WORDS BY: MIKEY AGULTO
March 11, 2010 | 4209 views
Momentum
Joshua Clottey’s last fight before this was a June 2009 split-decision loss to Miguel Cotto. Heading into a bout as big as this with a loss over someone Pacquiao has already defeated hurts Clottey in the everyday boxing aficionado’s eyes.
But we should know better than that. The man has only lost thrice and has never been knocked out in his career. That’s a pretty good indication of a big heart and a strong chin.
Manny, however, has knocked down Morales, Hatton, and Cotto in exciting fashion. And all three have never been knocked out the way they did against Pacman.
We would like to put the age factor in this match, but welterweights are unusually fast even in their 30s.
Speed
Manny has always had the advantage of speed over his opponents, and quite frankly anyone who said it’s not a big factor only end up disproving themselves. But Clottey has a tight high-handed defense that can be credited for a career with no knockout losses.
If Clottey’s pressure and counterpunching can overcome Pacquiao’s foot speed and quick-handed, sharp-punching attacks, he can overcome the match itself.
