the Clottey-Pacman bout, the highest profile fight in Texas since 60,000 turned out in San Antonio to watch Julio Cesar Chavez and Pernell Whitaker.

And I will tell you that Cole, while not the greatest referee extant, is more than competent. He can be a bit erratic but can't we all from time to time?

Laurence handled Saturday night's Edwin Valero TKO 9 WBC lightweight title victory over Mexican Antonio DeMarco in Monterey. With the Venezuelan fighting the Mexican, Cole came in as the neutral arbiter and by all accounts did a decent job.

(There was some nice symmetry from judges Marty Denkin, Steve Morrow and Oren Shellenburger, Americans all, who turned in identical 89-81 Valero votes.)

I can only think of two possible twists to Cole The Younger being assigned to ref Joshua against Megamanny.Packy is defending the WBO welterweight title and ref Cole has been closely aligned for many years with the Sulaimans and the WBC.

WBO bossman Paco Valcarcel may want to assign Puerto Rican Luis Pabon or one of his other regular guys to the big bout and Poppa Cole may not want to be seen as pushing his kid into an assignment where they both might get criticized simply for making it a family affair.

Figure on Valacarcel and Dickie Cole working it out amicably or not.

As far as the judges, there should be no problem since neither side expects a Pinoy judge or any from Ghana.

Will the son also rise, as he usually does as the ref in most key Texas main events?

Stay tuned although I can't see it becoming a pressing issue on any side.

Source: examiner.com

Clottey not focused on Pacquiao fight?

DALLAS - Am I confused or is Joshua Clottey having serious problems with everything from possibly losing his trainer to a recent desperation overseas flight home and just today (Saturday) settling into a real training camp just 36 days out from his fight with Manny Pacquiao?

Trainer Godwin Dzainie Kotey isn't being granted a visa from the American Embassy in Accra, Ghana. Vinny Scolpino, Clottey's New York - based manager says a statement will be forthcoming during the week, but as far as training he says everything was just fine and on track.

I don't believe him.

Co-promoter Jerry Jones and company can't afford for Clottey to put forth a half-ass or otherwise distracted effort and have ticket buyers heading for the exits early before making a few runs to the concession stands and soaking up the $1.15 billion Cowboys Stadium experience.

Ultimately, Jones needs the fans to have a great time and want to come back.

Actually all of boxing, including Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Golden Boy Promotions, needs Joshua Clottey to if not win outright, to put on a respectable effort.

I wrote when Clottey was just being considered as the opponent that he was the most dangerous guy out there. I guess that makes me what Michael Marley would call an Everlast Einstein.

http://www.examiner.com/x-11372-Dallas-Boxing-Examiner~y2010m1d8-Any-opponent-for-Manny-except-Zab-Judah-please

I need to start hearing Clottey is using up and running off sparring partners and no media is allowed in the gym because they have a top secret weapon and strategy for Pacquiao and a special punch just for him.

I believed it last month but I don't know if I do today.

I remember last summer Clottey pretty much coasted in the final two rounds against Miguel Cotto when most thought the fight was close and winnable for the Ghanaian.

Now I'm not at all saying Clottey would put up anything but a very polished professional effort, but if Pacquiao senses a weakness he would quickly exploit it.

I'm saying Team Clottey better get its act together because this is Manny Pacquiao and it's the big time.

If Bob Arum or any other big shots have a friend in an American Embassy or Port Authority, now would be the time to call in the favor and pull the trigger and make that call or Clottey is going into training today in Fort Lauderdale, FL at less than full speed and a lack of momentum.

Source: examiner.com

Roach: “Manny [Pacquiao] will be the bigger, stronger guy” [compared to Clottey]

By Dave Lahr: Trainer Freddie Roach made a shocking statement in an article at the Sports Editor, where he said I think when the fight [Pacquiao-Clottey] comes off, Manny will be the bigger, stronger guy.” What does that mean? Is Roach going to put Pacquiao on an extensive lifting and eating regimen so that he ends up bigger than Clottey? I can’t imagine how Pacquiao, with his teeny frame, is going to end up bigger than Clottey.

That just doesn’t make sense. Clottey may not be the tallest of welterweights at only 5’8”, but he tends to struggle to make the 147 pound welterweight limit and he often gains a lot of water weight after he weighs in for his fights. On fight night, my guess is Clottey will likely weigh as much as 160 to 165 for the fight.

If Pacquiao is going to end up being bigger than Clottey, as Roach says, then Manny is going to look like a little tank at only 5’6”. That’s too much weight for Pacquiao to be putting on. He’ll end up slow, lethargic and take way more punishment than he would have otherwise taken if he would come in light for the fight at say 140. Pacquiao doesn’t need to be big to be the likes of Clottey. He wins this fight just by entering the ring and waiting until Clottey tires around the 6th round.

Roach goes on to say the typical Roach-speak, saying “Clottey has a good chin, and he takes a good shot, but he makes too many mistakes. Pacquiao will be the first person to knock Clottey out.” I’m now looking forward to Roach predicting which round Clottey will fall. He’ll start high and then soon have it occurring between the 1st and 3rd rounds unless I miss my guess.

Pacquiao will be making his first defense of his World Boxing Organization welterweight title on March 13th, against the 32-year-old Clottey at the Dallas Cowboy stadium, in Arlington, Texas. Clottey has never been stopped before during his 15-year pro career, but that doesn’t bother Roach. He’s still predicting a knockout. I don’t know why, because I can’t see Pacquiao committing himself enough to get a knockout. I think Clottey can be knocked out, but it would take a sustained effort of Pacquiao standing in front of him and drilling him with shot after shot for that to happen.

With Pacquiao’s in and out style of fighting, he won’t even make a dent on the chin of a sturdy welterweight like Clottey. That kind of in and out type stuff works on fighters who have a lessoned punch resistance and those who have recently been badly beaten in fights. Clottey has a great chin, hasn’t been beaten up recently and won’t be coming into the fight weight drained.

So I think Roach is going to be way off on his prediction. I do think Pacquiao will win, but he’s going to get beaten up in the process of getting the win. I think Pacquiao’s face is going to get cut up, swollen he may end up with another messed up ear from Clottey’s hard left hooks.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Mayweather-Mosley a Little Better Than Pacquiao-Clottey

After taking heavy criticisms for refusing to take on Pacquiao, Li'l Floyd has finally scored some points in the eyes of boxing fans by finally agreeing to fight Sugar Shane Mosley, thus staking his too precious zero-loss record and putting into jeopardy the ultimate fight with Manny Pacquiao.

A loss against Mosley, which a handful boxing afficionados are predicting, might swing the attention of the boxing world to a possible unification Welterweight clash between Pacman and Sugar possibly this July, leaving him in the sidelines perhaps for good. The risk that he has taken, however, has somehow shown that the undefeated five-time champion possesses a semblance of courage afterall.

Considering the gravity of their fight, which has been one of the most anticipated for many years now, Mosley-Mayweather bout might edge out the exhibition match between Pacquiao and Clottey in terms of pay-per-view buys.

The margin will definitely not be that glaring though as the popularity of the Filipino fighter is undoubtedly unmatched not only because of his amazing wins over bigger fighters the past few years but more importantly because of his never-say-die attitude on the ring.

But, of course, the fight that the world is dying to see is still, the recently aborted Pacquiao-Mayweather ultimate showdown. The two scheduled bouts can never replace that one single fight between the top pound-for-pound fighters in the planet.

In fact, include all the scheduled fights this year and altogether, they can never even come close in terms of magnitude, anticipation, significance, and of course, money, to the potential biggest fight of all-time.

Source: bleacherreport.com

Clottey given tips on how to break Pacquiao

FORCE MANNY PACQUIAO to fight inside, wear down his body and keep him on the ropes.

That’s the unsolicited advice Ghanaian Joshua Clottey got from former light middleweight and middleweight champion John David Jackson.

In an interview by Fighthype.com on Thursday, Jackson said “Pacquiao is not a good inside fighter... and he also can’t fight off the ropes. Clottey has to capitalize on that. If he can do that, he can beat him.”

Jackson, now a trainer, is referring to Clottey’s chances of taking away Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight crown which will be at stake when they tangle on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Jackson, who previously took potshots at the Filipino ring icon for not taking on black fighters, added that Clottey also needs to apply constant pressure throughout the 12-round bout to boost his chances.

“Pacquiao has no quit in him and he will fight for three minutes of every round,” said Jackson. “He’s going to fight you, he’s going to bring the fight to you.”

Analyzing Clottey’s past performances, Jackson, however, noted that the Ghanaian seems to be incapable of a relentless attack.

According to Jackson, Clottey “fights in spurts.” That is he can be dominating in one stage and then inexplicably eases up on his opponent.

Still, Jackson believes that if Clottey can use his strengths, and find the right people and the right program, he stands a good chance of unseating Pacquiao as pound-for-pound king.

Source: sports.inquirer.net

Battle plans are drawn for Pacquiao - Clottey

Los Angeles - March 13 creeps slowly upon Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey and the game plans for their battle are being developed.

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Fighting out of the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has hinted at the use of a strategy similar to the one executed in a knock-out victory over Oscar De La Hoya in December, 2008.

On that night, Pacquiao used his amazing speed and power to derail The Golden Boy in eight rounds. The Filipino maneuvered in and out of De La Hoya's punching range, while firing powerful combinations.

“Clottey’s accurate if you stand in front of him,” Roach told AOL Fanhouse. “But we’re going to be in and out and side to side and use our angles on him. He’s not going to be able to catch us.”

As for Clottey, preparing himself in the Bronx, New York without the guidance of regular trainer Godwin Dzaine Kotey due to visa issues in Ghana, has received some special advice from former junior middleweight title holder and trainer John David Jackson.

“Pacquiao is not a good inside fighter... and he also can't fight off the ropes. Clottey has to capitalize on that. If he can do that, he can beat him," said Jackson in a recent interview.

Clottey is known for being able to pressure fighters, and some inside boxing circles believe, like Jackson, that if he is bullied into the ropes by a naturally stronger man, an upset victory could be within his grasp.
Mosley is forgiving of Margarito

I for one believe Antonio Margarito should be banished from the sport for attempting to use plastered hand wraps in his January, 2009 fight with Shane Mosley.

As for Sugar, he is much more forgiving.

"I definitely this he should get his licence," Mosley told The Rumble. "The penalty to disappear should to the trainer."

We can see why Mosley is considered as one of boxing's true nice guys and a class act, through and through.

Margarito is scheduled to return on March 13 against Carson Jones on the under card of Pacquiao - Clottey.

Good Karma for Rigondeaux and Caballero on the way

Cuban super bantamweight had announced he would donate half of his Friday night purse to relief efforts in Haiti and was rewarded by knocking out Adolfo Landeros in 28 seconds with a wicked left-handed body shot.

Rigondeaux improved to five wins (four knock-outs), with no losses and is reported to be headed to an April fight with Panamanian Celestino Caballero (#1 ranked super bantamweight by The Boxing Truth) in April at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Source: examiner.com

‘Royal treatment’ for Pacman

A makeshift gym will be constructed at the basement of the hotel where Manny Pacquiao will be billeted to make sure the Filipino fighter doesn’t miss a single beat in his training for his showdown with Joshua Clottey on March 13.

Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz bared Saturday that the nearest gym to the hotel where Team Pacquiao is going to stay is located 25 miles away and that the boxer has already inquired if it is possible that the gym “fit for a boxing king” be installed in the hotel so he won’t bother to drive for 30 minutes just to train in the final few days leading to the fight.

Pacquiao is expected to arrive in Dallas either on March 7 or 8 and traditionally, the 31-year-old lefty works out until two days before the fight.

Koncz could not name the hotel that has been picked to host the fighters but it is very likely that the Gaylord Texan in the city of Grapevine will be the official hotel.

“It doesn’t make sense for Manny to travel 25 to 30 minutes to the gym so we have found the perfect place for him to train,” said Koncz, noting that the same hotel is even the venue of fight card on the eve of the Pacquiao-Clottey bout.

The 1,500-room Gaylord Texan, located in the city of Grapevine, is home to the Dallas Cowboys, the National Football League team that is owned by oil magnate Jerry Jones.

Jones is joining hands with Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum in staging the Pacquiao-Clottey brawl, the first time boxing is taking place at the $1.2 billion facility.

Koncz reported that “everything is well” over at Pacquiao’s training camp at the Wild Card in Hollywood even in the short absence of chief trainer Freddie Roach, who accompanied one of his rising stars, super-bantam Guillermo Rigondeaux to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“We’ve been on the same road before so the guys know what to do while Freddie is away,” said Koncz.

Pacquiao resumes his thrice-a-week sparring session on Saturday.

So far, Pacquiao has logged 24 rounds of sparring and by the time he leaves for Texas, he would have already chalked up over 100 rounds.

Meanwhile, Team Clottey is leaving New York Saturday as they set up training camp at the Contenders Gym in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“This fight is going to be worth it for the fans,” said Clottey manager Vinny Scolpino.

Source: mb.com.ph

Pacquiao is still human after all

LOS ANGELES, California – With his meteoric rise to the of boxing, one would think that Manny Pacquiao – the reigning pound-for-pound king – has superhuman powers.

His lung capacity is phenomenal.

In a cold Wednesday morning, Pacquiao took the hills of Griffith Park, where the famous Hollywood sign is located

Instead of taking it easy, the Pinoy boxing icon attacked the first two miles of concrete leading to the LA Observatory at a decent time of 18 minutes and seven seconds. (When in peak form Pacquiao’s time is 17:30.

Seven hours later, Pacquiao was at the WildCard Gym pounding coach Freddie Roach’s target mitts for 12 non-stop rounds.

So, how do you explain that a fighter like Pacquiao, who is just 10 days into his preparations for his March 13 title duel against Ghana’s Joshua Clottey, is nearing his peak form?

Roach has the answer.

The four-time trainer of the year winner said that in between all the late nights, partying and campaigning after the Miguel Cotto fight last November, Pacquiao has kept himself in good shape.

"The condition we had for Cotto carried over to this training camp. We didn’t lose the condition for this fight," said Roach as he watched Pacquiao work on the speed ball.
But while almost everyone marveled at the seven-division world champion’s condition, a chink in his armor surfaced.

Thursday was sparring day for Pacquiao and he skipped the morning jog to prepare him for the afternoon sessions.

Pacquiao started the first half of his sparring like a house on fire, displaying his hand and foot speed to a sizeable crowd at the WildCard Gym.

But midway into the session, Pacquiao seemed to have lost a beat or two. Still he managed to finish the eight rounds of sparring.

And in one rare occurrence, I overheard the defending World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion complaining of soreness in his leg and arm muscles to assistant trainer and long-time buddy Buboy Fernandez.

It seems that the intense running, pounding the mitts, hitting the heavy bag and sparring have taken its toll on Pacquiao’s body.

Roach later told me that though he is happy with the pound-for-pound king’s overall condition, he still needs to work on his timing inside the ring.

As good and as great as he is right now, Pacquiao is human after all.

Source: gmanews.tv

Joshua Clottey Trains in Bronx, N.Y.

2/5/10, Bronx, N.Y. -- #1 Contender Joshua Clottey, Ghana stretches as he prepares for his upcoming World Welterweight championship against Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, General Santos City, Philippines. Top Rank's "The Event", will be held on Saturday, March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas,Texas and televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View. -- Photo Credit: Chris Farina - Top Rank.



#1 Contender Joshua Clottey, Ghana prepares for his upcoming World Welterweight championship against Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, General Santos City, Philippines. Top Rank's "The Event", will be held on Saturday,March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas,Texas and televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View. -- Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank.

Pacquiao interested in unification bout against Mosley

By Esteban Garduno: World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is reportedly interested in fighting a unification bout against WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley in July, according to the Manila Times. Pacquiao believes that Mosley will beat Mayweather on May 1st, the Times reports. It’s unknown, however, whether Pacquiao will be interested in fighting a unification bout against Mayweather if he beats Mosley in their fight.

Pacquiao recently failed to negotiate a fight with Mayweather because of random blood tests that Mayweather wanted both fighters to take. Pacquiao was willing to accept the random blood tests, but didn’t want them to take place any nearer than 24 days before the fight because he felt that they might weaken him. Mosley, for his part, has agreed to take the random blood tests and isn’t actively resisting Mayweather with the testing.

Pacquiao thinks that Mosley will be putting a lot of pressure on Mayweather in his fight, saying to the Boxinghistorian “Shane like [me] will force pressure on Floyd for every minute of every round.” This is probably true, but Mosley generally does well against more stationary fighters and struggles against opponents that move a lot around the ring.

Mayweather tends to move a great deal, and Mosley may fight it tough to get his shots in if Mayweather isn’t there for him to hit or grab. The same thing applies for Pacquiao. If you look at his opponents for the past two years, with the exception of Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao has been fed fighters with little movement that come straight at him making it easy for Pacquiao to dominate them with his speed. Pacquiao hasn’t been put in with fighters with good movement like Mayweather, Mosley and Timothy Bradley or ones that throw a lot of punches likes Paul Williams.

Pacquiao will be facing Joshua Clottey on March 13th, a fighter that tailor made for Pacquiao in the same mode as Hatton and Miguel Cotto. It’s a good case of match making by Pacquiao’s promotional company Top Rank and his trainer Freddie Roach. Clottey is a beatable fighter, at 32, who has serious problems with his work rate, stamina and his power. This is a fight that Pacquiao can win at welterweight. I can’t say the same things for Pacquiao’s chances against Mosley, Mayweather and Williams. I think all three of them will beat Pacquiao if given the chance.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Clottey plan ‘will mirror’ De La Hoya fall

TRAINER FREDDIE ROACH says Manny Pacquiao's March 13 match against former world champion Joshua Clottey will bring back memories of the pound-for-pound king’s biggest fight to date.

“It’s going to be very similar (strategy-wise) to the Oscar De La Hoya fight,” Roach told the popular ring website Boxing Fanhouse.

Pacquiao destroyed De La Hoya in eight rounds, forcing the Golden Boy to retirement with a systematic beating made possible by a fight plan anchored on movement—a lot of it.

“Clottey’s accurate if you stand in front of him,” Roach said. “But we’re going to be in and out and side to side and use our angles on him. He’s not going to be able to catch us.”

There were concerns that Pacquiao will have his hands full against the powerful New York-based Ghanaian. And with the bout to be fought at the 147-pound welterweight limit, several observers have noted that Clottey will be the stronger man in the ring.

“I don’t think that that will be the case,” Roach said. “I think when the fight time comes off, Manny will be the bigger, stronger guy because he has the bigger heart.”
Roach has said Pacquiao will knock Clottey out in the late rounds of the fight.

“[Clottey has] a good chin, and he takes a good shot,” Roach explained. “But he ... makes too many mistakes. Pacquiao will be the first person to knock Clottey out.”

Source: sports.inquirer.net

Tourists raid Pacquiao stores before Clottey fight

MANILA, Philippines - If there's anything you can't miss on a trip to General Santos City, it's a visit to boxer Manny Pacquiao's clothing and accessories stores.

This is according to Manila-based and foreign tourists who were seen browsing a Team Pacquiao store for signature jackets and t-shirts that double as tourist souveniers.

General Santos City, located in the southern part of the Philippines, became famous as Pacquiao's hometown more than its booming tuna fishing industry.

The city, located in South Cotabato, is home to many of the Pacquiao family's businesses, including coffee house franchises and boutiques by his wife, Jinkee Pacquiao.

"Ok ang store. [Ang dami ng] pagpipilian. Sinadya talaga namin pumunta dito. (The store is okay. There are lots of things to choose from. We really went out of our way to come here)," said tourist Aida Timbreza.

Team Pacquiao stores, located in both Robinson's Place Mall and the JMP building along Osmeña street in GenSan, are stocked with complete Pacquiao merchandise.

These include new slippers printed with Pacquiao's face, clothes for men and other accessories. Pacquiao, as a brand endorser for Nike, has signature t-shirts, shoes and jackets marked with a special seal.

'Money not an issue'

Dr. Wilma Heramil, who came from a neighboring municipality in South Cotabato called Polomolok, spent more than P5,000 on t-shirts and caps alone.

Heramil told ABS-CBN News that these apparel were specially requested by her relatives in San Diego, California.

"Ipadala ko doon. Gustong gusto nila. Suotin daw nila sa gagawing party. Reason ng gathering nila si Pacman. (I will send it there. They really want it. They will wear these for as party in Pacman's honor)," she said.

Heramil added that her relatives will be wearing these merchandise in time for Pacquiao's March 13 fight against Ghanian boxer Joshua Clottey.

The Team Pacquiao's store supervisor, Rex Aniero, says tourists often flock to the shop every time Pacquiao has an impending fight.

He said items that sell the most are signature items like boxing gloves and Victorinox wristwatches that each cost P30,000--the store's most expensive item.

Aniero said money is not an issue for die-hard Pacquiao fans who come into the store, most of whom are foreigners.

The Victorinox watches have reportedly sold out.

Expecting a new surge of clients in the days leading to the Pacquiao-Clottey match in Texas, Aniero said Team Pacquiao stores will carry special Pacquiao vs. Clottey t-shirts.

He's sure that, just like with other merchandise, these shirts will click with the Filipino boxing champion's fans.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Joshua Clottey Out To Clot Manny Pacquiao's Flow of Success

Nowadays in the boxing world, it seems the name Manny Pacquiao is synonymous to overwhelming success. More often than not, when people talk about boxing they talk about Pacquiao. It's Pacquiao, Pacquiao, and Pacquiao most of the time.

Of course, American boxing star Floyd Mayweather Jr. is also an in demand boxer but that's another story. For now, let us have a closer look at the gladiator who is determined to change this trend after March 13, 2010.

Joshua Clottey (35-3-0-20KO), the rugged warrior from Ghana, is a lot more than what he is given credit for. Some are saying that Clottey will just be an easy prey because he cannot handle Manny's lighting fast combinations. I beg to disagree for he was able to beat Zab Judah who happens to be a speedy fighter also.

I am not saying that Clottey will be able to neutralize Pacquiao's speed. All I am saying is that he definitely has a legitimate chance of successfully dealing with it.

The analogy that since Cotto beat Clottey and Pacquiao beat Cotto means Pacquiao will also beat Clottey is something that I do not totally agree to. Note that Cotto beat Mosley then Margarito beat Cotto but when Mosley and Margarito squared off it was Mosley that made Antonio" The Tijuana Tornado" Margarito stop twirling in nine brutal rounds.

Pacquiao maybe the heavy favorite but anything can happen in this fight.

Everyone expects Pacquiao to display his usual ring brilliance but one of my main concern here is will he train as hard as he would have trained if he was facing Mayweather? I honestly don't think so and this might cause his eventual downfall because I know Clottey will train as if his life depended on it. If Pacquiao will not be ready to rumble for 12 hard rounds then he is in for one hell of a night.

Remember what happened to former Jr. Flyweight Champion Brian "Hawaian Punch" Viloria last January 22, 2010? He clobbered the challenger, Carlos Tamara, until round eight but after that he slowed down and eventually got knocked out in the 12th round. He simply ran out of gas.

Although this scenario is unlikely to happen in Pacquiao's case, since it has already happened then it can very well happen again. Considering that Clottey's latest loss to Cotto was controversial (many experts claim he won that fight) and the fact that he was never knocked out before only strengthens this possibility.

Team Pacquiao better not be complacent in preparing their prized fighter or Joshua Clottey might just clot all your dreams and aspirations.

Source: bleacherreport.com

Clottey told: Exploit Pacquiao's weaknesses

MANILA, Philippines - An inability to fight on the inside and off the ropes could mark Manny Pacquiao's doom in his March 13 slugfest against Ghanian boxer Joshua Clottey, a former boxing champ turned trainer said Friday.

John David Jackson, a former light middleweight and middleweight champion in the late 80’s and early 90’s, said Clottey could win the bout if he tries exploiting some of Pacquiao's weaknesses.

“Pacquiao is not a good inside fighter... and he also can't fight off the ropes. Clottey has to capitalize on that. If he can do that, he can beat him," Jackson told FightHype.com

He, however, said Clottey seems to have a problem with regards to stamina, which could spell trouble when he takes on the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champ.

“He can be dominating and then for some reason, he dies out the second half of the fight. You can't do that against Pacquiao because he's going to fight you for 3 minutes of every round,” said the former boxer.

Jackson is the same trainer who said that Pacquiao has never fought an African-American fighter in his life, therefore questioning the champion’s status as top pound-for-pound.

“It's not a racial thing. I never said anything bad about Manny or any Filipino,” he explained.

“Until he beats a [Floyd] Mayweather or a [Shane] Mosley, then I don't know if he is the top fighter,” Jackson said.

He said that the Mayweather-Mosley fight in May 1 will actually make the task of “being the best” easier for Pacquiao.

Jackson said all the Filipino has to do is beat the winner of the match.

“If he beats that guy convincingly... hey, we can't even argue if he is the pound for pound best. It's automatic.”

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

WILL PACQUIAO’S “GOLDEN” STRATEGY BE SUCCESSFUL AGAINST CLOTTEY?

Once again, Pacquiao is set to face a ‘high risk’ opponent in Joshua Clottey. As expected, he is fully focused on the fight and doing well in training since he had kept himself in shape.
In an interview with Lem Satterfield for Fanhouse.com, Roach showed confidence in his fighter and predicted that Pacquiao will be the first one to knock out Clottey.
In the same article, Roach provided a hint on what strategy might be utilize in the fight against Clottey. Roach alluded that they plan to use angles and movement to confuse the challenger en route to a convincing victory in a fight that might mirror Pacquiao’s fight against Oscar.
Joshua Clottey is a big welterweight with solid skills and might prove to be a tougher challenge for Pacquiao than Oscar based on his youth and size. They are completely different boxers, but both do share similar traits. Much like Oscar, Clottey needs to get his feet set in order to throw punches and that will be difficult when Pacquiao rarely stays in one place and will throw punches in the midst of darting in and out and side to side.
In addition, similarly to Oscar, he has a tendency to be too passive as far as throwing punches is concerned and that can spell disaster against an aggressive and athletic fighter such as Pacquiao. That’s one of the reason that I always thought Pacquiao had a great chance in beating Mayweather Jr.
You cannot rely too much on defense and throw only one or two punches at a time when fighting Pacquiao since he’s not your typical ’slugger’. He’s extremely athletic and his fast twitch muscles allow him to put himself in a great position to throw his patented hooks and straight lefts very quickly. That was one of the main factors in the fight against Cotto. The Puerto Rican found it difficult to time Pacquiao when the latter simultaneously jumped while throwing punches because of the explosive manner that he does it and thus found himself defenseless from Pacquiao’s constant assault.
Also Clottey does not use his height to his advantage most of the time because of his tendency to fight in a crouching position with his head forward. So he will be vulnerable to Pacquiao’s counter punches the same way De La Hoya was.
It looks like Coach Freddie ‘Nostradamus’ Roach might again be proven right as Pacquiao’s seems to be headed to another ‘Golden’ victory. This fight will certainly be entertaining as both fighters are expected to fight, but Clottey’s skills aren’t versatile enough to upset the Pacman unless he tags him with an unexpected power shot. Of course the ‘expected’ doesn’t always happen in boxing, which was the reason most of us still watched Floyd’s fights against low risk opponents and the same reason most of us will watch this one.
Source: boxing.fighthype.com

Clottey deep in training; Pacquiao KO win seen

Vinny Scolpino, manager of Joshua Clottey, assures everyone that the Ghanaian slugger “is not sitting on his ass” as they prepare for the thundering fists of Manny Pacquiao.

Clottey broke camp two weeks ago when he rushed back to the capital of Accra to attend to the visa woes of his long-time trainer Godwin Dzanie Kotey, who was denied a visa renewal by the US Embassy there.

“Joshua’s training hard and everything’s great about his preparation,” Scolpino said Friday from New York, less than six weeks before Pacquiao and Clottey face off at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

While in Ghana, Scolpino said Clottey did not waste time wandering around.

“He trained while he was over there.”

Clottey returned to New York last Tuesday and has since reported for training at the John’s Gym in his new home in the Bronx.

“Joshua’s training hard because he’ll be fighting the best fighter in the world,” said Scolpino, adding that a conditioning coach and a nutritionist will accompany Clottey to a training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this Saturday.

Scolpino politely declined to reveal if Clottey was able to bring in Kotey to the US or is tapping somebody else to call the shots during training.

“Joshua’s coming out with announcement soon,” added Scolpino.

Meanwhile, top orthodontist Ed De La Vega, who customizes Pacquiao’s mouth guard, marveled at the way the Filipino lefty conducted his business during a workout held Wednesday.

“He has not lost a beat,” reported De La Vega from Hollywood. “The speed is amazing and the power is awesome.”

De La Vega noted that Pacquiao sent Freddie Roach’s mitts “flying” and that “I am betting that he (Clottey) will get knocked out for the first time in his career.”

Source: mb.com.ph

Pacquiao deals with disappointment, keeps moving forward

LOS ANGELES - Outside, you could hear a $40 million deal breaking, just beneath the barbed words of Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Inside, Manny Pacquiao's inner rope finally snapped.
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It was a December afternoon, and he broke from his training routine momentarily and began shadowboxing Mayweather.

Then he told trainer Freddie Roach, "This is how I'm going to smash him."

Until then Roach had not heard Pacquiao deliver an unkind word about an opponent in nine years.

The anger passed. So did the opportunity for smashing.

Pacquiao and Mayweather were scheduled to fight on March 13, a moment that would lift boxing past all the March Madness, all the spring training, all the NFL and NBA chatter. Big fights always rise like that, but this one would pervade the world.

It won't happen, because Pacquiao and Mayweather could not agree on the amounts and timing of drug tests.

Pacquiao instead will fight Joshua Clottey on the same day, and Mayweather, in a bit of irony that makes Roach smile, will fight Shane Mosley, who has admitted to using performance-enhancers.

Mayweather signed the contract Wednesday, and full Olympic-style testing is in the deal.

Roach doesn't think Mayweather will climb into that May 1 ring either. Not against the motivated and resourceful Mosley.

"He'll get swine flu or get hurt or something," Roach said.

For Pacquiao, the trick is to swallow that setback and get ready for Clottey, 34, a tough piece of welterweight gristle from Ghana. Clottey has beaten Zab Judah and Diego Corrales, and he lost a split decision to Miguel Cotto last June.

Another distraction is Pacquiao's congressional race in the Phillippines. Election Day is May 10.

But the location of this fight should be a stimulus. Jerry Jones lured the two fighters into Cowboys Stadium, and the first 25,000 tickets disappeared in a hurry. The Jerry-Rigged, gargantuan stadium will be configured to seat about 45,000.

"We respect Clottey, he's a gentleman," Roach said. "But I'm just now learning things about how he fights southpaws. I think we will be the first to knock him out."

Of course, Pacquiao could just pretend he's looking across the ring at Mayweather.

"I understand Floyd," he said the other day, just before a workout at Wild Card Gym. "He just can't say, 'I'm not ready for the fight. I don't want the fight.' He's making alibis to cancel the fight. He's not ready.

"I feel bad, I'm disappointed. I'm not angry toward Floyd, but he's making alibis, and allegations about my name. I deserve for this to be given to me because I sacrifice and train hard and focus for the fight. Going for the allegations about steroids. ... I don't even know what that is."

"He has no history of steroids, no symptoms of steroids," Roach said. "I can't even get him to take protein shakes and vitamins. He's not on steroids. This was Floyd's way out. He got boxed in a little bit. He doesn't fight everybody. He picks and chooses styles. Now I want to see what he does to get out of fighting Mosley."

Pacquiao had agreed to take blood tests up to 24 days before fight night, and immediately after the fight. Mayweather wanted testing up to 14 days before the fight. Pacquiao said he has an aversion to needles, although he has a tattoo on his inner arm.

But Mayweather based his suspicions on the fact that Pacquiao has carried his power through almost 30 pounds of weight gain during his career.

Pacquiao's people immediately pointed out that Mayweather won Golden Gloves titles 19 pounds apart over three years, and that such champions as Henry Armstrong, Ray Robinson, Alexis Arguello and Roberto Duran brought their power up through the weight classes.

Pacquiao is suing Mayweather for defamation of character.

"A lot of people think Manny is on steroids because he's so good," Roach said. "It's the type of society we're in."

The trainer says Pacquiao will be locked in March 13 for various reasons. Pac-Man is studying tape of Clottey, for instance, a habit he picked up after his relatively shabby victory over Juan Manuel Marquez. "Manny used to watch 30 seconds and get bored and go away," Roach said.

Roach also says Pacquiao has told him the Clottey fight could be his finale, a concept that has several different lawyers and promoters reaching for the Prozac.

"I think he could do more as a boxer," Roach said. "But I would love for him to leave. It would be nice. Rarely done, though. When he finds out what those politicians do. ... Everyone loves him now but he might have to make some tough choices. He might not be as popular."

Pacquiao is as opaque as always, when asked about the future.

However, he will pull up a chair when Mosley fights Mayweather.

"I think Mosley will win," he said, his eyes grim and dark. "He's fast. He's a fighter."

Source: ocregister.com

Manny Pacquiao Vs. Joshua Clottey Preview

Pacquiao Vs. Clottey Adds Little Excitement to Welterweight Scene

Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather... that just sizzles on your tongue when you say it! Er... at least it did, a very long two months ago, until some stubborn fools refused to stop pissing in the wind long enough to sign their names on the back of a few $50 million checks. What we're left with for now is Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey on March 13, in a welterweight title fight with Pacquiao's WBO Welterweight Championship on the line.

Pacquiao vs. Clottey Preview

Jim Lampley still said it best years ago, "Manny Pacquiao... IS A STORM!" He's not just some passing buy-an-extra-gallon-of-milk-tropical-storm either, he's a full blown Category 5, only growing in ferocity since ascending the weight classes all the way to welterweight. Truthfully, Manny Pacquiao is a storm that is going to blow the doors off Joshua Clottey's house.

It's not that Joshua Clottey is a bad opponent... he's a fringe top 5 fighter in a stacked welterweight division. It's that Joshua Clottey, whether justly or not, has gained the reputation of being a fighter who can do just enough in the ring to complain about losing a close fight. In other words, he finds a way to forego winning bouts even when it seems he may have, and perhaps should have, been able to.

He let a bloodied Miguel Cotto exert his own championship heart to win the day last June, content to merely ask the referee for more help and moan about the judging afterward. He let a strong early showing slip away against Antonio Margarito in December 2006, although hand injuries were at least partially the culprit.

Pacquiao vs. Clottey Prediction

There will be no early lead to give away against Manny Pacquiao of course. Clottey's best asset in this fight is sheer size. The welterweight (147 lbs) fighter routinely shows up on fight night as a full middleweight, weighing some 160 lbs. His high guard shell defense will offer no respite from Pacquiao's aggression and work rate, although it may allow him to see the final bell. Pacquiao by gaping Unanimous Decision.

Source: associatedcontent.com

Roach: “He’s [Clottey] not going to be able to catch us” [Pacquiao]

By Dave Lahr: Freddie Roach seems to have it all figured out already how his fighter World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is going to be able to beat 32-year-old challenger Joshua Clottey on March 13th in their fight at the Dallas Cowboy stadium. Roach, in an article at Abs-Cbn News and AOL Fanhouse, had this to say about the strategy for fighting Clottey: “Clottey’s accurate if you stand in front of him, but the thing is, we’re going to be in and out and side to side and use our angles on him… It’s going to be very similar to the Oscar de la Hoya fight, I feel.”

This isn’t exactly earth shattering information here. Clottey’s weaknesses are already well known, even by casual boxing fans. There’s no real mystery about what it takes to beat Clottey. You have to use movement against him, get in and get out and make sure you don’t stand in close to him so that he can get his shots off.

Clottey can be beaten even if a fighter does decide to stand and trade with him all night long, as he tends to tire out by the 6th round. However, if Pacquiao were to decide to stand in front of Clottey all night long, he might end up getting a little beaten up by Clottey, because he can punch a little before he typically tires out. But as far as Roach saying that Pacquiao will be going in and out and side to side against Clottey, that’s nothing new either.

That’s like saying the sun will come up tomorrow morning. Come on, Roach, we all know that Pacquiao fights like that all the time. Give us something different that he’s going to do for a change. Pacquiao always uses the in and out style of fighting, and always has. If you look at Pacquiao’s earliest fights of his career, way before Roach began training him, Pacquiao was using the in and out style of fighting even then. So for Roach to say that Pacquiao is going to use that style against Clottey in their fight, it’s not anything new. Yeah, Pacquiao will use the in and out style of fighting and he also be throwing combinations. Thanks for telling me that, Roach.

Roach also has these pearls of wisdom to say about the Pacquiao-Clottey fight: “De la Hoya strategy” to be effective, Pacquiao would again rely on his superior speed.” Oh really? Why did Roach even mention that? Of course, Pacquiao is going to need to use his better speed to beat Clottey, no matter what strategy Pacquiao uses against him. Pacquiao isn’t going to out-slow Clottey into submission.

Pacquiao will do what he always does – throw fast shots. If Pacquiao was to throw slow punches, he’d be asking for it. Pacquiao is good only as long as he has fast hand speed. Once his hand speed goes, Pacquiao will be like a bird without wings. He might be able to beat some guys, but I think he would start getting the stuffing beaten out of him.

Roach also says, “He’s [Clottey] not going to be able to catch us.” I don’t know what Roach means with that comment. Does that mean that Roach is going to have Pacquiao running from Clottey all night long? If so, that doesn’t square with Roach’s comments about Clottey being the more exciting fight compared to a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight because of his ability to mix it up. If Clottey is not going to be able to catch Pacquiao, as Roach says, then that sounds like a boring fight to me.

God, I hope Pacquiao doesn’t run from Clottey. That will be painfully boring to watch. I think this is a crummy fight to begin with because Clottey was beaten in his last fight against recent Pacquiao victim Miguel Cotto, but if Clottey isn’t going to be able to catch Pacquiao, then that seems like Roach will have Pacquiao playing a hit and run game all night long. That sounds like a horrible fight. I think I’d rather watch Mayweather-Pacquiao, thank you.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Pacquiao,Bad Chad,Campbell and more!

Manny Pacquiao: "Millennium Man"

Within the last decade, Filipino Manny Pacquiao has not only taken on and defeated a trail of greats on his block (super-featherweight and below), but after running out of opposition, subsequently decided to get some northern exposure by going up in weight and being a bully in that neck of the woods (lightweight - welterweight) as well. Such an effort has earned him every accolade from "Fighter of the Year", to "Fight of the Year", to "Best KO of the Year", and beyond. With all of those notches under his belt, one would figure there would be no room for more. Well, think again! BWAA (Bowing Writers Association of America) has recently listed the fightin' Filipino as "Fighter of the Decade", giving him virtually every accolade worth discussing. Recent controversy about the possible usage of performance enhancement substances has gotten the attention of many, but this is just another indication that not everyone believes everything they hear. True or false, Pacquiao is innocent until proven guilty. That being said, join me in tippin' my hat to the sports official 'little-big man'.

Mayweather/Mayweather: Signed, Sealed.....Delivered?

Floyd Mayweather jr. has finally decided to sign the contract to face Shane Mosley in a showdown that his years in the making. These two men probably represent the best talent the welterweight division has seen, or at least very close. It took Mayweather quite a while to do it, and truth be known, extra media attention and a few extra dollars in his favor were the culprit, but whatever the case, the time has come, and this will be the biggest test he has ever faced, bar none. Mosley has gone on record with every source willing to listen about his desire to face Mayweather. Now that the fight is signed and sealed, it'll be awfully interesting to see who will actually deliver! I think the only SAFE bet in this one is to put your money on the guy who's name starts with an "M". (Either could win, and anything else is a major question)!?!?!?!

Can Pacquiao Stop Clottey?

When word hit that Pacqiuao would be facing Clottey, the odds were initially a landslide. A few days later, those odds began to narrow a bit when it was made public knowledge that Pacquiao would do so at welterweight limit of 147lbs with no catchweight. Despite Pacquiao giving up what could amount to 15lbs on fight night and a slimmer odds margin, at least one source has gone on record stating that he thinks Pacquiao will actually knock the granite-chinned Ghanaian native out. That source? Head trainer Freddie Roach. Roach seems to think the weaknesses he found in video studies can be exploited quite easily by Pacquiao. Can't say that I totally agree, but hey, I'm the same guy that thought Cotto had a chance. Rarely has Roach ever been wrong. I don't know if he'll keep the streak alive with this call, but even if he doesn't, there's another one I think he'd rather live to see another day. That other streak? The one that counts....Victory itself.

Everything Is Bigger In Texas: (Pacquiao/Clottey Undercard)

Natives have always said that "everything is bigger in Texas", but come the night of March 13th, the rest of the world may get a chance to realize that as well after seeing the huge undercard being put together by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. Pacquiao/Clottey is the main course, but among the many appetizers slated to be served is Alphonso Gomez versus Jose Luis Castillo, Antonio Margarito versus Carson Jones, and a host of others. This effort was bolstered with the a huge promotion in Mexico City that took place in a very grand fashion, followed by more promotions that will potentially set the bar higher for future fights to come. Some promotions are far-fetched. Others go too far. So far, this one has simply been far out. It'll be interesting to see if the fight itself goes 'far enough' to meet the distance. Now that'll be big!

Pacquaio Changin' Positions

Manny Pacquiao recently admitted that he isn't actually "angry" with Floyd Mayweather jr. for the flat-lined fight, and that he's simply more "disappointed" at the P4P contender. This position is quite different from the one the fight public was led to believe when things were more heated. Great to see that cooler heads have prevailed, but what I'm really curious about now is the lawsuit itself. Within only a few days it went from "messy", to "messed up", to flat out "missing". Clearly this move from anger to disappointment was that of a humble man, but should we consider the lawsuit an arrested development altogether at this point? Stay tuned to find out!

Nate Campbell/Victor Ortiz: Old-school Meets New-School

Rumor has it that Florida native Nate 'Galaxxy Warrior' Campbell will be put in the ring real soon to face the fighter many saw as tomorrow's 'Goldenboy', Victor Ortiz. Team Ortiz seems to be happy about this fight, but despite Campbell's recent inactivity, I think I'd bear to differ, here. Ortiz is the same fighter that stood in the ring after testy showdown with Marcos Maidana and questioned whether or not he "deserves to get beat on that way". If nothing else, Campbell is one of the most grueling, gritty contenders in the sport today. Ortiz has solid power, but if he fails to get Campbell out of there early, no question, it'll be a long night.....one filled with many lessons from the teacher to the pupil. Stay tuned.

Herschel Walker: Oldie-But-Goodie

Ok....Brett Favre, Evander Holyfield, and Bernard Hopkins have been long known as the '3-Horsemen', able to withstand the test of time and the rigors that come along with it in grueling sports. After holding down the fort for quite some time, one of the greatest athletes in history has recently decided to add his name to the mix. Without doubt, Herschel Walker won't compete to their level of supremacy in the sport of his choice, and neither should we want him to, but despite the relative youth of his opponent, it was pretty intriguing to see him compete at a high level and do it with great ring knowledge as he got the nod over Nagy last Saturday in South Florida. There's no knowledge of whether or not he will continue to compete, as this mission was initially scheduled to be a solo one to answer the question of his ability to compete. Now that he's proven his point, it'll be interesting to see what his future holds. Job well done, Herschel!

'Bad' Chad (Dawson) 'Good' Chad

With the country of Haiti getting relief from all over the world, the sport of boxing has recently tossed its name in the mix as well. Connecticut native, 'Bad' Chad Dawson has found enough goodness in his heart to give back as well. Dawson has launched what he calls "The Champions Challenge" and with the help of other fighters in the sport, it could prove a very fruitful endeavor. One that could deliver the goods to those most in need. Stay tuned.

Source: 8countnews.com

Pacquiao ready to battle M'weather-Mosley winner

MANNY PACQUIAO LOOKS FORWARD to eventually fighting either Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Shane Mosley even as the Filipino superstar steps up his training regimen a notch for his March 13 bout with Ghanaian Joshua Clottey.
The two American welterweights’ showdown on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was sealed on Wednesday after Mayweather finally affixed his signature on the fight contract, which Mosley signed last week.
Pacquiao, the pound-for-pound king, was originally scheduled to battle the unbeaten Mayweather on March 13, but the megabuck battle fizzled out after both camps disagreed on the drug-testing protocol.
After the failed negotiations, Pacquiao agreed to stake his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Mosley, the World Boxing Association welterweight titlist, filled in Pacquiao’s slot after Mosley’s original opponent, World Boxing Council champ Andre Berto, withdrew from their Jan. 30 title-unification bout due to the devastation wreaked by a massive killer quake on the Haitian’s homeland.
The victor of the Mayweather-Mosley tiff stands a good chance of becoming the next foe of Pacquiao, chosen Fighter of the Year for the fourth time and Fighter of the Decade by the Boxing Writers Association of America on Sunday.
Irked by Mayweather’s insinuations that he is on performance-enhancing drugs, Pacquiao has accused Mayweather (40-0, with 25 knockouts) of ducking him for fear of losing.
Pacquiao’s renowned trainer, Freddie Roach, said they’re ready to face Mosley.
“If for any reason Mosley wins, Manny would definitely fight him,” Roach told Gareth Davies of Telegraph.co.uk. Wednesday. “We’ll take that fight.”
Roach picked Mayweather to win, noting that Mosley thrives against foes who come forward but struggles against those who are constantly on the move.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, intensified his training at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood Wednesday.
After warming up by stretching and shadow boxing, Pacquiao did plyometric exercises and 10 rounds of punch mitts.


Source: sports.inquirer.net

Pacquiao will use strategy in Hoya fight to KO Clottey

MANILA, Philippines – In facing a guy like Joshua Clottey, 7-time world champ Manny Pacquiao would have to use the strategy he utilized in beating boxing great Oscar de la Hoya.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said they would have to remove Clottey’s accurate punches by using almost the same lateral movements that confused De la Hoya.

“Clottey's accurate if you stand in front of him, but the thing is, we're going to be in and out and side to side and use our angles on him… It's going to be very similar to the Oscar de la Hoya fight, I feel,” Roach said in a report by FanHouse.com.

Pacquiao outpunched De la Hoya in 8 rounds during their Dream Match in December 2008. So outclassed was the boxing great in that match that his corner was forced to stop the fight.

Roach said for the "De la Hoya strategy" to be effective, Pacquiao would again rely on his superior speed.

“He's not going to be able to catch us,” said Roach.

Pacquiao is currently toiling at Roach’s Wild Card gym in Los Angeles, California in preparation for the March 13 fight.

He will be staking his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title, which he won from Miguel Cotto.

Roach said he has studied Clottey’s fights and saw some of his strengths and weaknesses.

“Well, he's got a good chin, and he takes a good shot, and he can be a little heavy-handed. But he can be passive at times, and he lays on the ropes and kind of rests there a little bit. I've been studying him really well, and he makes too many mistakes,” said the trainer.

Roach said these weaknesses, coupled with Pacquiao’s punching power and speed could mean Clottey’s first career loss by knockout.

“Pacquiao, I truly feel will be the first person to knock Clottey out,” he said.

‘I understand Floyd’
Pacquiao, meanwhile, had another good training day at the Wild Card Gym.
Floyd Mayweather

His conditioning expert Alex Ariza told PhilBoxing.com that the Filipino boxer is again in his usual unstoppable self, going 10 rounds on the mitts with hardly a break. This was aside on top of his regular training routine, including his exhausting conditioning exercises.

Despite the gruelling session, Pacquiao has found time to face the media to share his thoughts about Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The Filipino boxer said he understands why Mayweather came out with the drug testing demand, which led to the collapse of negotiations between their camps.

"I think I understand Floyd,” Pacquiao told Robert Morales of BoxingScene.com. “He just can't say, 'Oh, I don't want to fight. I'm not ready for the fight.' He's just making alibis to cancel the fight. He's not ready."

He said such “excuse”, which sparked allegations that he was on performance enhancing drugs, is unfair and damaging to him.

"I’m really disappointed because I sacrifice and train hard and focus for what I have achieved in boxing," said Pacquiao.

"If you are a true champion, no alibis, just fight."

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao shifts training to high gear

Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao stepped up his training for his coming March 13 title defense against Ghana’s Joshua Clottey who, he described, is big, strong and dangerous.

Pacquiao’s diet and conditioning consultant Alex Ariza said Wednesday from Los Angeles that PacMan is “very sharp and looks like he’ll be ready to fight next week.”

Ariza said Pacquiao sparred seven rounds Tuesday and is expected to do seven or eight rounds on Thursday (Friday in Manila) at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California.

Pacquiao went three rounds with unbeaten junior welterweight Mike Dallas, two rounds with Brian Brook and another two rounds with Jose Benavidez, a speedy junior welterweight.

“Manny is doing absolutely great in training, and Freddie [Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer] is satisfied at the level we are in now,” said Ariza who also works as the renowned trainer’s assistant.

Ariza said he is focusing on strength at his stage of Pacquiao’s conditioning regimen, then top it all up with speed exercises as training camp tapers off, to maximize the Filipino icon’s deadly combination power and explosiveness.

Ariza thinks Pacquiao-Clottey “could be even better” than PacMan’s previous fight when he stopped Miguel Cotto in the final round to win the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown, Pacquiao’s record seventh world title in as many weight divisions.

Pacquiao’s bodyguard Rob Peters said the Filipino fighter is always in “good spirit” during his daily workouts.

“When you see Manny in such a cheerful mood during training, you know that he’s peaking nicely,” said Peters. “Manny is always in good spirit, and he makes training camp look so easy, which is very, very rigorous.”

Peter said the few Team Pacquiao members who are privileged to see Pacquiao train behind closed doors are amazed at how focused he is during his Monday-to-Saturday training and still remain cheerful and playful.

Pacquiao said he considers the taller and bigger Clottey dangerous because at stake in their fight is not just his WBO welterweight crown but also his mythical title as the best boxer in the world pound-for-pound.

”Clottey knows that he has nothing to lose in this fight . . . but I know he will try to do everything to score an upset,” Pacquiao wrote in Filipino Wednesday in his weekly tabloid column.

“That’s why I need to show that I’m the best in the world, come up with another masterpiece in the ring and to win convincingly.”

Source: manilatimes.net

Pacman wants big win over Clottey

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao wants to come out impressive against Josh Clottey.

And impressive, by his usual standard, could mean no less than a knockout.

From his headquarters in Los Angeles, the Filipino pound-for-pound champion said he’s leaving no stone unturned that by the time he takes on Clottey at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium on March 13, he’d be in tip-top condition.

“I’m the WBO welterweight champion and the BWAA (Boxing Writers Association of America) Fighter of the Year and Fighter of the Decade so Clottey will do everything to win,” Pacquiao wrote in his regular column at www.philboxing.com.

“He’s looking for an upset. And I need to prove that I deserve these awards with another masterpiece. I need to come out impressive,” said Pacquiao, in the thick of his training for the bout being anticipated as the first big fight of the year.

The 31-year-old icon has no habit of predicting a knockout, even if he always ends up doing so. He has won his last 11 fights dating back in 2005 and has scored eight stoppages against some of the great names in boxing.

He’s the odds-on favorite to win the bout, and there may be very little hope that the fight is going to last the distance.

“Manny’s going to knock him out,” declared Pacquiao’s chief trainer, Freddie Roach.

“I’ve seen tapes of him (Clottey). He’s not good. He’s got no chance,” added the only man to receive the Trainer of the Year award from the BWAA four times. He seldom goes wrong when he says Pacquiao’s going to win by knockout.

The reigning 147 lb champion, who has knocked out his last four opponents, from David Diaz to Oscar dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, is entering his second week of training at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

Yesterday, he pounded the mitts for 10 rounds non-stop and today he’ll be back sparring. In a week, he has logged 16 rounds of sparring and by the time he leaves for Dallas on March 8 he should have logged close to 150 rounds.

Pacquiao said he knows what he’s dealing with.

“A lot of people say this is going to be an easy fight for me but actually it’s a dangerous one because Clottey has the strength, the size and the speed. He’s taller (5’8”) and heavier (being a natural welterweight) and he almost beat Cotto,” said Pacquiao.

Source: philstar.com

PACQUIAO HAS ANOTHER GOOD DAY IN THE GYM

The "Fighter of the Decade" and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao had another good day working out at the Wild Card Gym of trainer Freddie Roach.

Conditioning expert Alex Ariza said Pacquiao was his usual relentless self in training and went ten rounds on the mitts with hardly a break aside from going through his regular routine as well as his demanding conditioning exercises.

He also found time for a couple of television and print interviews during which he said he felt bad over allegations that he was on performance enhancing drugs. He was quoted as saying "I’m really disappointed because I sacrifice and train hard and focus for what I have achieved in boxing."

Pacquiao told Robert Morales of the the widely read BoxingScene.com "I think I understand Floyd.. He just can't say, 'Oh, I don't want to fight. I'm not ready for the fight.' He's just making alibis to cancel the fight. He's not ready."

Pacquiao indicated he is not angry with Mayweather but said "I just felt bad that he doesn't want to fight. He's making a lot of allegations and alibis, allegations that can ruin my name."
Pacquiao hinted that if Mayweather is everything he says he is, he wouldn't have come up with his demand for random blood tests in the first place saying "If you are a true champion, no alibis, just fight."

Morales reported "during all this time, the look in Pacquiao's eyes never changed. Sincerity is what they had in them. Either he was being completely forthcoming, or he's one heck of a con man. The latter is difficult to fathom."

Pacquiao said he could take some solace in knowing that he was recently chosen Fighter of the Year and Fighter of the Decade by the Boxing Writers Association of America. "When I heard that, I'm happy because there are a lot of people believing in my capabilities and my achievements in boxing," he said. "For me, it's boxing and God. I think what I have done in boxing is because of my sacrifices and my faith in God."

Ariza said there was nothing much to add except that Pacquiao continues to look "phenomenal" as though he never left off after his 12th round TKO victory over Miguel Cotto last November in which Pacquiao won the WBO welterweight title to set a record of seven world titles in seven weight divisions.

Ariza’s statement reinforced the claim of Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz who attributed the fighter’s physical condition to the fact that they played a lot of basketball while in the Philippines.

Koncz said Pacquiao was relaxed and looking forward to his March 13 showdown with Ghana’s tough Joshua Clottey at the $1.2 billion Dallas Cowboys Stadium of Jerry Jones.
Ariza meantime downplayed reports that Pacquiao took young and promising super lightweight Jose Benavidez to school in a sparring session last Tuesday. Ariza said Benavidez "did pretty good" even as he pointed out that people should remember the fighter who scored a first round knockout in his pro debut was up against the current pound-for-pound best.

Meantime, Roach is likely to be in the corner of former two-division world champion Gerry Penalosa when he battles another former world two division champion Eric Morel on the exciting "Pinoy Power III/Latin Fury 13" fight card at the Las Vegas Hilton on February 14, Manila Time.

Roach has always maintained that Penalosa was technically better than even Pacquiao who is clearly the superstar of boxing today.

Source: philboxing.com

Freddie Roach: Manny Pacquiao 'Really Wants to Knock Floyd Out'

Freddie Roach was recently named Trainer Of The Year by The Boxing Writers' Association of America, and his prized pupil, Manny Pacquiao, was named Fighter of The Year -- both for 2009.

The honors were bestowed for the third, and, fourth times in a row, respectively, upon Pacquiao and Roach. Pacquiao also was named Fighter Of The Decade by the BWAA.

Reached at his Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif., Roach, in this Q&A, discussed the most recent events involving the failed negotiations for a fight with Floyd Mayweather, the Mayweather camp's accusations of steroid use by Pacquiao, and the seven-division titlist's March 13 defense of his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) crown against Joshua Clottey.

FanHouse: So how does it feel to receive Trainer Of The Year for the fourth straight time?

Freddie Roach: It's my favorite award, because it's named after my trainer, [the late] Eddie Futch, my mentor. And, I like to give Eddie all of the credit for where I am today. I just love winning the award. I was the first one to win it three times, and now, I've won it four. I'm going to keep working my a** off to win it again, and again, if I can.


FH: Maybe they should name it the Eddie Futch-Freddie Roach Award?

Roach: [Chuckles] Maybe someday.


FH: Seriously, Freddie, you've overcome a lot, personally, with the Parkinson's, and I wonder if you ever think about who might be watching you and being inspired by you?

Roach: It's just that we work hard at the gym. Everyone works together, and we have a good team. Some days, when I'm really busy with some fighters, I have a lot of guys that pick up the slack. It's a good situation. My gym's just really active, and the other thing is that I'm so thankful to a guy like Eddie Futch, who taught me the ropes inside the ring and outside of the ring.

He taught me first, as a fighter, and then, I worked as an assistant to him for five years. And he taught me how to train fighters and how to get to them, and it's worked out really well for me.


FH: Can you talk about what it means to you to have Manny win the Fighter Of The Year honors for the third time?

Roach: Manny, he deserves it. Getting Fighter of The Decade also, that's a great honor for him. It's funny, his work ethic from Day One until today has not changed. It amazes me that he can still come through the gym doors and all of the distractions go away, and he's 100 percent focused on the next fight.


FH: Manny arrived in Los Angeles recently this time from the Philippines on Jan. 17 -- which was Muhammad Ali's 68th birthday and the day prior to the observation of Martin Luther King's birthday. Do you see any symbolism there at all, considering what Manny means in stature to his Filipino people?

Roach: It's can be a coincidence, but the thing is, Manny just means so much to his people. The thing is, he fights for them because he doesn't want to disappoint them. I think that's where he gets his fire from. It comes from his people. He wants to win for them, and to do the best that he can. Obviously, he wants to improve his country also, and that's why he's running for congress and getting into politics.

I think that he can do more for his country as a boxer rather than a politician, but he just wants to do the best that he can for his people. He's an amazing person.


FH: Has it been difficult to transition from preparing for a slick, boxer-type of fighter like Floyd Mayweather to preparing for a rugged fighter like Joshua Clottey?

Roach: The thing is, we work hard for everybody we get a chance to face. That hasn't really changed. What changed is the sparring parteners and the style that we're fighting and the gameplan, of course. The thing is, focusing on Clottey is completely opposite from what we were going to do. The thing is, you just have to get a mindset in there that we're not fighting Floyd Mayweather now.

We have to get ready for a guy that is going to come to us and fight us, possibly. It's a little disappointing that we didn't get Mayweather, but we're not going to sit around and dwell on it. We're going to go with the biggest challenges that we can find out there, and Manny doesn't want to fight just any fight, but he wants to fight the best out there.

I'd love it if Floyd and Manny could come to an agreement someday soon, and hopefully that can happen. But if not, Manny could retire and go right into politics.


FH: What do you see as strengths and weakness of Joshua Clottey? (pictured at far right, with Pacquiao)

Roach: Well, he's got a good chin, and he takes a good shot, and he can be a little heavy-handed. But he can be passive at times, and he lays on the ropes and kind of rests there a little bit. I've been studying him really well, and he makes too many mistakes. Pacquiao, I truly feel will be the first person to knock Clottey out.


FH: Has Manny faced anyone with his combination of endurance, accuracy and speed on his punches?

Roach: Clottey's accurate if you stand in front of him, but the thing is, we're going to be in and out and side to side and use our angles on him. He's not going to be able to catch us. It's going to be very similar to the Oscar De La Hoya fight [Eighth-round knockout for Pacquiao] I feel. He's a very tall, comes to you type of guy, who is supposed to be stronger.

But I don't think that that will be the case. I think when the fight time comes off, Manny will be the bigger, stronger guy because he has the bigger heart.


FH: How significant is it that there is no catchweight for this fight, as there was a requirement for Miguel Cotto to come in at no greater than 145 pounds, and that you are going with the welterweight limite of 147 pounds?

Roach: Well, we got a little flack for going with a catchweight last time, so Manny wants to be a true welterweight, so Manny is going to fight at 147. We're not going back to 140, we're going to stay where we're at. And if anyone wants to challenge us, it'll be at welterweight.


FH: How much does Manny consider going for an eighth title in a different weight class -- the rise to 154 pounds beyond the Joshua Clottey fight?

Roach: Well, the fight against [WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champ] Yuri Foreman was offered, and so forth, and Manny was just interested in more challenges.

Yuri was more of a boxer, and Manny doesn't want to be in a boring fight. So, 154 might be stretching it a little bit. I think that 147 is as high as we're really going to go. But you know, we'll see what presents itself after this fight. If Mayweather doesn't come around, Manny might retire.


FH: What did you think of the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, where the fight will be held?

Roach: It was amazing. It was just unbelievable. The big screen over the field, the people, it was a great place. It's a really, really nice stadium. It's going to be huge with the fight being there, and there's a lot of stuff going on in Dallas right now.

[Cowboys' owner] Jerry Jones wants to bring the best athletes into the stadium, and you know, Manny Pacquiao's one of the best athletes in the world right now, and that's why Jerry Jones picked this fight.


FH: How will it be different for you being in Dallas Cowboys' Stadium, considering most of Manny's biggest victories have been in Las Vegas.

Roach: We have a lot of good memories of Vegas, but we have one good memory of Texas also. That's where we got our one big break and we knocked out Marco Antonio Barrera in Texas [in the 11th round in November, 2003, at The Alamodome.]
Texas has always been good to us. Regardless of where the ring is, it's still the same size, so we have no problem traveling.

Manny just likes to fight. If we fight in Manila, his home town, it doesn't really matter. He's going to go out and fight his fight. We've got a good gameplan down already for this one, and, he's pulling it off in sparring already, and he's looking really good. He's way ahead of schedule. His weight's already getting down there low right now.

He's already at 146, so we'll get some protein shakes out there and start feeding him.


FH: On the matter of steroids, why do you believe those suspicions were leveled at Manny by some members of the Mayweather camp?

Roach: Well, they have no foundation or no history. It's just they say, 'How can a guy go from 106 all the way to 147 without being on steroids?' But if you take that thinking into consideration, now, at age 16, Floyd Mayweather fought in the amateurs at 106, and then he went to 154 [to fight Oscar De La Hoya,] so he must be on steroids too, I guess?

But I'm not going to say that, because he's just a good fighter, and I respect that. The thing is, it's not unusual for the best fighters of their era to dominate many different weight divisions because that's where all of the challenge are.



FH: Do you buy the notion that Floyd was afraid of losing for the first time in his career?

Roach: No. I think that he was just trying to make the fight bigger. I think that he's trying to make the Pacquiao fight bigger down the line. I think that he's just doing his thing.


FH: What do you believe that all of the Manny Pacquiao fans in the Philippines thought of the entire steroid drama related to the Mayweather-Pacquiao negotiations?

Roach: You've got people out there who want to go along with the notion of, 'Well, he's so good, that he must be on steroids,' because it was said once. And the thing is, just by that, people can think that you're guilty. Of course, we have no history. I have trouble giving Manny Pacquiao vitamins.

The Mayweathers are just trying to tarnish his reputation, so Manny's not very happy with them right now, and he really wants to knock Floyd out. That's what he told me. That's the first time that I've really seen him angry with a fighter. He says, 'If we fight, I will knock Floyd out.'

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Demand strong for Pacquiao fight tickets By NICK GIONGCO

The most expensive ticket for the March 13 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey in Dallas – selling for just $700 – is selling for as much as ten times its retail price on the Internet.

Top Rank began releasing tickets to the public on Jan. 23 and hours after it was made available, 25,000 were gobbled up and Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said he expects to announce a sellout soon.

The cheapest ticket is $50, while other seats sell for $500, $400, $300, $200 and $100.

The Cowboys Stadium, which can accommodate as much as 100,000, will be reconfigured to 40,000 come fight night. This will be the first time the stadium will play host to boxing.

The on-line seller StubHub lists the $700 ticket on front row at $7,500, while other low-priced seats are selling more than their retail price.

“I don’t care,” Arum said when asked about the prohibitive prices being peddled on the Internet. “We’re selling it on retail (price).”

The fight will also be available on pay-per-view.

The $1.2-billion Cowboys Stadium is actually located in the city of Arlington, which is on the outskirts of Dallas.

Source: mb.com.ph

'Pacquiao to fight Mosley or Mayweather next'

MANILA, Philippines – Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao will fight the winner of the May 1 bout between Americans Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Shane Mosley, disclosed 4-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach.

“I think it will happen, and it will be Manny’s next fight. What has happened may make the fight bigger,” Roach replied to the question of The Telegraph’s Gareth Davies on when the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight will take place.

The blockbuster bout, which was scheduled on March 13, did not push through because the fighters’ camps disagreed on the drug testing procedure.

Pacquiao now has Ghanaian Joshua Clottey as his opponent in a welterweight fight on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The 2009 Fighter of the Year and Fighter of the Decade, as declared by the Boxing Writers Association of America, will put his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title on the line.

Meanwhile, Mayweather will face Mosley on May 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, the venue of his cancelled clash with the Filipino boxing sensation.

Mosley and Mayweather have already signed the contract, according to ESPN.com. It has not yet been confirmed if Mosley, the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight super champion, will defend his title.

Mayweather over Mosley

“I think Mayweather will fight Shane Mosley, but if he doesn’t, it will make the fight with Manny happen sooner. If Floyd does fight Shane, that’s a good fight, and one I’d like to see,” Roach stated.

He then declared his fight prediction: “But Mosley will be beaten by Floyd. Mosley does well with guys who will come at him. He has had trouble with guys who move. Mayweather wins that fight. But Mosley is a brave guy. If for any reason Mosley wins, Manny would definitely fight him. We’ll take that fight.”

Mosley was one of Team Pacquiao’s choices to be Manny’s next foe after his sensational 2nd round knockout win over Ricky Hatton last May 2.

Pacquiao instead chose to challenge then WBO welterweight champion, Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.

He was successful in his November 14 fight when he defeated Cotto via technical knockout in Round 12 to become the only boxer to win 7 titles in 7 different weight divisions.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

The Pacquiao-Clottey Hype Trains Stops in Mexico

With the build up to the March 13 bout between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey well underway, Bob Arum and Jerry Jones both made it a point to head to Mexico this week given that the co-featured bout includes former lightweight champ Jose Luis Castillo (60-9-1, 52 KOs) taking on Alfonso Gomez (21-4, 10 KOs) in a welterweight bout.

It was also recently announced that Salvador Sanchez II will be a part of the card and will be televised on the international broadcast as he was also on hand to sign a promotional contract with Top Rank.

Fans south of the border will get to see the card on TV Azteca.

Source: 411mania.com

Joshua Clottey Update

Manny Pacquiao challenger Joshua Clottey is currently training in New York City. “Joshua was training for awhile in Ghana. He’s in top condition,” said his manager, Vinny Scolpino. Team Clottey will soon be off to their main training headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Clottey will take on Pacquiao at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on March 13. Pacquiao vs. Clottey will be available on HBO Pay Per View.

Source: fightnews.com