WBO world welterweight champion Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao will defend his crown versus former IBF welterweight titlist “The Hitter” Joshua Clottey on March 13 in a bout tentatively slated to occur at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.
“We’re on the same page,” said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum regarding the negotiations he has had with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) was initially scheduled to fight “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) on the identical date.
Unfortunately, the two childish camps were ridiculously unable to agree to terms on a matchup that was expected to pay both prizefighters’ in excess of $30 million.
So, after the Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown disintegrated, Arum quickly arranged a fight for his client versus Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs).
Pacquiao, 31, the first boxer to win seven world titles in seven different weight divisions, deserves his #1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world ranking by Ring Magazine.
“Pac-Man” is tough, agile, quick and incredibly powerful for a man of his diminutive frame.
Pacquiao, a Filipino who is also the Ring Magazine and IBO light welterweight titlist, is arguably one of the greatest pugilists in the history of the sport.
“The Fighting Pride of the Philippines” will enter his encounter with Clottey as a decided favorite to emerge victorious.
However, Clottey, 33, is a legitimate prizefighter and he should ultimately prove to be a very difficult opponent for Pacquiao in the ring.
Last June, Clottey was defeated by Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs) in a controversial split-decision at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Granted, Cotto was badly hindered by a cut that he received when Clottey accidentally head-butted him in the third round.
Nevertheless, Clottey validated himself as a true performer against Cotto and there is no reason to believe that he won’t be a handful for Pacquiao in three months time.
Subsequent to his battle with Clottey, Cotto fought Pacquiao last November at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Cotto scrapped valiantly and displayed true grit before he suffered a TKO loss to Pacquiao in the 12th round.
Pacquiao will trump Clottey and extend his consecutive winning streak to 12.
Still, “Pac Man” will be struck by “The Hitter” and this fight should be more intriguing than most analysts predict that it will be.
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Keywords: boxing, floyd mayweather, joshua clottey, manny pacquiao, miguel cotto
