By Andrew Hall: Its only a week away. Fight fans everywhere are in a state of high anticipation. The training schedules of both fighters is slowly being tapered off in order to conserve energy. Both fighters are apprehensive. They feel tight. Nervous. Their minds are racing with all the various scenarios this fight could bring. Nobody knows for sure what will happen but what is the most likely outcome?

Size is always an advantage. The best size advantage to have is reach. Joshua Clottey has all the physical advantages over the Pacman. He has 3 inches in height, and he has 3 inches in reach. He is naturally the bigger stronger man. Also, he has never been knocked out (whereas Manny has been knocked out twice). Furthermore, these knockouts that Pacquaio experienced were at much slower weights. Thus, you’d have to conceded that Clottey has the advantage when it comes to their respective chins.

All that being said, why is Manny Pacquaio the favorite? The guy has steam rolled through De La Hoya, Hatton, and Miguel Cotto. When Joshua Clottey fought one of those men he was defeated in a very close decision. Thus, most people assume that Pac is surely to destroy the much larger man.

I predict the Joshua Clottey gives Pacquaio his first loss at welterweight. I am almost 100% certain that Pacquiao won’t be able to hurt him. On top of that, Clottey has the advantage in defense. Pacquaio is quite easy to hit and Joshua Clottey has proven quite adept at keeping punches at bay with his arm defense.

The greatest advantage that Pacquiao has is his intensity. He is the busier guy. Clottey is too passive at times. That is the reason why he has lost a few very close decisions. He seems to do enough to not win. That is what many are banking on when they say Pacquaio is going to win. He will steal the rounds with his aggression and thus win the decision.

There comes a time in a fighters life when he has to make a stand. He has to do something different than what he always does. This is that time for Joshua Clottey. If he loses t his fight via decision he will lose the respect of fight fans. We all know his problem. The guy just doesn’t show enough gumption. If he can go out there next Saturday and show he has the goods, I predict he will upset Manny Pacquiao.