By Chris Williams: In case no one has noticed, Manny Pacquiao will have faced two Top Rank fighters in his last two fights when he takes on Joshua Clottey on Saturday night. And while Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach has been flapping his gums 24/7 about wanting Pacquiao to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., a non-Top Rank fighter, next, it’s not looking like Pacquiao will ever fight Mayweather in this life time judging from the comments that Roach has been making about not wanting his fighter to have to submit to giving blood tests in order to fight Mayweather.
Pacquiao-Clottey
De La Hoya thinks Clottey is “Easy fight” for Pacquiao, says Mayweather would beat Manny
By Esteban Garduno: In the latest boxing news, Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya chimes in with his own prediction on the Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey fight for this Saturday night, saying in an interview with Sky Sports, “I think Manny Pacquiao will have an easy time with Joshua Clottey. Styles make fights and his [Clottey] defense is one where he blocks punches, then he has to bring his hands down to look at you and then throw punches. Manny is too fast to stay there in the pocket and receive punches. I believe he will hit him then move side to side.”
What can Clottey do to beat Pacquiao?
By Jason Kim: Former IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey has always been known as a tough fighter because of his power, speed and his ability to rough up his opponents during the course of a bout. However, as good as Clottey is, he’s limited in that he fights in spurts, and spends a lot of time covering up or laying on the ropes. Freddie Roach, the trainer for Manny Pacquiao, has noticed Clottey’s many flaws and has pointed them out. If Clottey is to beat Pacquiao, he’s going to have to spend more time throwing punches and less time focusing on defense.
Arum and Roach prefer Pacquiao to fight Mosley next
By Chris Williams: If Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and trainer Freddie Roach had their ways, World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao would be facing WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley next and not unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. Both Roach and Arum see it easier to deal with Mosley and set up a fight compared to Mayweather, who will likely ask for Olympic style random blood testing to be done before he’ll step in the ring with Pacquiao.
Prediction: Clottey is going to tear Pacquiao apart
By Dave Lahr: Okay, so first of all Manny Pacquiao is in deep trouble this Saturday night. Joshua Clottey is going to be bringing size and power that Pacquiao has never seen before in his career. This time Pacquiao will actually be facing someone that is still able to take shots without flopping around on the canvas like a fish out of water. I know I’ve wrong in the past about some of my predictions, but believe me, I’m going to be right this time. Pacquiao is going to look like a war survivor by the end of this fight.
Roach wants Pacquiao to fight Mayweather vs. Mosley winner next
By Dave Lahr: In the latest boxing news, trainer Freddie Roach says he wants Manny Pacquiao to face the winner of the May 1st fight between Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Roach seems to think that beyond this fight, there’s not much else out there for Pacquiao to fight. In an article at USA Today, Roach says “If the winner of the Mayweather-Mosley fight doesn’t come around, where do we have to go? Without Mayweather, there’s nothing else to prove. Let’s face it. The people … want to see Mayweather and Pacquiao fight.”
March/April upcoming fights and odds: Pacquiao-Clottey, Froch-Kessler, Abraham-Dirrell
By Richie Doyle: So now we finally here after months of lacklustre fights and no huge bouts we get two good months for the loyal boxing fans and gamblers looking to place a few wagers in the upcoming months so here are my best odds and tips.
Pacquiao vs Clottey: Look for this to be tough for pacquiao bet straight forward, attack from the off (like against cotto) and press a beat down towards the end of the fight but saying this I expect Clottey to reach the final bell as he’s never been KOd and has fought big punches in the past (Margarito) so at 13/8 Pacquiao by points or decision seems a good bet.
Roach says Clottey won’t be able to handle Pacquiao’s punch volume
By Chris Williams: Freddie Roach is still predicting a knockout win for Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night, and thinks that he’ll be drowning Joshua Clottey with punches in their fight. In an article at the USA today, Roach says “Blocking punches don’t win fights [referring to Clottey’s tendency to spend a lot of time blocking shots rather than throwing them]. I think we can stop him in the late rounds. The accumulation of punches he’ll [Clottey] be taking in this fights he’s never seen before.
Is Roach’s big mouth making it worse for Pacquiao?
By Esteban Garduno: Freddie Roach has been talking long hard for anyone that wants to hear him about how his fighter Manny Pacquiao is going to beat Joshua Clottey on March 13th. As you would guess, a lot of the predictions by Roach have made its way back to Clottey and angering him to the point where he seems totally obsessed with punishing Pacquiao and taking his World Boxing Organization welterweight title on Saturday night. Roach may think he’s doing Pacquiao a favor by trying to get into the head of Clottey with his trash talk, but it could make things much tougher for Pacquiao, because he’s the one that will have to be in the ring with the angry and committed Clottey, not Roach.
Roach sees quit in Clottey
By Esteban Garduno: In the latest boxing news, Freddie Roach believes that Joshua Clottey tried to quit in his last fight against Miguel Cotto last June in a fight that Clottey lost by a 12 round split decision. Roach isn’t shy about making himself heard, as you can see.