Joshua thinks he can beat ‘PacMan’

By JUN MEDINA


DESPITE being at least a 5-1 underdog, challenger Joshua Clottey thinks he has the tools and the strategy to defeat Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao in their March 13 title fight at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

“One thing I’m sure, I know how to handle southpaws,” Clottey said in a video interview courtesy of the Hart Krystal Show that was posted on FightFan.com. “Pacquiao is faster, let’s see if I can handle him.”

Clottey defeated former three-time world welterweight champion Zab Judah to win the International Boxing Federation welter title in 2008.

The iron-chinned slugger from Ghana said he respects Pacquiao’s power and explosiveness and that he intends to keep him at bay with his jab and tight defense.

“I have a stiff jab and I will throw it a lot against Manny Pacquiao. He will be coming to me and you’ll see what I can do,” said Clottey (35-3, 21 knockouts), a native of Accra, Ghana, now fighting out of the Bronx in New York City.

“I will stay in front of him with my tight guard using a stiff jab. He’s going to get hit some while he’s traveling in.”

Clottey also said he has been training very hard for what he called the biggest fight in his career, which assures him a purse of at least $1 million.

“I’m running a lot and I’m training hard. I’ve beaten welterweights for years. If you look at me from head to toe I’m a big guy and I need to train hard to make the welterweight limit. In the past I may have over-trained but I feel comfortable now at 147,” he said.

As of Monday (Sunday night in Manila), Pacquiao was a 5-1 betting favorite in SportsBetting.com. This means to win $100, a Pacquiao die-hard must wager $500. A $100 bet on Clottey, however, wins $350.

Clottey, 28, said he would not fall in the same trap that led Pacquiao’s bigger opponents to suffer knockout losses to the only fighter to win seven world titles in as many weight classes.

“Pacquiao’s opponents did not respect his power [and they paid for it],” Clottey said.

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