The Ten Count 03.13.10: Reasons Why Clottey Has a Better Chance Than You Might Think

Posted by FJ Parlan on 03.13.2010

The FJ Fury is replaced this week by a special edition of "The Ten Count". Read this as an accessory to the official 411Mania boxing roundtable and a last minute source of analysis for the underdog, by 411's FJ Parlan.


Clottey deserves credit and respect. (Chris Farina, Top Rank)

In Dallas for the big fight? Tweeting? Sharing on Facebook or talking with your online boxing buddies in forums? Watching some videos on Youtube to pump yourself up? Surfing the net waiting for "The Event" PPV to come on? Whether you're at the comforts of your own home or connected online with a wi-fi because you're going to be watching at the Cowboys Stadium or at your local bar, you better read this.

(Be sure to check out the official 411Mania Pacquiao-Clottey roundtable, as well as the 411Boxing round-by-round coverage later on.)

As you peruse boxing websites for the last minute to get all your Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey stuff before the big fight, this is an article that may make you change your perspective juuust a little bit.

No, I'm not saying you change your bets. Or maybe I am. Whatever. But as great as Pacquiao is or how chances look, don't bet your farm on him (or as a public service announcement: don't bet your farm on anybody).

Before I start, let's get this out of the way: I'm not saying Clottey will beat Pacquiao. He might, though, and there are reasons why eyebrows are raised, and you can't blame them for being commanded to, depicting that this fight is a high-risk, low-reward proposition for the pound-for-pound king, and here are ten:

1. Clottey's Weight

Some erroneous reports have mushroomed about Clottey weighing up to 170 lbs. on fight night. Now, that could very well be just rumors or a downright myth, so let's adjust the number to a realistic 155-160 lbs., or even a little over 160 for some allowance. But that is a sure thing. If (or when, because it's a sure thing) Clottey comes in at that weight later on, Pacquiao could be in big trouble. De la Hoya re-hydrated after the weigh in to fight night even less than Pacquiao did, while Cotto refused to tip the scales for the unofficial measurements before the fight. Some observers said that he looked no bigger than Pacquiao, though. So basically, for tonight, expect Pacquiao to be facing physically the biggest man he has ever fought.

2. Pacquiao's Weight

This is an extremely important factor that tends to get overlooked because of the mere fact that Pacquiao has been so good lately, but what people are forgetting is that this fight is going to be fought under the limit of 147 lbs. - the welterweight number - rather than 145, the catch-weight he and Cotto fought on. Pacquiao is now a full-fledged welterweight but his team admits that he has to keep up with consuming a high volume of food to prevent him from getting smaller. In other words, he's not a natural welterweight, and Clottey, is as natural as they come.

3. Clottey is at least a top five welterweight

Not only is Clottey a natural, but he's universally ranked as one of the best welterweights in the world, top five at worst. I've heard some to have said that on his best nights, he could beat anyone in the division. The top of this weight class, keep in mind, are looked at as some of the best fighters in the sport, pound-for-pound. So that's saying something. Pacquiao, and probably Mayweather, could trouble Clottey big time. But I somehow think that Clottey can beat or has a chance against Shane Mosley. Him against Andre Berto would be intriguing. At the very least, Clottey is a threat.

4. Size

When I say size, I mean height and reach. Clottey is next to De la Hoya in these departments among all of Pacquiao's opponents, but fans also referred to De la Hoya as next to a dead man when he was in the ring with the Pac-Man. Thus, Clottey can utilize these elements (or not) in a way that De la Hoya didn't. That should be a concern.

5. Defense

Pacquiao should be facing the best defensive fighter in the sport in Mayweather tomorrow, but the substitute isn't too shabby in this area. Clottey still represents the best defensive fighter that Pacquiao has ever dealt with. "The Hitter" is hard to hit, but if anybody in the sport can do that, it's Pacquiao and his unbelievable punching speed and angles. But before we see it in the ring, we should trust Clottey's defense, because I'm sure that Clottey will.

6. Chin

Again, De la Hoya should've been the best in this category among Pacquiao's opponents, and maybe he proved he had a great one, but it didn't amount to anything and we all know why. Clottey's chin, however, would be useful. He would use it not to get knocked out, but not like De la Hoya did. If the fighter formerly known as "The Destroyer" ever breaks the defensive shell of "the Grand Master", the latter has this in his armory to rely on. This reason, and the one just above, tells me that Clottey would at least survive the to hear the final bell, dignified.

7. Strength

Clottey is strong, but is in his prime and not damaged. Others accuse Pacquiao's last three opponents to be none of the above. Clottey's never a one-punch KO artist, but the strength in his punches and durability is evident. Look at the main photo in this column (focus on the muscles starting from the arms) and tell me that doesn't look like a strong fighter.

8. Clottey may have been the winner against Cotto

Let's set aside the mantra "styles make fights" for a moment and look at the assumptions of the fans. Pacquiao dominated Cotto and Cotto defeated Clottey, so why would Pacquiao face Clottey? It was a close, controversial decision that, even according to the great Pacquiao himself, belonged to Clottey. So, Clottey should have been the one to fight Clottey last November instead of Cotto, because he might have won that match. Now, let's get back to the "styles make fights" argument to debunk your quick-and-easy assumptions. That, folks, prove why Clottey is a legitimate challenger.

9. Clottey is from Ghana

This item isn't a racist or a regionalist statement, but it may look to you like a trumped up reason just to complete this list. Not really. The legendary Bert Sugar also used this as a reason not to count out Clottey in this fight, and his logic plus my own assessment goes like this: Ghana has produced elite fighters like Azumah Nelson and Ike Quartey, and besides those guys' elite skills, which Clottey also shares, they are tough. And not just tough, but if they were "struck by lightning, you take the lightning to the hospital for observation" tough.

10. Wild Card - Lenny De Jesus

Lenny De Jesus is a cornerman-cum-locksmith, and he might be holding the key to victory for Clottey in this fight. Clottey's original head trainer Godwin Kotey got stuck in their homeland because of unfortunate VISA issues, so cutman De Jesus was promoted to be the head man. This move surprised none other than Pacquiao's coach Freddie Roach. De Jesus worked the corner for Pacquiao's cuts (and worked well) in six fights in the middle of the past decade, but was let go when Pacquiao and co. split with promoter Murad Muhammad and co. Back then, De Jesus had some words to say to Roach, who didn't take it personally. De Jesus knows the fight game, he's 64 years old and has been around boxing maybe before Roach even learned to say "boxing" (seriously, De Jesus has been in the sport for 47 years). He also worked first-hand with Pacquiao and that is certainly something that he could use, also as a compensation for not watching Pacquiao tapes in training camp. De Jesus could be a blessing in disguise for Clottey.



The advantage of this thing being posted late and near towards the fight is that I wouldn't be chastised so much at the hands of those disagreeing because of the snippet of attention this will attract, as less fans would bookmark this page this close to the fight. It's hard to go against Pacquiao these days, those who worship Pacquiao will not hesitate throwing him stones of idiocy and everyone would jump at the chance to crucify him, so it's a bad time for fair journalists. But I'm not just obliged as a boxing writer to build up Pacquiao's opponent as much as I could in order to give the impression that he has a chance than Pacquiao. Those I've said above are not products of coercion, it's a product of my sincere and honest opinion.

However, I'm aware that for each of these reasons, everyone else can give ten more in favor of the Pacquiao. Pacquiao is just that much of a favorite. But I'm not writing off Clottey. He's too respectful to be disrespected and he deserves respect and credit. In the end, the reasons listed can be summed up all these reasons to one thing: Clottey has a better chance than you might think.



Crashing Right Hooks:

There are short kinds of right hooks...

- For the record, my prediction is Pacquiao by UD. Roach said that skills, not size, win fights and that may be all Pacquiao needs, for he certainly has the advantage here. However, I think it's unlikely that Pacquiao will knock Clottey out. The Filipino might be the first one to stop the Ghanaian, but it would be in the form of a stoppage.

- After saying that Clottey essentially has a better chance than people think, but then saying that Pacquiao will still win, I guess I'm just yearning for a great fight, and we're all likely to get it. In a video I favorited in Youtube, Clottey said some good things (and I thought, like you would have, that he was going to accuse Pacquiao of using PEDs or something the moment he loses, but no), and he guaranteed one thing: it's not going to be easy, "for him or for me." Well put, Joshua.

- For the quote of the week, just consider the above phrase by Bert Sugar, about the Ghanaian fighters and toughness. Bert is a cool guy, eh?

- Pacquiao heads into another big fight and looks to add to his legacy, but the result of his fight with Clottey wouldn't diminish his legacy nor is his standing as the "Greatest Fighter of the 2000s". (Also read, "Biggest Upsets of the 2000s" and "Best Boxing Performances of the 2000s".)

- We can talk about the big fight, and more, on Facebook and Twitter. Add me up and let's get pumped up, for the event! Thanks a lot!