GRAPEVINE, TEXAS—Joshua Clottey holds little fear of Manny Pacquiao’s punching power.
The Ghanaian is even willing to take a few Pacquiao hits to find out what’s in store for him when they collide on March 13.
And if Pacquiao’s punches don’t hurt, Clottey swore the Filipino superstar will be in trouble. The Ghanaian said he will go after Pacquiao and unleash a few that will rattle the pound-for-pound king and put his World Boxing Organization welterweight title defense in jeopardy.
“Pacquiao throws more than a thousand punches and I’ll block most of them,” Clottey said during Thursday’s press conference at the $1.2-billion facility.
“I only throw a few, but those punches will land and those punches will hurt.”
Knowing that Pacquiao started fighting at 106 pounds, Clottey, a naturally big 147-pounder, said he can impose his strength on Pacquiao.
Clottey claimed that he has not seen Pacquiao’s fight tapes, adding all that he knows about the Filipino is his speed, footwork, the left hook and right hook.
“Apart from that, nothing,” said Clottey, who enjoys a 2-inch height and 2 ½-inch reach advantage over Pacquiao. “I don’t watch his tape. I never watch his tape. The only thing I know is those deadly two punches.”
The 33-year-old Clottey feels good about being rated a 5-1 underdog and is motivated to do well on fight night.
He added that he’s happy and proud to be given the opportunity to fight the world No. 1, and be his country’s greatest fighter ever.
Ghana’s famous boxers include Hall of Famer Azumah Nelson and former world champions Ike Quartey, Joseph Agbeko, David Kotei and Alfred Kotei.
“If I win the fight, I’m the greater one,” he said, noting that Nelson lost to Pernel Whitaker and Quartey lost to Oscar De La Hoya.
Although he admires Pacquiao for what he has done to Filipino fighters, Clottey said he will do everything in his power to topple the world’s only seven-time champion in as many divisions.
“When we climb the ring, its business,” said Clottey. “But after the fight we could be friends again.”
Author: Roy Luarca
Source: sports.inquirer.net
No comments:
Post a Comment