Manny Pacquiao makes his March ring return as promised but unfortunately for fight fans, Floyd Mayweather Jnr won't provide the opposition.
The on-off super fight remains somewhat of a touchy subject for both men but Pacquiao refuses to dwell on it and makes the first defence of his WBO Welterweight title on Sunday against Joshua Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium, Dallas, live on Sky Sports from 2am.
There’s not much which hasn’t already been written about 31 year old Pacquiao but the likable former flyweight answered any remaining critics in devastating fashion when dismantling supposed stronger fighter Miguel Cotto in their November clash, stopping the Puerto Rican after twelve one sided rounds.
That enthralling victory stretched Pac-Man’s record to fifty wins, thirty-eight inside the distance, against three defeats and two draws and with Pacquiao’s most recent victims including ring legends such as Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Cotto, it is little wonder bookmakers have learned their lesson and trade at a cautious 1/5 (888.sport).
Ghanaian Joshua Clottey has the un-enviable task of stopping a warrior on his way towards the history books. With Pacquiao holding a record breaking seven world titles at seven different weights, 32 year old Clottey must find a chink in the champion’s armour that better fighters failed to spot.
5ft 8inch Clottey, nicknamed ‘Grand Master’ may be as big as 9/2 (Ladbrokes) in the betting ring but the fifteen year fight game veteran brings an admirable record of his own, losing just three of his thirty-nine outings. With a 51% KO average, Clottey certainly has the tools to compete at this level but it is his chin which is the most interesting aspect for me, with the orthodox having never been stopped.
It promises to be a night full of surprises when the big punching champion tackles an intelligent challenger with a cast iron chin and any casual fans who view this as another warm up bout for the long awaited Pac Man v Money Man clash will be way off the mark.
Clottey is typical of many African fighters in the game at the moment - he is big, strong, courageous and boasts bags of pride but the outsider leaves his chin hanging out too often when coming forward for my liking and he won’t get away with such an error against an opponent who has shown he needs just one shot to put the fight to bed.
Clottey showed when stopping Zab Judah that the southpaw puzzle won’t be a factor but he will struggle with his opponent’s lightening fast hands and with the Pac-Man halting each of his last four opponents inside the distance, Pacquiao could gift the judges another night off at 4/5 (Stan James).
I don’t see Clottey going out to prove an early point as Hatton and Cotto did but the Ghanaian should have the craft to keep it long in the opening stages, meaning the 1/2 (Skybet) about over 7.5 rounds looks like the safest punt of the evening.
