Clottey cries as embassy denies visa of trainers

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao was beating up his sparring partner in Los Angeles the other day and Josh Clottey was home in Ghana begging US embassy officials to grant visas to his trainers so they could join him in the US as he trains for the big fight on March 13.

Pacquiao, based on reports, beat up light-middleweight Byran Brooks in four rounds of sparring at the Wild Card Gym. But if it’s the same Bryan Brooks, the one and only boxer that goes by that name in www.boxrec.com, then there’s no reason to be happy.

Records show that Brooks is a native of California, who’s turning 40 in September. Yes, he’s a light-middleweight, but one who has lost all his six fights. He hasn’t fought in four years and should consider himself lucky to get out of the famous Hollywood gym alive.

Pacquiao’s sparring should pick up next week with the arrival of the other sparring partners. It should be welcome news if Shawn Bradley, who helped the Filipino icon prepare for Miguel Cotto last November, or Amir Khan would come in and take the lead roles.

Meanwhile, Clottey, who will challenge Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight crown at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, wept as he faced the press in Ghana, saying he couldn’t understand why his trainers, led by Godwin Dzanie Kotey, are being denied US visas.

“I am very very disappointed. I am so disappointed because this is the reason why I came down to Ghana and the money I spent to buy plane ticket and time wasted have been useless. It is so disappointing and I don’t even know what to say,” he told the Ghana Web.

“It’s like Ghana is not regarded because everybody in the world knows that this fight is coming on. I am very disappointed,” said the pride of Ghana, who came home after signing the fight contract in New York, and has been working out with Kotey at the Attoh Quarshie Gym.

Since Kotey and probably an assistant will be “working” in the US while Clottey trains, they are being required to secure P-1 visa (a working visa). The problem, however, is that it’s not easy, and the soonest they could get them is two months from now.

The fight should be over by then.

The National Sports Council and Sports Ministry of Ghana has already stepped into the picture, but US embassy officials wouldn’t budge.

“Alloway is the coach I know, he can speak my language to me and make me understand things better. I am disappointed in the US embassy because now I have to go and do this difficult job with people I don’t know. Now everything is on only me, I have to do it all on my own so I have to be at my best,” Clottey said.

“I am in good shape and I am enjoying myself in training and I must say I am very ready for the fight even if its today. But I need my coach there with me, I need him,” he told Ghana Web.