'Ghanaian fighter a bad example'

MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino sports analyst lamented Ghanaian Joshua Clottey’s turtle-shell defense during his “The Event” bout against 7-division world champion Manny Pacquiao on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in the massive Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“Si Joshua Clottey ay dumating hindi para lumaban kundi para kumolekta ng kaniyang bayad sa pakikipagsabayan kay Manny Pacquiao,” Al Mendoza said in an interview with radio DZMM on Monday.

“Ang boksing kasi, dapat magsusuntukan kayo,” the sports analyst stated.

He went on to say that he did not expect the fight to last 12 rounds since he thought the pound-for-pound king would knock out Clottey before Round 6.

“Kaya lang nakalimutan ko ang isang anggulo na kung di siya lalaban, di nga siya mapapatulog ni Pacquiao… ‘Pag lumalaban ka kay Pacquiao, malamang tulog ka.”

He cited Pacquiao’s 4 knockout wins over his most recent opponents prior to Clottey: David Diaz, Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.

Because of Clottey’s lack of punches during the fight, Mendoza said the Ghanaian did not do boxing good.

“Masamang ehemplo sa boksing si Clottey,” he declared.

Clottey was set to receive $1.5 million, his highest pay check to date in his career. According to Mendoza, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones doubled Clottey’s pay to $3 million because he was overjoyed by the number of spectators at the stadium.

Around 51,000 thousand people trooped to the Cowboys Stadium, higher than the expected attendance of 45,000 fight fans.

“Talo siya pero panalo pa rin sa bandang huli,” Mendoza added.

According to The Philippine Star, Pacquiao has a guaranteed purse of $12 million for the Clottey fight.

Disappointing Clottey

Even Pacquiao’s American trainer, Freddie Roach, said that Clottey’s showing at the Cowboys Stadium was disappointing because the Ghanaian was afraid to open up.

“I’m a little disappointed with Clottey,” Roach told Joaquin Henson of The Philippine Star.

“This was a championship fight. This was his chance to win a title and beat Manny. But I think all he wanted to do was to go the distance.”

He also said that Pacquiao had an excellent offense while Clottey was able to sneak in some punches in his ward’s defense.

“Other than that, it was a perfect fight,” commented the 4-time Trainer of the Year recipient.

The smaller fighter shines
Mendoza, meantime, mentioned that Clottey could have wanted to protect his “never been knocked out” record.

“Sinong natakot? ‘Yung malaki, yung higante,” he said of the bigger Clottey. “‘Di buo ang loob niyang makipagsuntukan kay Manny Pacquiao.”

The smaller and lighter Pacquiao, on the other hand, seemed to be tireless as he fired 1,231 punches.

The Filipino boxing icon even had to let himself be hit by Clottey just so the Ghanian fighter’s defense would open up.

Mendoza went on to comment that he would not blame referee Rafael Ramos if he declared the fight as a no contest because Clottey was not fighting a real bout: “‘Di lumalaban ng tunay na laban.”