By Jason Kim: Freddie Roach, the trainer for World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, says in an article at Fight Hype that “Our [Pacquiao] goal is to knock him [Clottey out.” Its understandable why Roach would want his fighter Pacquiao to try and knock Clottey out, because the longer that he sticks around in the fight the more damage he can inflict upon Pacquiao. The good news is that Clottey is starting to show his age 32 – soon to be 33 in March – and doesn’t have much of a right hand anymore.

Basically, Clottey has a nice left hook, and that’s about it, unlike Floyd Mayweather Jr., who can punch well with both hands equally. Roach thinks that Pacquiao can take advantage of Clottey’s tendency to cover up and defend. However, Roach thinks that Pacquiao will have to “get a little physical” with Clottey. That might not work well if Pacquiao sticks around to admire his work, because Clottey’s left hook is a good weapon early in the fight when he’s using it a lot doubling and tripling up with it.

Pacquiao hasn’t fought anyone with a weapon like that before, and he could get hurt if he walks into one of Clottey’s hard hooks. Clottey has never been knocked out before, and he’s been in with some big punchers like Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. It might not be the best idea for the 5’6” Pacquiao to try and slug it out with Clottey, even if Roach thinks he can take him out. Pacquiao might end up wasting his time and making a fight that would otherwise be one-sided a lot closer than it should be.

Roach says “we have to box this guy [Clottey], in and out, side to side motion, really, and really be tactical, because he’s a very strong and big puncher.” So in other words, Pacquiao will pretty much fight like he always does. I figure that Pacquiao will stick with what has worked for him all along and will use his in and out fighting style to try and score on the 5’8” Clottey.

Joshua isn’t that much taller than Pacquiao, but his frame is a lot bigger and he’s a legitimate welterweight. Pacquiao can’t stay in close with Clottey for any length of time without taking the risk of getting hit with Clottey’s hard hooks. Pacquiao hasn’t been hit all that much in his last three fights against Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, but you can figure that he’s going to get hit a lot more in this fight because of Clottey’s speed, power and great chin. He won’t fold early or be on the run like some of Pacquiao’s opponents.

Roach notices that Clottey covers up a lot in his fights. However, Clottey generally starts putting more focus on his defense late in his fights, usually by the 8th or 9th rounds, when he starts to fade. He’s very hard to hit when he’s covering up like that, and I don’t know that Pacquiao will be able to score to the head with Clottey’s gloves glued to his head. Pacquiao should forget about a knockout, and just be satisfied with getting the win.