Dallas welcomes Manny Pacquiao title defence against Joshua Clottey

The Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has welcomed the opportunity to host world championship boxing at the new Cowboys Stadium after Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey's welterweight clash was confirmed for 13 March in Texas.

In the wake of the collapse of the proposed Pacquiao megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr on the same date, the Filipino has opted to defend his WBO title against Clottey of Ghana.

Jones was convinced the fight would sell the 40,000 tickets necessary for a capacity crowd once his stadium was configured for boxing.

"I have wanted to bring a major boxing event to north Texas for many years, so why not bring in the biggest and the best?" Jones said. "Manny Pacquiao is boxing's number one pound-for-pound attraction and the world champion.

"Manny defending his title against Joshua Clottey is not just a great fight, it's a great event, and one we can showcase to the fullest in Cowboys Stadium. We're going to promote this like it was the Super Bowl."

The Top Rank chairman and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said Jones had convinced him Cowboys Stadium, which on Saturday hosted more than 100,000 fans for the NFL play-off victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, was an ideal fit.

"Jerry Jones knows exactly how big and important this event is which is why it was so easy to put this deal together," Arum said. "If Jerry could sell me on Cowboys Stadium and the North Texas market, you know he is going to have no problems selling out Cowboys Stadium.

"We are ready to roll up our sleeves and promote Manny's debut as world welterweight champion."

Pacquiao cemented his status as the best pound-for-pound fighter when he won the WBO welterweight title with a 12th-round knockout of Miguel Cotto, who was also Clottey's last opponent. New York-based Clottey lost a split decision to the Puerto Rican at Madison Square Garden last June.

Pacquiao's victory over Cotto in Las Vegas last November set up a proposed encounter with the unbeaten Mayweather Jr, but the two camps failed to agree terms for a 13 March bout following a row over pre-fight blood testing and Arum moved quickly to secure an alternative fight.

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