PACMAN DOESN'T MIND IT

By Gerry Ramos

NEVER mind that his recent title fight with Joshua Clottey was not as big in terms of pay-per-view buys compared with those of his bouts with Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto.


Manny Pacquiao is hardly disappointed with the outcome as officially released last week by HBO, showing a moderate hit of 700,000 buys and earnings of $35.3 million.

“Hindi naman tayo dismayado. OK naman `yun, e” was his curt reply when queried about the matter.

The hits generated by his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight match with Clottey was the lowest for Pacquiao in his last four fights and is coming off a huge 1.25 million buys earned from his 12-round stoppage of Cotto last November at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The Pacquiao-Cotto match was the biggest boxing earner for the year 2009.

It also paled in comparison with the 1.25 million buys spawned by his `Dream Match’ with De La Hoya in 2008 and likewise made less with the 850,000 pay-per-view hits produced by the Filipino champion’s devastating second round knockout of Hatton last May.

But Pacquiao reasoned out Clottey is a different kind of breed compared to those boxing champions.

“Iba naman sila. Hindi nga dapat ikumpara si Clottey kay De La Hoya, e,” Pacquiao stressed.

Prior to his blockbuster showdowns with De La Hoya and Cotto, Pacquiao’s pay-per-view top earner was his 2008 rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez, grossing a total of 400,000.

With Pacquiao taking the action on a defensive-minded challenger like Clottey, the 31-year old southpaw from General Santos City walked away with a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision in their March 13 duel at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum himself was satisfied with the pay-per-view figures, surpassing his expectations of a possible 650,000 buys.

“That is the worst it would have done,” he said. “But the number that you can’t go any lower than is 650,000 for the fight.”

Arum and HBO predicted that the pay-per-view total is likely to increase once all the buys are officially in.

The 12-round fight, however, drew a crowd of 51,000 at the sprawling Cowboys Stadium, easily the third largest in prizefighting history in the U.S.

Resident ESPN columnist Dan Rafael also stressed that the earnings from the pay-per-view of the Pacquiao-Clottey slugfest is a testament to the pound-for-pound king’s current popularity in the ring today.

“The growth of Manny Pacquiao into a true megastar is nothing short of remarkable,” Rafael wrote in his widely-read blog.

He referred to as `insane’ those people saying that the pay-per-view buys and earnings for the bout were disappointments.

“Pacquiao is the reason the fight sold well. Clottey, who has zero fan base to speak of, had nothing to do with it,” he stressed

The former USA Today boxing writer pointed out that unlike big fights in the past, this one involving a Filipino and a Ghanaian doesn’t have any American participant, doesn’t have the benefit of an HBO 24/7 series and only had a few months of promotional activities.

Rafael also noted that even previous boxing superstars like Mike Tyson, De La Hoya, Evander Holyfield and yes, Floyd Mayweather Jr. also didn’t enjoy big pay-per-view buys when facing lesser known opponents.

Mayweather Jr., according to the ESPN columnist, only reached 375,000 and 325,000 buys in his title fights with Zab Judah and Carlos Baldomir, respectively, figures when combined, is only equal to the pay-per-view buys of the Pacquiao-Clottey match.

“You can look up and down the history of boxing pay-per-view and, other than some crazy seven-figure-buy fights that Mike Tyson did against similarly unknown opponents such as Peter McNeeley and Bruce Seldon, you would be hard-pressed to find any boxer who has ever done so much business against such an unknown opponent,” Rafael added.

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`HURRICANE' LOSES TITLE BID

ANA `The Hurricane’ Julaton failed in her bid for the World Boxing Association (WBA) female super-bantamweight crown following a unanimous decision loss to Lisa `Bad News’ Brown in Ontario, Canada.


Sporting cuts in both eyebrows at the end of the 10-round title bout, Julaton lost by scores of 99-92, 99-91 and 100-91.

The win was the 17th for the 39-year old American as against four losses.

On the other hand, Julaton fell to 6-2, but remains as the super-bantamweight champion of the International Boxing Association (IBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO).

The loss also cut short the Filipina’s bid of becoming one of the quickest female fighters to win three world titles in prizefighting history.

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PACMAN FETED ANEW

Ilocos Norte representative Bongbong Marcos, Laura Elorde, widow of the late boxing great Gabriel `Flash' Elorde, and boxing star Manny Pacquiao share a light moment during the 10th Gabriel Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards at the Sofitel Hotel in Manila

BONGBONG Marcos joined Manny Pacquiao and other boxing heroes at the 10th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards-Banquet of Champions Thursday night at the Sofitel Hotel Manila.

Hosted by the Elorde family led by Mrs. Laura Elorde, widow of Flash Elorde, the affair presented awards to current Filipino boxing champions led by Pacquiao who was honored as Boxer of the Decade.

Other awardees were Brian Viloria (WBO Strawweight), Donnie Nietes (IBF Jr Flyweight), Rodel Mayol (WBC Light Flyweight) and Marvin Sonsona (WBO Flyweight) and former world champion Gerry Penalosa.

Bongbong congratulated the awardees for bringing honor to the nation. He spoke of the need for Filipino athletes to have more security for themselves and their families.

He cited the case of Z Gorres, who attended the gathering of the best boxers in the land in a wheelchair. Gorres underwent emergency brain surgery after suffering a subdural hematoma (blood clot in the brain) during his fight with Luis Melendez at Mandalay Bay last year.

“Z carried the hopes of our nation every time he stepped into the ring. Now he can’t even carry himself,” Bongbong said.

Gorres was still able to get up 30 seconds before the final bell and was declared winner via unanimous decision. .

“We have to make sure that our athletes like Z are aptly rewarded for their efforts to make us proud,” Bongbong said.

The Elorde awards night also commemorated the 25th death anniversary and 75th birth anniversary of Flash Elorde, who during his lifetime brought honor to the Philippines with his boxing prowess and skills.

Bongbong came with his wife Liza and his three sons.

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PACMAN PICKS MOSLEY

By Gerry Ramos


MANNY Pacquaio is leaning on a Sugar Shane Mosley win in his May 1 title fight against unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.


The choice is nothing personal, given Pacquiao’s growing animosity with the 32-year-old Mayweather, the American fighter who has openly suggested the Filipino champion’s current success in the ring has something to do with performance-enhancing drugs.

Pacquiao stressed boxing is still won through the volume of punches thrown and connected, and not by the art of avoiding being hit.

On that presumption alone, he said, Mosley definitely has the edge.

“Kay Mosley ako, kasi mas marami siyang sumuntok,” said the top pound-for-pound fighter of the world.

Mosley, 38, stakes his World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight crown against Mayweather Jr. in a fight that came to fore after their supposed scheduled bouts failed to materialize.

Mayweather was penciled to face Pacquiao last March 13, but the showdown didn’t take place following a botched negotiation surrounding the drug testing protocol to be administered on both boxing superstars.

On the other hand, Mosley was to defend his 147-pound belt against Andre Berto last January 31, only for the match to be shelved following the strong earthquake that devastated Haiti, Berto’s country of birth.

But despite being the champion, Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) is a slight underdog to Mayweather, who has yet to lose in 40 professional bouts. He 25 of them by knockouts.

Pacquiao is more than willing to defy the odds.

“Parang basketball lang yan, mas mabuti `yung shoot ka ng shoot,” he said. “Sa boksing ganun din, mas mabuti `yung ikaw ang suntok ng suntok.”

The seven-time world champion is coming off a dominant 12-round unanimous decision against Ghana’s Joshua Clottey to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight championship in a fight which more than stressed the value of offense over defense.

Pacquiao threw a total of 1,220 punches against the 32-year- old Clottey, who was more than content surviving the bout by holding both his arms up high and refusing to mix up it with the Pacman.

Asked if he sees Mayweather doing the same game plan against Mosley, Pacquiao readily agrees, although unlike Clottey, he expects the former pound-for-pound king to engage the WBA champion in several furious exchanges.

“Iba naman `yung Clottey kay Mayweather,” said Pacquiao in emphasizing that Mayweather is a more caliber opponent compared to Clottey.

This developed as Pacquiao and his family including wife Jinkee, arrived in General Santos City early Friday, exactly on the day when the campaign period for local officials begins.

Pacquiao is running for the lone congressional seat of Sarangani against businessman Roy Chongbian.

A motorcade around the city proper was held upon Pacquiao’s arrival, before the champion proceeded to the towns of Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum in Sarangani to formally launch his congressional campaign through his political party People’s Champ Movement (PCM).

Meanwhile, knockout artist and potential Pacquiao opponent Edwin Valero was arrested in Venezuela for allegedly assaulting his wife.

The Venezuelan’s wife was taken to a hospital in Los Andes, where doctors said she suffered injuries, bruises and a collapsed lung.

Valero has be mentioned by Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach as a possible foe of the Filipino ring icon in his next fight late this year, emphasizing that a match up with the unbeaten lightweight champion is a sure blockbuster if and when it is held at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, site of Pacquiao’s recent fight with Clottey.

Valero is banned from fighting in the U.S. following a brain surgery performed on him in 2003 following a tragic motorcycle accident, an operation that required putting a metal plate on his head.

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PACMAN MULLS RETIREMENT

Pacquiao waves during his motorcade within Manila

By Gerry Ramos

ONCE an issue considered taboo to him, Manny Pacquiao is now talking retirement.

And that may come the soonest possible time.

Returning from Los Angeles early Monday morning, the Filipino boxing sensation hinted at finally hanging his gloves, a major development that may forever quash his highly-anticipated bout with unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao, 31, admitted he has yet to make up his mind on whether to walk away from the sport for good, but at the same time, declared he’s ready to call it a day anytime.

“Ako naman anytime, puwede ng mag-retiro,” Pacquiao said within hearing distance of his wife Jinkee, and children Jemuel and Michael at the NAIA Terminal 2 lounge, where he granted interviews to members of the media shortly upon arriving on board Philippine Airlines flight 103 after a 14-hour flight from the U.S.

“Matagal na rin kasi tayo sa boksing. Twelve-years- old pa lang lumalaban na ako and 15 years na tayong professional. So, kailangan mag-isip-isip na.”

Just a week ago, Pacquiao retained his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title following a dominant, 12-round performance against Joshua Clottey of Ghana at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

The fight came about following his aborted mega-bout with Mayweather Jr.

Projected as perhaps the biggest and richest match ever in the history of boxing, the showdown between two of the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters failed to push through when negotiations between the two parties bogged down owing to disagreement on the drug testing procedures to be done on both boxers.

The seven-time world champion, who’s seeking a congressional seat in the province of Saranggani, said he’ll be consulting his family on plans about his retirement once he goes home to his native General Santos City within the week.

His equally celebrated mother, Aling Dionisia, will be among those Pacquiao is going to consider when he comes up with a decision. The elder Pacquiao has been vocal in the past about her desire to finally see her son give up the sport that has been very good to her and his family.

“Naglulumuhod na siya (mother) para lang tumigil ako sa pagboboksing. And I don’t want to see my mother like that,” the boxing superstar said.

Asked about the matter, Pacquiao’s mother said, “Gusto ko mag-retiro na siya ngayon. Wala ng laban. Tama na `yung kay Clottey.’

Pacquiao, however, failed to mention whether his decision to retire will depend on how he will fare in the coming national election.

With his fight with Mayweather hanging in the balance, Pacquiao didn’t discount the possibility of his retirement overlapping his match with Floyd Jr. even before the bout is made.

“Malay natin baka hindi na ako umabot doon (Mayweather fight),” was his quick reply. “Malay natin, baka last fight ko na `yung kay Clottey, o baka puwede pang lumaban ng isa.”

Freddie Roach, his long-time trainer, has said repeatedly it’s his desire to see Pacquiao fight Mayweather before retiring, while promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank wants the Filipino southpaw to fight for at least two more years.

Mayweather is penciled to meet Sugar Shane Mosley on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight crown.

If and when he decides to retire, Pacquiao said he’ll never regret of not having fought Mayweather Jr. at all.

“Nakamit ko na ang pangarap ko sa boksing without Mayweather in my boxing career. At hindi ko pinangarap naman na labanan siya. Baka siya ang nangangarap na labanan ako,” Pacquiao stressed.

“Hindi naman ako maghahamon dahil siya naman ang may kailangan. So wala akong dapat kailangang ihamon sa kanya.”

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HOME IS THE HERO

ANOTHER hero’s welcome awaits boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao when he arrives in the country before the break of dawn Monday, exactly a week since a dominant performance against Joshua Clottey in their world welterweight title showdown in Arlington, Texas.


Accompanied by wife Jinkee, family members and friends and an entourage that keeps getting bigger and bigger with each Pacquiao victory, the world’s top pound-for-pound boxer will be on board Philippine Airlines flight 103 that is expected to touch down at around 5:30 a.m. at the NAIA Terminal 2 following a 14-hour flight from Los Angeles and Guam.

Security has been tightened around the airport, according to Manila International Airport Authority general manager Melvin Matibag, who will personally welcome Pacquiao and his team upon arrival.

Also expected on hand are four of Pacquiao’s children – Jemuel, Michael, Princess Grace and Queen Elizabeth – all of whom had not seen their celebrated father since he began training for the Clottey fight last January.

A short press conference follows after at the airport Presidential Lounge where the seven-time world champion is set to deliver his arrival statement.

The 31-year old southpaw is coming off a lopsided 12-round decision over Clottey to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title last week

Pacquiao will take a brief rest and have breakfast at the New World Hotel as he makes himself available for a busy day ahead.

First up in Pacquiao’s agenda is a courtesy call at the residence of former Department of Energy and Natural Resources secretary Lito Atienza, a staunch supporter of the boxing champion dating back to the days when the Pacman was yet the sensational boxer he is known today.

From there, Pacquiao and his team proceed to Quiapo church for the traditional thanksgiving mass that has been a staple of his every fight.

Also scheduled is a courtesy call at Malacanang with President Macapagal-Arroyo before Pacquiao goes on a city-wide motorcade beginning at Plaza Miranda and ending up at the Paco and Sta. Ana markets.

The route of the motorcade is as follows: U-turn to Quipo ilalim going to Quezon Blvd., right to Recto, left to Legarda going to Bustillos/Sampaloc market, right to S.H. Loyola to Trabajo market, straight going to Plaza Noli, left to Matimyas, left to Blumentritt, left Dapitan, right Lacson (Forbes), straight going to Yuseco and Rajabago, left Juan Luna to Pritil, right Moriones, left R10, left Zaragosa, right Delpan, straight going to Delpan bridge, left Anda Circle, right Cabildo, right Victoria, left Gen. Luna straight to Maria Orosa, left Kalaw, right Taft Ave., left Pedro Gil straight to Paco market and Sta. Ana market.

Pacquiao’s itinerary doesn’t end there.

In the afternoon, he is set to appear in a concert at the SM Mall of Asia and then capped the day with a dinner hosted by Solar Sports.

Within the week, Pacquiao and his family is set to fly to General Santos City and Saranggani, where the boxing icon kicks off his campaign sortie for a congressional seat.

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HE SHALL RETURN?

By Gerry Ramos

One record fight deserves another.


Prospect of Manny Pacquiao returning back to the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas for his next fight late this year is highly probable following the historic attendance generated by his welterweight title defense against Joshua Clottey last week.

The 12-round bout won by the Filipino behind a lopsided unanimous decision, attracted a crowd of 50,994, the third biggest in modern day boxing history after the Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks rematch at the Superdome in 1977 and the Julio Cesar Chavez-Pernell Whitaker showdown at the Alamodome in 1993.

That Pacquiao was able to pack the marvelous stadium billionaire Jerry Jones built at a cost of $1.2 billion despite taking on an opponent who has not really established a fan base in the U.S. is a tribute to the status of the Filipino southpaw as boxing’s top attraction today.

What more if Pacquiao was to face next a marquee challenger who considerably has a big cult following especially in a predominantly Latino state such as Texas.

Pacquiao has not minced a word about his desire to fight again at the Cowboys Stadium, which he describes as an `amazing arena.’

“It’s a great experience to fight in Dallas. I want to fight back here,” he said shortly after the Clottey bout. “I hope this would not be my last fight here. So it’s up to Jerry Jones. That’s his decision.”

Trainer Freddie Roach also expressed his desire to come back in Dallas and has already envisioned knockout artist Edwin Valero and long-time Pacquiao nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez as possible foes for the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter (see related story).

Roach even hinted the feasibility of a blockbuster showdown should Pacquiao and Valero, two of boxing’s fearsome punchers today, finally squares off in the ring.

“If we do Valero there, we could sell out the whole place. You don’t have to close half of it down,” said Roach.

Jones is also amenable to seeing Pacquiao fight in his multi-billion stadium again, saying the record attendance of his meeting with Clottey was beyond his expectations.

“The crowd can be special to boxing. I believe we can have a fight that can do that in boxing with Manny Pacquiao and Bob Arum around,” said the Dallas Cowboys team owner and general manager.

Arum, the big boss of Top Rank Promotions, hasn’t categorically agreed to do another Pacquiao fight at the Cowboys Stadium, but was obviously impressed with the turnout of the first ever major boxing event in Dallas.

“It’s one of the grandest spectacles in the history of boxing. I’ve never, ever seen boxing presented that way,” Arum admitted.

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PACMAN, A TOUGH FIGHT FOR MAYWEATHER

Clottey: Sees Pacquiao giving Mayweather a tough fight

By Gerry Ramos

HOLLYWOOD – The man who lasted 12 full rounds with Manny Pacquiao only a few days ago stated Floyd Mayweather Jr. faces the biggest challenge of his career should his long-awaited showdown with the Filipino boxing champion materializes in the coming months or by next year.


While they may not be in the same league, Joshua Clottey said Mayweather will find the 31-year old Pacquiao a tough opponent the same way he did when they met in the ring Saturday for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title.

Pacquiao handily beat Clottey to retain his 147-pound belt and cemented his status as the best fighter in the world today pound-for-pound.

Clottey, 32, though was the first Pacquiao foe to last the distance since Juan Manuel Marquez lost by split decision to the boxing superstar in 2008.

“It’s going to be a very, very tough fight for Mayweather,” said Clottey about his thoughts on the mega-fight that was aborted at the last minute on a disputed drug protocol.

The failed negotiations with the Mayweathers led Pacquiao and Top Rank’s Bob Arum to tap Clottey as a last-minute replacement for the scheduled March 13 match at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

“Manny Pacquiao will give him (Mayweather) a lot of problems.”

Pacquiao did that to Clottey over the weekend, pummeling the pride of Accra, Ghana with thundering body shots and left hooks, while confusing him for most of the time with his lightning quickness on the way to scoring a one-sided decision.

“I am very strong, but the guy (Pacquia) is just too fast and very good. That’s why I respect him for being the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world,” Clottey added. “It’s very hard to catch him. He’s too fast.”

For Mayweather to keep pace with Pacquiao, Clottey said he must be in perfect condition like he did for the biggest bout of his career.

“I trained a lot and is in good condition, that’s why I took a lot of punches and never hurt me,” said the Ghanaian, who earned his biggest paycheck of $1.25 million for challenging Pacquiao.

Despite what many saw as a lackluster performance by the African fighter, Clottey vows to comeback strong in his next fight.

“I will be going back strong and ready to take on the big name again,” he said.

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HE REALLY WANTS PRETTY BOY

Manny Pacquiao holding an improvised fan bearing the image of Pretty Boy

By Gerry Ramos

HOLLYWOOD – With no drug testing protocol involved, Manny Pacquiao admitted it’s really his dream match to square off with Floyd Mayweather Jr. inside the ring.

“Siya naman talaga ang gusto kong makalaban at talunin,” said the Pacman after finally settling in here two days following his dominant win over Joshua Clottey in Dallas in their World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight championship fight.

In retaining his 147-pound title, it can’t be helped to ask Pacquiao about his thoughts on meeting the unbeaten loudmouth American next after their supposed fight failed to materialize when Mayweather demanded that both of them undergo random, Olympic-style drug testing before and after the bout.

“It’s up to him if he wants to fight me. No problem with me. I’m ready to fight all the time,” said the 31-year old champion from the Philippines.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, said a showdown with Mayweather is the fight the world wants to see as it featured two of the best boxers in the world today.

But for that to finally materialize, Mayweather has to win his May 1 World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title bout with Sugar Shane Mosley.

And of course, leave the drug testing procedure alone under the auspices of the boxing commission in-charge.

“Get into the ring Floyd and fight us,’ Roach said in issuing the challenge to the former Olympian.

Bob Arum, whose Top Rank Promotions holds the rights on Pacquiao, agrees with Roach, the man he repeatedly proclaimed as the `best trainer in the world today’.

“If that fight should take place, Mayweather has to sign a waver contract, with all the strenuous issues not to be raised,” said Arum. “The issue of drug testing is not for a fighter to be raised, there are absolute people who are in-charged of these issues.”

This developed as Wakee Salud, a close adviser of Pacquiao, believes the bout with Mayweather will definitely happen since money is the major reason why the American boxer decided to come out of retirement and fight again.

Pacquiao, he pointed out, is the big name in boxing today, and a bout with the seven-time world champion is easily translated into a huge payday as what David Diaz, Miguel Cotto and Clottey later found out.

“Alam naman nating kaya bumalik si Mayweather dahil kay Pacquiao. Alam niya yung potential nung fight with Pacquiao. He wants to earn a lot especially with reports saying about his problem with taxes,” said Salud.

“Kaya sigurado mangyayari yan.”

In the event it happens, the former boxing manager and promoter didn’t have second thoughts as to who will emerge victorious.

“Si Manny is very unbeatable right now,” he added.

But Mayweather believess it is Pacquiao who needs him the most.

“All roads lead to Floyd Mayweather Jr. We all know that,” said Mayweather.

“If he wants to fight me, he doesn’t have to look far. Just look for the biggest mansion in Vegas and that’s me.”

Mayweather stressed he wants to see how Pacquiao and Roach will react once he beats Mosley two months from now and prove that’s still the best-for-pound fighter in the world, a universally-recognized title the Filipino assumed following Mayweather’s abrupt retirement in 2007.

“Once I get Mosley out of the way, we’ll see what Pacquiao has to say. Until then, I don’t want to hear about him or nothing,” Mayweather added.

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BIG IN TEXAS

By Gerry Ramos

DALLAS – Everything is bigger in Texas as they say.


And Manny Pacquiao was more than willing to oblige.

The pride of the Philippines put on a dominant show for the crowd of 50,994 to see, outclassing and outpunching Joshua Clottey for 12 full rounds in retaining his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title Saturday night.

No knockdown was scored in the first ever major boxing fight to be held at the Cowboys Stadium here, but Pacquiao clearly was head and shoulder above his bigger but passive opponent, whom he repeatedly punished with crunching blows to the body from the opening bell onwards in posting the one-sided victory.

The champion was in total command of the bout – the biggest crowd to watch a fight in the last 17 years – that one judge (Duane Ford) had Pacquiao winning every round (120-108), while the two others (Levi Martinez and Nelson Vasquez) gave him all but one (119-109), with Clottey taking the third round.

“I though we won every round,” said Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach after the fight. “We pressured him. He had a good defense, but good defense isn’t enough to win the fight.”

Dominant as he was, Pacquiao (51-3, 38 KOs) admitted Clottey was a tough foe, the first one to last the distance against the world’s top pound-for-pound king since Juan Manuel Marquez in 2008.

“It was not an easy fight. I can’t believe it. I threw a lot of jabs in the beginning to counter his hook and uppercut,” said the 31-year old seven-time world champion.

“Yes, I felt his power,” admitted Pacquiao, who wore a small bruise just under his right eye by the end of the bout. ‘He’s so strong. I could tell he was looking to land the big shot throughout the fight.’

That big shot never came about for Clottey (35-4, 21 KOs) as the 32-year old challenger from Accra, Ghana kept his guards up throughout and threw occasional combinations on Pacquiao only in spurt.

CompuBox showed Pacquiao connecting on 232 out of the 682 power punches he threw, while Clottey only landed 82 of 237.

The boxing star made 246 of the incredible 1,231 total punches he had for the fight, compared to the 108 out of the 399 Clottey did.

“He has very good movement. He has great speed,” said Clottey afterwards in his thick African accent. “It was very difficult for me to handle. I didn’t feel his power. It’s just that his speed was too much for me.”

Pacquiao, who is guaranteed to earn a $12 million fight purse, was never in trouble the entire fight, landing a barrage of punches in each and every round as he tried to press Clottey and forced him to open up.

But the challenger refused to engage, reluctant at taking chances and appeared more inclined of surviving instead, the biggest fight of his career.

“In a world title fight, when a guy is trying hard to survive, it’s hard to knock him out,” said Roach.

Lenny De Jesus, Clottey’s trainer and former cutman of Pacquiao, believes the Ghanaian has the ability to hurt Pacquiao, but was not willing to engage the Filipino southpaw in a mano-a-mano exchange.

“Joshua Clottey had the power to knock him out but was reluctant to punch,” DeJesus said. “We clearly got beat. I don’t think he won a round.”

Clottey was clearly humble in defeat.

“If I lose, I would tell you I lose. And this time, I lost to Manny Pacquiao,” said Clottey, who earned $1.25 million, the biggest of his boxing career.

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THIS IS IT, FOLKS

Pacquiao (left) and Clottey

By Gerry Ramos

DALLAS - Joshua Clottey looks a mere mortal when lined up along with the kind of opponents Manny Pacquiao faced and had beaten in a couple of fights the last two years.


But even without the charisma of Oscar De La Hoya or the technical skills of a Juan Manuel Marquez, Clottey remains a very dangerous foe even for a venerated warrior such as the world’s pound-for-pound king.

Ready to go to war, the Philippine pride still approaches with enough caution his 12-round fight against Clottey on Saturday night when he puts his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title on the line.

From experience to the great odds (8-1), all points to Pacquiao (50-3, 38 KOs) scoring a win before an expected big crowd at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, the so-called `Eight Wonder of the World.’

But Clottey, obviously the bigger between the two, wouldn’t be cowed in fear, boldly vowing to pull an upset on this same Texas City that is home to the Cowboys and Dirk Nowitzki and his Mavericks.

“I will shock the world,” said the 32-year old challenger from Accra, Ghana as a crowd of 2,000 gathered at the plazas outside of the Cowboys Stadium on a windy Friday morning when the official weigh-in for the fight was held.

“I’m very much ready. And I want the whole world to know who I am.”

Clottey (35-3, 21 KOs) weighed-in at exactly 147 lb, although he was allowed prematurely to tip the scales 20 minutes before the actual proceeding just to check if he’s on target of the welterweight limit.

Come fight time, the Ghanaian is expected to be at 160 lb.

Asked about the physical disparity once they finally squares off in the ring, Pacquiao just shrugged off the thought.

‘Tingnan na lang natin sa ring,” said the champion, who came in at 145 and ¾ lb.

“Ganyan rin naman ang sinabi nila noon kay (Oscar) De La Hoya, Hatton at Cotto. Tayo naman laging handa at lumalaban. May the best man win na lang.”

Trainer Freddie Roach more than welcomes a bigger Clottey climbing the ring.

“The more he weighs, the happy I will be,” he said.

Pacquiao, 31, is expected to be at around 149 during the fight, a weight which Roach referred to as just perfect for the seven-time world champion.

“We’re right where we wanna be,” Roach added.

A guaranteed purse of $12 million and more await Pacquiao by the end of the bout, although he could have earned even bigger had the original plan to pit him and unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. fell into place right on this very same date.

But disagreement on the matter involving drug test shot down the potential showdown many projected to be the biggest and richest match ever in the history of prizefighting.

And so the Filipino southpaw had to slug it out instead with Clottey, who may not be in the same level as Mayweather, but is a solid, durable defensive fighter with a great chin and hasn’t been knocked down in 38 fights.

The match will be Clottey’s biggest in terms of prize purse ($1.5 million), and comes in the heel of his controversial split decision loss to Miguel Cotto in June last year in a fight many believed the former International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight champion won.

“He (Pacquiao) doesn’t take anyone lightly,” Roach admitted. “If he were going to fight you, he wouldn’t take you lightly, or me.”

In preparing for the bout, Pacquiao, coming off a 12-round stoppage of Cotto four months ago, trained the same way he did before, reporting in training camp for seven straight weeks and sparring a total of 142 rounds.

Unlike this time, the champion didn’t have problem with his weight and has the luxury of eating full meals everyday.

On weighing day itself, Pacquiao tipped the scale at 144 when he woke up, and then was down at 142 following a rigid morning walk.

For him to gain weight, the General Santos City native had a lunch of stake, asparagus and white rice.

“He’s really happy when he eats. He didn’t starve himself. He’s having a good meal now,” Roach said.

“Pacquiao is ready now. Very much ready.”

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BARRERA ROOTS FOR PACMAN

Barrera

By Gerry Ramos


DALLAS – The man whom Manny Pacquiao used as springboard for superstardom is exactly rooting for him to get past Joshua Clottey in their welterweight title fight Saturday.


The great Mexican warrior Marco Antonio Barrera didn’t think twice when pressed as to who he thinks will win the main event of the first ever boxing promotion to be held at the fantastic Dallas Cowboys Stadium here.

“Pacquiao wins by unanimous decision,” said Barrera, now 36, in broken English when chanced upon the porch of the sprawling Gaylord Texan Hotel.

It was seven years ago in another Texas City in San Antonio when Pacquiao began his rise to legendary status following a stunning 11th round stoppage of Barrera in a fight the then pound-for-pound fighter in the world was hoping to use as tune up for another showdown with fellow Mexican Erik Morales.


Since then, the Filipino southpaw has not looked back, assuming the title pound-for-pound king once Barrera held and reigning as the top boxer in the world today.

He was equally dominant in a 12-round unanimous decision opposite Barrera in their 2007 rematch.

Holder of a record 65-7, with 43 KOs, Barrera is a seven-time world champion in three different weight divisions and best remembered for his classic rivalry with Morales. He hasn’t retired from boxing yet, but lost his last fight against Amir Khan in March 2009.

Barrera said if a knockout would occur in the Pacquiao-Clottey bout, it probably will come in later rounds.

“Knockout by ninth and up, because it’s going to be a tough match,” he stressed.

In the biggest fight of his career, Clottey comes in as a late replacement for Floyd Mayweather Jr., with whom Pacquiao failed to compromise on the drug testing procedure to be administered in their aborted mega-fight.

But be it Mayweather, Barrera is picking Pacquiao to win.

“Third round Pacquiao,” said the Mexican, radiant in his overall blue suit.

Barrera doesn’t believe Mayweather is afraid of facing Pacquiao in the ring, the reason why he demanded that the two of them be subjected on a random-style drug testing.

“Maybe, he (Mayweather) just wants more money,” he added.

Another Mexican in Jorge Arce, the reigning WBO super-flyweight champion, is picking Pacquiao to win.

“It’s going to be Pacquiao by unanimous decision because he’s the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today,” said Arce, who beat Indonesian Angky Angkota in January this year to snatch the WBO crown.

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ROACH SEES KO WIN

Roach
By Gerry Ramos

DALLAS – There’s always a first time.

CAN HE MAKE IT?

Joshua Clottey and trainer Lenny De Jesus

By Gerry Ramos

DALLAS – The signs are all there for boxing experts not to see.


With 36 hours before the official weigh-in for his world title fight with Manny Pacquiao, it appears challenger Joshua Clottey is struggling to meet the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.

Working out ahead of Pacquiao Thursday afternoon, Clottey run around the Gaylord Texan Hotel wearing a thermal suit.

And when finally inside the convention center where the makeshift ring stands, what the 32-year old Ghanaian mostly did was to skip ropes.

Roger Fernandez, the Filipino assistant trainer of Pacquiao, was all witnessed to that as he quietly slipped inside the gym at a time when Clottey’s team was still working out.

“Ang lalim ng mata, tapos humpak dito sa pisngi,” said Fernandez, gesturing to both sides of his jaw. “Pagtapos, nung nag-hubad, ang lalim din ng katawan. Tuyung-tuyo na.”

Lenny De Jesus, the challenger’s trainer, said upon arrival in this Texan City that Clottey is already down to 148 pounds and would have no problem making the weight.

None among Clottey’s corner men would admit his last-minute struggle with the weight. An insider however, verified the report as true, but claimed the former International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight king will be able to make the weight.

In contrast, Pacquiao weighed 146 pounds on his final working day, when he even had a full meal of pakbet and nilagang baka for lunch.

Informed about the matter, Freddie Roach wasn’t surprised at all.

“See how small he looks right now and frail. You see him with Manny together yesterday (press conference), he’s not that big. But by fight time he will grow,” he said.

Clottey declared that on fight night, he’ll be coming in at around 160, a statement that didn’t escape the attention of Roach.

“Obviously, if a guy comes in the ring like 160, 165 pounds, he has trouble making weight,” Pacquiao’s trainer stressed.

And definitely, he said, that would be to their advantage.

“Gaining too much weight is not good for a fighter. It makes him sluggish,” he added.
Fernandez agrees.

“Dalawang matinding suntok lang sa tagiliran, baka tumumba yan,” said the brother of Buboy Fernandez.

And when taunted that Pacquiao would be brought to the hospital bruised and battered after the fight as claimed by Clottey’s cook and dietician Kwaku Gyamfi, also known as the `Alligator’, Fernandez just let out an impish smile.

“Tingnan na lang natin kung sino ang dadalhin sa ospital,” he said.

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STARTING FAST

Pacquiao handwrapping himself

By Gerry Ramos


DALLAS - On Saturday night (Sunday morning, Manila time), it would be like Oscar De La Hoya all over again.


Freddie Roach anticipates Manny Pacquiao to come out roaring and be as busy as a bee in the opening minutes of his welterweight title fight against Joshua Clottey at the amazing Dallas Cowboys Stadium here.

Pacquiao was exactly like that when he faced the bigger and stronger De La Hoya when they square off in the ring two years ago at the MGM Grand in a fight that came to a stunning finish when the Golden Boy quit on his stool and failed to answer the bell for round 9.

Roach sees the same Pacquiao blueprint perfectly working on Clottey.

“Like Oscar, in and out. Attack him, make him miss. Accuracy,” said the soft spoken and highly-respected trainer just after holding the World Boxing Organization (WBO) 147-pound champion’s final workout prior to the weekend match.

“Control him all night long,” added Roach. “Just don’t let him set, keep turning him. Control him. Hit and then get out of the way, under and out, under and out, both sides.”

Converted into a makeshift gym, the atmosphere at the convention center of the Gaylord Texan Hotel was very loose as Roach, Pacquiao, strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza and assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez went about with their fight strategy for the last time.

After granting interviews to crews of two giant tv network from the Philippines, Pacquiao proceeded with his business, warming up, stretching and doing some shadow boxing.

And then its off to the mitts with Roach, engaging his trainer for five solid rounds without let-up, not even minding the one minute-break in between rounds.

As Pacquiao let loose a booming left for his final punch, Roach turned his back to the champion and hollered, `Ok, go home,’ sending into laughter the small crowd that gathered around the ring to watch the pound-for-pound king in action.

“It’s more talking than punching,” said Roach of the hour-long session. “I don’t want him to do much. I just serve and move myself in a position that Clottey does, and he (Pacquiao) knew exactly what to do with the positions.”

“He’s a hundred percent ready.’

In all, Roach said in a seven-week span, Pacquiao sparred a total of 142 pounds in training camp which he referred to as the `smoothest I ever had.’

With everything else all accounted for, the thought of the 31-year old Pacquiao briefly shunning away from the fight plan is what only concerns the four-time winner of the Trainer of the Year award.

The Filipino southpaw did that in his last fight against Miguel Cotto when he allowed himself to be cornered on the ropes, a major no-no against a quality fighter like Clottey, according to Roach.

“He should not let himself lined up on the ropes or fall into pocket and fight inside with this guy, because he’s good with his uppercut and his head. If Manny stands there and let him do that, he can bang his head or get hit,” said Roach, wary of the power the challenger from Ghana possessed as he describes Clottey as a better puncher than Cotto.

“Why would you consider giving this guy a chance. So don’t do anything stupid like that.”

But the 50-year old trainer is confident Pacquiao won’t be committing the same mistake again.

“I don’t see than happening because his focus is so good and his mindset is perfect right now,” Roach said.

The official weigh-in for the bout, set over 12 rounds, is scheduled Friday also at the Cowboys Stadium.

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Pacquiao (left) and Clottey

DALLAS - As the current top pound-for-pound fighter in the world and the hottest name in boxing today, Joshua Clottey has a lot of respect going for Manny Pacquiao.
Expect the 32-year old Ghanaian to wear a totally different face though, once the two steps on the ring Saturday night.

Without being indifference to Pacquiao’s vaunted power, Clottey said he can’t wait to finally come face-to-face with the Filipino pride for him to personally test once and for all if there is any truth to the Pacman’s legendary speed and strength.

“I want to see if I’m gonna feel Manny Pacquiao’s punches. Call me crazy, but I just want to see that,” Clottey told reporters who gathered around him shortly after the final press conference for his 12-round fight with Pacquiao for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title.

“I wanted to see what he can do because he’s the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.”

Clottey spoke highly of Pacquiao during the hour-long event held at the sprawling Dallas Cowboys Stadium, where the two fighters were joined by their respective trainers Lenny De Jesus and Freddie Roach as well as Top Rank Promotions’ Bob Arum and Dallas Cowboys team owner and general manager Jerry Jones.

Dressed in a white long sleeve over jeans, the challenger even thanked both Arum and Pacquiao for giving him the once in a lifetime opportunity to be in a fight as major as this one.

But like any other fighter, he said boxing is business and admiration is best left outside the ring.

“I’ll make sure that if I throw a few (punches) it’s going to connect. And I’m going to cause damage. I believe in that,” said Clottey, who holds a two inch advantage in height (5-foot-8) and 1 and half inch in reach (68) over the seven-time world champion.

“If he’s going to throw a thousand punches, then I’ll block a thousand punches. And that will get him thinking I’m not going to back up. I’m not going to go backward. I’m going to stay there. I’ll make him fight. I want him to fight for the first time.”

As usual, Pacquiao, wearing a black-red jacket with matching fedora hat, was gracious to his African opponent, whom he referred to as a `very nice person’ in a manner opposite to his menacing personality inside the ring.

He never forgot too, to say how he will impress the crowd of about 40,000 who will troop to the $1.2 billion stadium, stressing he doesn’t want to disappoint them.

So off went Roach to the rescue, putting some zing to the event by coming up with a few juicy quotes alluding to Clottey’s fight plan.

“Blocking punches doesn’t win fights,” said the four-time Trainer of the Year. “I think we can stop him in the late rounds. The accumulation of punches he’ll be taking in this fight he’s never seen before. I don’t think he’ll be able to handle it.”

With no bad blood existing between the two, both Pacquiao and Clottey were all smiles during their customary face-off at the center of the stage shortly after the press conference, with the lovely Dallas Cowgirls cheering them behind.

It was the same thing when they stood back to back and side to side.

When it was over, Clottey (35-3, 21 KOs) even gave Pacquiao (50-3, 38 KOs) a warm hug before taking separate ways at the opposite end of the stage.

“No matter what happens in the ring, my respect for him will remain,” said Clottey, the former International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight king.

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MANNY NOT UNDERESTIMATING CLOTTEY

Pacquiao and Roach

By Gerry Ramos

DALLAS - Manny Pacquiao is not about to get carried away by the odds showing him as the overwhelming favorite to get past the bigger and stronger Joshua Clottey this Saturday.


“I never underestimate Joshua Clottey,” Pacquiao acknowledged before a throng of media men that showed up to cover his public workout Tuesday at the Gaylord Texan Texan Hotel and Convention Center.

A week into the March 13 showdown, the Filipino southpaw has been installed as an 8-5 favorite.

In as much as he’s prepared for the 12-round title fight at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight bout, Pacquiao also believes his challenger from Ghana is in the same frame of mind as well.

“I think he’s also ready for the fight. He’s bigger than me and strong. He’s 100 percent conditioned,” said the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter today, who was cheered on by a crowd of 400 during the workout that took about two hours to be completed.

With Freddie Roach beside him and within hearing distance, the American trainer disagreed that size will decide the outcome of the match.

Like in Pacquiao’s previous fights opposite bigger opponents such as Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, Roach said speed and skill will again proved to be the big difference.

“I don’t think size wins fights,” said Roach, the four-time Trainer of the Year. “I think skill does. He (Clottey) may be a little stronger than Manny on the inside, he might hit a little harder, but I think our speed will nullify that.”

When Pacquiao was asked to predict about a possible knockout, Roach butted in and said, `that’s my job.’

Roach said he already had the 32-year old Clottey all sized up.

“He’ll wait for you to throw a combination and then, when you’ve stopped, he’ll throw back. So if you stand in front of him, you’re an idiot,” said the Roach, who turned 50 just a week ago.

“We’re not going to do that. He’s not going to be able to find us.’

Aware that Clottey also has the penchant for headbutting and using his elbow when fighting, Roach stressed even that had been worked out.

“Sometimes he uses his head. If you fall into the pocket with him, his best punch is an uppercut and his second best punch is a headbutt. So we’re not going in there. We’re going to fight him at a distance.”

Roach and Pacquiao sparred for several rounds at the mitts, bringing cheers to a mixed crowd of Filipinos and foreigners who watched him tirelessly at the sideline and repeatedly serenaded him by chanting Manny! Manny! Manny!

The Filipino boxing champion shadowed box for several minutes, went down the ring and did the speed ball to the delight of the fans, then went up again for a few abdominal exercises.

When it was over, Pacquiao quickly dressed up and obliged in signing autographs and allowing photo ops.

Earlier, the seven-time world champion presented a favorite bottle of wine said to be the favorite of Dallas Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones in a short ceremony prior to the workout that Top Rank Promotions Bob Arum also attended.

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NO PACMAN PARTY

By Gerry Ramos



DALLAS - Better for Manny Pacquiao to call off his post-fight party this Saturday.


If Joshua Clottey’s dietician and cook is to be believed, the Filipino ring sensation is likely to spend the rest of the night recovering in a hospital somewhere in downtown of this Texas city.

In a show of braggadocio, Kwaku Gyamfi, the Ghanaian tasked to cook food for the 32-year old challenger, proclaimed that the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion is going to end up battered and bruised by the time their 12-round fight is over this weekend.

“For the first time, Manny won’t be able to perform (for his post-fight party) as he’ll go straight to the hospital by then,” the plump, bearded and outspoken countryman of Clottey told Manila-based sportswriters at the lobby of the Gaylord Texan Hotel and Convention Center here.

It has been customary for Pacquiao to hold post-fight party after every fight as had been the case in Las Vegas.

This time, the event has been set at the Texas Rangers Memorial Center Auditorium, just minutes away from the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, site of the 12-round match.

But no need for that, Gyamfi pointed out.

“His (Pacquiao) face will all be cut up and bruised. He’s going to be hit by a brick,” said the dietician, who has known Clottey for almost seven years now.

The 31-year old Pacquiao has not been knocked down since kissing the canvas in round four of his non-title fight against Serikzhan Yeshmangbetov at the Luneta in 2003. The seven-time world champion bounced back in the fifth round to score a technical knockout.

While Gyamfi revealed in the Pacquiao-Clottey primer entitled `Road To Dallas’, that salmon and vegetables are what consist the Ghanaians’ nutritional regimen during training camp, he said its `African food that makes him (Clottey) strong.’

Not as candid as Gyamfi, but confident as well of a Clottey win is trainer Lenny de Jesus.

The former Pacquiao cutman said that he has a lot of respect for both Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach.

But in as much as Roach has a surprise for them, he said `I have a surprise for them, too.’

“This is going to be an interesting fight,” said De Jesus, who worked in the corner of Pacquiao as cutman during his match with Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Fahsan 3K Battery, Emmanuel Lucero and the first Erik Morales fight.

De Jesus added that he’s aware Roach knows this is going to be a tough match for the Filipino southpaw judging by the way the four-time Trainer of the Year has been behaving of late.

“You can tell it because he (Roach) is not talking too much,” said De Jesus of his former superior. “If he knows this is going to be an easy fight, he would be talking a lot. But he’s very careful.”

In his entire eight-week camp, Clottey sparred for just 90 rounds against lefty sparmates compared to the 142 of Pacquiao.

De Jesus has a valid explanation for that.

“Because we keep on sending them (sparmates) out of the ring after every four rounds,” slightly stressing how Clottey had all been dominating them.

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PACMAN IN DALLAS

Pacquiao with wife Jinkee upon arrival in Dallas

By Gerry Ramos


DALLAS – A warm welcome amidst the cool weather greeted Manny Pacquiao here late Monday night when he finally arrived in this historic city of Texas five days before battling Joshua Clottey in a 12-round title fight for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt.


The 31-year old Filipino was with trainer Freddie Roach, strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, along with a host of others who make up the bloated manifesto of 141 people that boarded the 170-seater Miami Air International Boeing 737 from Los Angeles to the Forth Worth Alliance airport here.

A throng of media men from both print and broadcast endured the biting cold as they await the reigning champion to disembark from the aircraft bearing the large image of him.

Once Pacquiao touched ground in the state where former U.S President Kennedy was killed, he only vowed for one thing.

“I am going to put on a great show for the fight fans,” he said without giving specifics if there will be a knockout or not in Saturday’s main event.

It was the first time Pacquiao rode a chartered flight for an upcoming fight. His last six fights were held in Las Vegas, where his team just frequently rides in convoys of vehicles, or in the customized Pacquiao bus that has become the norm the last two years since his meeting with Oscar De La Hoya.

“This is much better because we all get to travel together,” said Pacquiao smiling, unmindful of the stunned reaction by Top Rank officials upon seeing the big number of people who are part of the champion’s entourage.

After the short media interviews, Pacquiao was quickly frisked at a waiting Navigator and, followed by three buses - one of which again bore images of him – drove off for the 35-minute travel to the Gaylord Texan Hotel and Convention Center, where he was met by Top Rank Promotions’ chairman Bob Arum.

After taking dinner, Pacquiao retreated to his exclusive suite at the sixth floor of the hotel as he is scheduled to do roadwork in the early morning of Tuesday.

By afternoon, the world’s top pound-for-pound king will hold his own public workout at the basement of the same hotel.

Clottey held his own media workout Monday afternoon, a day upon arriving here from his training camp in Florida.

Pacquiao closed out his seven-week training camp at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles earlier, going three rounds with sparmate Ray Beltran a few hours before departing for Texas.

In all, the seven-time world champion sparred 142 rounds since coming over to the U.S. middle of January.

The General Santos City native was actually asking for more when his round of mitts with Roach was over.

The four-time Trainer of the Year wouldn’t have none of it.

“Take a rest. Dress up. We’re leaving for Dallas,” Roach reminded Pacquiao.

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PACQUIAO OFF TO TEXAS

Pacquiao: Battle-ready

By Gerry Ramos

HOLLYWOOD - Reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight king Manny Pacquiao and his entourage head to Arlington, Texas today, fully armed and battle-ready in facing one of the biggest and toughest challenges in the Filipino boxing superstar’s Hall of Fame career.

A chartered plane that leaves here at around 3 p.m. Monday will bring Pacquiao and around 150 people to Arlington, the seventh-largest city in Texas, following a three-hour flight covering 1,251 miles.

The fantastic $1.2 billion Dallas Cowboys Stadium owned by billionaire Jerry Jones will be the site of Pacquiao’s 12-round title fight against Joshua Clottey of Ghana this Saturday.

This marks the first time in three years that the 31-year old southpaw from General Santos City is fighting outside of Las Vegas since scoring an eight round knockout of Mexican Jorge Solis in San Antonio, Texas in 2007.

The change in venue and atmosphere hardly deters the champion, staking for the first time the 147-pound title belt he won four months ago with a 12th round technical knockout of Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.

“OK na. Ready na tayo,” said Pacquiao Sunday afternoon at his posh Palazzo Apartment here, where he personally supervised the final day of the three-week long weight loss challenge he put up for his bloated staff.

Pacquiao skipped his road work yesterday, and instead attended Mass at the nearby Christ The King Church accompanied by his close family members and friends.

He later had lunch at his $2 million house located just outside of the upscale Los Angeles neighborhood of Hancock Park.

Prior to his departure for Texas, Pacquiao will be doing his final sparring in training camp at the Wild Card gym as he is scheduled to go four rounds against old hand Ray Beltran.

“Maintain na lang tayo. Walang problema sa timbang,” he told Manila-based sportwriters.

Asked on whether he’s having problem meeting the 147-weight limit, Pacquiao smiled and said, “hindi. Kain nga tayo ng kain e.”

Pacquiao is arriving in Texas a day after Clottey planes in. The challenger is set to hold his public workout at the Convention Hall of the Gaylord Texan Hotel on Monday, while the champion does his own on Tuesday.

The final press conference of the match dubbed `The Event’ and promoted by Top Rank is on Wednesday.

With less than a week before finally facing Clottey in the ring, Pacquiao wished his opponent the best.

“Good luck sa aming dalawa. May the best man wins,” said the Filipino.

American Tim Sladeck, meanwhile, emerged the best man in the weight loss challenge participated by 87 personnel and friends close to Pacquiao.

Sladeck, also an associate of Pacquiao adviser Michael Konz, won the top prize of $20,000 for losing the most in weight during the three-week contest. The winner lost a total of 49 pounds, going down from 214 to 165.

He also won an additional $3,000 as the contest rules call for participants to lose 15 percent of their body weight. Sladeck lost 22.5 percent of his body weight.

In all, 38 participants were able to meet the test and took home $3,000 each, bringing Pacquiao’s total prize close to $135,000 or about P6.3 million.

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HEAVY PICK

By Gerry Ramos

HOLLYWOOD – It’s not unusual for Manny Pacquiao to be picked as the odds-on favorite in several of his major fights in the past.

Not as overwhelming as this one, though.

As the countdown begins for the March 13 welterweight title fight between Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the great Filipino fighter has been installed as an 8-5 bet to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) championship belt.

Translated, the figures meant an $800 bet on the Pacman would only win $100, whereas a $100 bet on Clottey could earn as much as $500 in return.

This is the third straight time Pacquiao finds himself as the one favored to win, although it’s not as tremendous as the odds were in his fights against Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.

The universally acknowledged pound-for-pound fighter in the world today was a 5-3 favorite when betting odds opened moments after the 12-round match was sealed in January.

Odds are also stacked in the champion’s favor on whether the fight will go beyond nine rounds or not.

The `Wont Go’ for 9 rounds proposition read at +140, meaning it might be over from rounds 1 to 8, while the `Will Go’ beyond nine rounds side is at -180.

Top Rank Promotions’ Bob Arum however, believes the figures will even out a bit better come fight time, with Pacquiao still favored to win.

“The proper odds on the fight are probably two and a half to one,” he said.

Clottey, fighting the biggest bout of his career, is unmindful about what the odds say about his chances of pulling off perhaps one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

“I’m very, very hundred percent for sure that I am the only one who can beat him (Pacquiao),” said the challenger from Ghana, whose entourage is expected to arrive in Texas today.

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NOT JUST A BRAWLER ANYMORE

Stevie Forbes

By Gerry Ramos

HOLLYWOOD – Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-featherweight champion Stevie Forbes is the first to attest that Manny Pacquiao is more than just the knockout artist majority of boxing fans perceived him to be.

After being part of Pacquiao’s horde of sparmates in training camp for next week’s title defense against Joshua Clottey, Forbes, 33, certified that Pacquiao is also a very good technical fighter himself.

“He is a lot better technically than people would give him credit,” said Forbes on his final day in training camp at the famed Wild Card gym here.

“I mean he’s been demolishing guys so it’s hard to gauge. You always saw him as a brawler, but he’s not. He’s a technician. A good, skilled technician that gets better each time out,” said Forbes of the current pound-for-pound king, who boasts of a ring record of 50-3, with 38 KOs.

Forbes, a finalist in the popular ESPN reality show `The Contender, Season 2,’ is one of six sparring partners brought in by Freddie Roach to get Pacquiao in shape for his March 13 face-off with Clottey at the $1.2 billion Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Other than him, also sparring with Pacquiao for a total of 142 rounds in training camp were Dave Rodela, Ray Beltran, Shawn Porter, Jose Benavidez and Clottey’s countryman Abdullay Amidu.

Forbes (34-7, 10 KOs) won the IBF super-featherweight belt with an eight round technical knockout of John Brown 10 years ago.

After making a successful title defense against Brown in a rematch, he eventually lost the crown when he failed to make the weight in his bout against David Santos.

He would get his biggest break in 2008 during his the post-The Contender, Season 2 stint when he fought ring legend Oscar De La Hoya and lost a one-sided unanimous decision.

De La Hoya used that fight against Forbes as tune up for his December showdown with Pacquiao.

When asked about the Pacquiao-Clottey fight, Forbes didn’t think twice who he thinks will emerge victorious.

“Clottey is a tough guy, but I just see him being overwhelmed by too many punches, too many angles, too much speed and placement of punches,” he said.

One thing is going for the challenger from Ghana, though.

“He’ll be going to be noted in this fight as being super-tough, with the number of shots he’ll be taking, because I just see Manny overwhelming him with activity, speed, punching power and precision,” Forbes added.

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SHARP MANNY

Freddie Roach

By Gerry Ramos

HOLLYWOOD – As the final week of Manny Pacquiao’s title bout with Joshua Clottey approaches, Freddie Roach is becoming more convinced his prized ward is now battle-ready even if the fight is held tomorrow.

Boxing’s current best trainer was impressed with the way the ring icon from the Philippines sparred for six rounds Saturday that he declared it’s the `best I’ve ever seen Manny Pacquiao.”

“Manny looked very, very sharp today. I’ve never seen him sharper,” said Roach at the end of the second to the last training day they will be holding at the Wildcard gym before departing next week for Arlington Texas, site of the 12-round match dubbed `The Event.’

Roach certainly likes what he is seeing that the four-time winner of the Trainer of the Year award mentioned the fight for Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title may not even reach round 9, the period he earlier predicted Clottey will go down.

“He’s (Clottey) a tough guy, but he’s not gonna last 6-7 rounds. He’s going to be overwhelmed with the punches.

“It will not go the distance.”

The 50-year old disciple of the late great trainer Eddie Futch stressed they intend to have a fast start the moment the first bell rings.

“We’re gonna throw him off in the first four rounds. He has never been attack like this before,” Roach said.

Pacquiao did exactly that in sparring, swarming on both David Rodela and Abdullay Amidu, who traded bombs with the Pacman for three rounds each.

Focus the pound-for-pound king was that he bloodied once again the nose of Rodela, who looked to be on the verge of getting knocked down.

“I thought he’s gonna knock down David out for a minute, but David hang in there,” Roach said.

Pacquiao is set to spar four more rounds with old reliable Rey Beltran on Monday morning, bringing to a total of 142 the rounds the boxing icon did in seven weeks of training camp.

Later in the afternoon, a chartered flight will bring Pacquiao and his entourage, numbering to about 150, to Dallas, Texas, around 1,251 miles from here following a three-hour flight.

Earlier, Pacquiao jogged for about an hour at the Pan Pacific Park here, unmindful of the cloudy and cool weather that has been the norm in L.A. the past few days.

Shortly after running, Dr. Allan Recto checked Pacquiao’s pulse rate and was amazed that it was at the range of just 52 beats per minute.

“He’s really in top condition,” said Recto, the Texas-based doctor involved not only with Pacquiao, but with other world boxing bodies as well.

Recto explained that well-conditioned athletes usually have a lower beat per minute than the regular rate of 60.

“And considering that he’s fresh off a strenuous exercise, dapat talaga mataas ang pulse rate niya,” said Recto.

In contrast, Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, according to Recto, has a pulse rate of 140 beat per minute shortly after joining Pacquiao in his early morning routine.

Recto will also supervised the judgment day for the weight loss contest involving some 87 personnel and friends close to Pacquiao.

A prize of $3,000 await whoever manages to lose 15 percent of their body weight inside three weeks. The one who loses the most in weight will be receiving the grand prize of $20,000.

The results of the contest will be made at Pacquiao’s posh Palazzo apartment in the afternoon after the seven-time world champion and his family attend the early Sunday morning mass at the nearby Christ The King church.

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FREDDIE ROACH TURNS 50

Manny Pacquiao presents Freddie Roach with a birthday cake

By Gerry Ramos

HOLLYWOOD – Master trainer Freddie Roach celebrated his golden year Friday.

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CHAVEZ JR ROOTS FOR PACQUIAO

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. hooks up with Manny Pacquiao

By Gerry Ramos

HOLLYWOOD - The son of a boxing legend is leaning on a Manny Pacquiao victory over Joshua Clottey a week from now, although it’s definitely not going to be a breeze for the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion.

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THE EARLIER, THE BETTER

FREDDIE ROACH

By Gerry Ramos

HOLLYWOOD – It may be wishful thinking, but the earlier Manny Pacquiao stops challenger Joshua Clottey in their March 13 welterweight title fight, the better.

“If he gets him in one, I’m much happier, believe me,” Roach told a couple of Manila-based sportswriters shortly after seeing the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion go through eight rounds of sparring Thursday at the Wild Card gym here.

“But Clottey has never been knocked out before, and I don’t think that’s going to happen. But you never know.”

Clottey, 32, and from Accra, Ghana, but now based in Bronx, New York, has never been knocked down in his 39 pro fights, with all 3 of his losses coming either by unanimous decision or disqualification.

On Wednesday during Pacquiao’s open public workout, Roach, who turns 50 on March 5, boldly declared that the challenger won’t last the distance, even singling out that Clottey will break down come the ninth round.

Roach said he did mention round nine as the possible time when Clottey will go down since `they (reporters) forced me to pick a number.’

“And I pick no. 9 all the time because that’s my favorite number,” the four-time Trainer of the Year stressed.

And neither will he coerced Pacquiao to go for a knockout on the ninth round just because he predicted so.

“No, no, no,” he repeatedly said. “I would never do that.”

“But it won’t go 12 rounds, that’s my prediction.”

Roach pointed out Clottey, the former International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight champion, hasn’t fought a fighting machine like Pacquiao in his entire career.

And like the great Oscar De La Hoya, the great disciple of the great late trainer Eddie Futch believes Clottey will be forced to quit the 12-round fight.

“The thing is, he’ll be going to be overwhelmed by the punches, he’ll get it from so many angles. He’s never fought a guy who swarms over him like Manny Pacquiao,” said Roach.

“He’s not used to that. Like Oscar (De La Hoya), we’ll let him quit it, I feel.”

Roach felt more confident of a Pacquiao victory after the world’s top pound-for-pound king sparred for five rounds with Abdullay Amidu and old timer David Rodela.

The popular Filipino southpaw even had to take it easy on his long-time sparring partner the moment he bloodied the nose of Rodela with a bruising straight left.

“He looked really good, really sharp today. I’m very happy where he’s at, the game plan is in place and he knows what to do,” said Roach later.

Knowing that Clottey has a very dangerous uppercut, Roach has that thing taken cared of during training camp, now on its seventh week.

“He (Clottey) is very fine with it. So I want Manny to keep his distance, that’s what we’re working out in sparring. He did a beautiful job of keeping the distance today in sparring. He knows what I want,” Roach said, pointing out they’ll fight more like the way they did when Pacquiao fought Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez when the champion “slides out, slides to the side and uses the counterpunch.”

Six more rounds is scheduled on Saturday and four on Monday, after which, it’s off to Dallas in the final week leading up to the fight.

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SAME, SAME

Alex Ariza

BY Gerry Ramos

HOLLYWOOD – Other than focusing on Manny Pacquiao’s strength, the same formula and program the Filipino had in his last fight with Miguel Cotto apply in his preparation for his March 13 showdown with Joshua Clottey at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza mentioned that no changes were made in training camp, since the plan they did against Cotto is just as ideal against Clottey.

Ariza initially asked master trainer Freddie Roach if a new blueprint will be made for Pacquiao’s first defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown, but the four-time Trainer of the Year felt there’s no need to do so.

“There was no need to make changes. But we focused more on his strength training because of his (Clottey) size. Other than that, everything was the same and identical,” said Ariza, working on his fifth fight as Pacquiao’s conditioning coach since first coming on board in 2008 during the boxing icon’s lightweight title fight with David Diaz.

Outside of Pacquiao’s strength, the only other aspect Ariza tried to develop was the body of the seven-time world champion in order to `hold his weight.’

At the moment, Ariza said Pacquiao weighs 153 pounds, seven over the welterweight limit of 147.

But nothing to worry about it

“It’s no problem. He’s losing around three or four pounds after workout,” Ariza revealed.

The conditioning mentor from Colombia said they’re planning to maintain the weight until Pacquiao’s final workout on March 11.

“We plan on going all the way until his last workout to get to 147,” he added.

On the day of the formal weigh-in, Ariza plans to get Pacquiao not lower than 147 pounds. And by fight night, he expects the Filipino southpaw to come in at around 149 to 150 pounds.

“He has both speed and power, so we don’t want to change anything. It’s working,” Ariza said.

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CLOTTEY TO GO DOWN IN 9 -- ROACH

By Gerry Ramos

HOLLYWOOD – While Manny Pacquiao refuses to come up with a categorical statement whether he can knock out the bigger and stronger Joshua Clottey in their March 13 welterweight title fight, the man responsible for turning the Filipino ring icon into the
boxing great that he is today was more exact to the point.

Freddie Roach, the current best trainer in the brutal world of prize fighting, declared the 31-year old Pacquiao would put Clottey away later in their scheduled 12-round bout at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

And by later Roach specifically meant it could come sometime in the ninth round.

“A knockout in the ninth is likely,” said Roach, while awaiting Pacquiao to arrive at the Wildcard gym here for his scheduled media day workout on Wednesday.

Acknowledging that Clottey, the 32-year old challenger from Ghana, has a durable chin, Roach said that slowly Pacquiao “will break him (Clottey) down to the body.”

When pressed by the throng of media men who came over to watch the public workout about the possibility of scoring another knockout win, Pacquaio remains non-committal, again expressing his deep respect for the talent and power of Clottey.

“I never underestimate any of my opponents,” said the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) 147-pound king. “It’s really hard to say (about scoring a knockout). Of course, I believe in my power, but he also has power. So, we’ll just see each other in the ring.”

The seven-time world champion from General Santos City has a ring record of 50-3, with 38 KOs. He won eight of his last 11 fights by way of stoppage, including that sensational 12-round technical knockout of Miguel Cotto, the same man who beat Clottey in his last bout in June of 2009.

Pacquiao said winning by knockout over Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs) may only come as a bonus, stressing there would be no problem with him if ever he comes out victorious through the judges’ scorecards.

“It doesn’t matter to me, (if it goes 12 rounds),” said the world’s top pound-for-pound king, casually dressed in his blue Nike Manny Pacquaio t-shirt on top of a red short and a pair of red Nike boxing shoes.

“I do 30 rounds everyday in the gym, and the fight is only for 12 rounds, so going over 12 rounds is not a problem to me.”

The last time Pacquiao went the distance came in 2008 when he eked out a close, but highly controversial split decision over Mexican nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez in their long-awaited rematch.

His struggle with the weight almost cost him that match.

Not this time, though.

With barely 10 days before his first fight for the year, Pacquiao said he’s already fit and ready to go.

“Ready na tayo, 100 percent,” said the Pacman. “Kailangan na lang natin i-maintain `yung kundisyon.”

Prior to his media day workout, Pacquiao and his team jogged for about an hour at Griffith Park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica mountains, and later on, called it a day after appearing for the second time in the popular talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live, where he once again showed his singing prowess by belting out the prominent George Benson ditty Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You.

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PACQUIAO-COTTEY, TOUGH FIGHT

Bob Arum of Top Rank

By Gerry Ramos

HOLLYWOOD – If Miguel Cotto gave Manny Pacquiao hell the last time, wait until he comes face to face with Joshua Clottey less than two weeks from now.

Top Rank Promotions’ big boss Bob Arum believes Clottey poses an even bigger problem for the world welterweight champion than Cotto did when they slugged it out in a bloody and vicious bout four months ago at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 31-year old Pacquiao hacked out a 12-round stoppage over the game Puerto Rican to wrest the WBO 147-pound title belt in a match where the Filipino suffered a swollen right hand, a deep gash under his left eye and a broken right eardrum.

Prior to that November meeting with the Pacman, Cotto retained his WBO crown at the expense of Clottey by way of a controversial split decision which many believed the fighter from Ghana won.

And so Arum thinks this one’s not going to be a picnic for Pacquiao as what many people believe it would be.

“This fight’s gonna be harder than the Cotto fight,” said the veteran boxing promoter, who came all the way from his cozy Top Rank office in Las Vegas to here to attend the media day workout of Pacquiao at the Wildcard gym on Wednesday.

“Why? Because Clottey is more durable than Cotto,” explaining that the Puerto Rican’s durability has been questionable since losing to Antonio Margarito two years ago for the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight crown and then later, with that struggling win over Clottey.

“Had Clottey put pressure on him (Margarito), he could have won that fight,” Arum recalled.

The 77-year old Harvard educated boxing official admitted Clottey being the `bigger and stronger fighter, although Pacquiao is the much better and smarter athlete.’

Still, it would take a lot for the current pound-for-pound fighter in the world to get past his 32-year old challenger.

The truth is, Arum is not even convinced Pacquiao would be able to knock Clottey out.

“It’s gonna take all that Manny has to beat Clottey, no less knock him out,” said the Top Rank chairman.

“I would be much more surprised if Manny knocks him out. I look for this to be a distance fight. I don’t know how you knock Clottey out.”

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