Big Josh won't go away easily

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is tipped to have his hands full going up against Joshua Clottey and even as the Filipino icon has been installed a 5-1 favorite, the consensus is it won’t be easy disposing of the Ghanaian challenger in their WBO welterweight title fight at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, this Sunday morning (Manila time).

Several factors make Clottey a dangerous opponent for Pacquiao. They are his size, rock-hard defense, durability, hunger, unpredictability in resorting to dirty tricks and ability to deal with southpaws.

Clottey, 32, will likely outweigh Pacquiao by at least 10 pounds when they finally square off in the ring. The Ghanaian’s been fighting as a welterweight since 1997 when Pacquiao was still a flyweight so he’s comfortable in the 147-pound division. Clottey’s size may make it a little difficult for Pacquiao to find angles for his punches and he’ll surely use his body mass to tire out the Filipino by leaning on him. The downside is because of his huge frame, Clottey is not as mobile as Pacquiao, making him an easy target.

Clottey’s turtle-shell defense has been described as responsible. He keeps both arms high and close to his body, protecting his chin and midsection. But when Clottey covers up, he doesn’t throw and his low workrate will be a major disadvantage. Clottey isn’t a volume puncher and would rather wait than initiate. He’s comfortable being a counterpuncher.

Clottey has never been knocked out in compiling a 35-3 record, with 20 KOs and a no-contest. He was dropped by Miguel Cotto with a left jab in the first round of their bout last year but it was considered a fluke. If Clottey is able to withstand the power of bigger opponents, he shouldn’t be worried about Pacquiao. The danger is if Clottey had to reduce to make weight, his body will be vulnerable and Pacquiao plans to attack downstairs in softening him up for the kill.

No doubt, Clottey is hungry for recognition. An upset over Pacquiao will immediately catapult Clottey into the ranks of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters. His purse is reportedly $1.2 million and his share of $900,000 is more than he’s ever received. Clottey knows Pacquiao is used to earning in the multi-millions and he’d like nothing better than to be in the Filipino’s shoes. Pacquiao is Clottey’s ticket to fame and fortune.

Clottey has been known to use a lot of unsavory tactics in the ring. Butting holding, lacing and hitting below the belt are some of his tricks. Against previously unbeaten Shamone Alvarez, he was unscrupulously vicious and his opponent lost focus repeatedly complaining to referee Jay Nady about dirty tactics. Alvarez lost by unanimous decision. Clottey’s butt on Cotto inflicted an eyebrow gash that took 20 stitches to close. Clottey indiscriminately butted Argentina ‘s Carlos Baldomir until he was disqualified despite being way ahead on points with just a round left.

Clottey is also not averse to fighting southpaws. Alvarez is left-handed and so is Zab Judah whom Clottey beat on a technical decision for the IBF welterweight crown in 2008. So figuring out Pacquiao’s style may not be a problem.

Clottey is the type of fighter who has the uncanny ability of drawing blood from his opponents, either with his head or his fists. Cuban legend Kid Gavilan was once reputed to slice up his foes like he had blades in his gloves. Clottey is chiseled in the same mold.

Judah suffered a cut above the right eye and couldn’t continue. Referee Robert Byrd ruled that the wound was opened by a butt but video replays showed a left uppercut did the damage. Against Viktor Baranov, Clottey was inhuman and left the Russian bleeding profusely from cuts over the left eye, under the right and on the forehead. Clottey was just as merciless in bloodying Dennis Berry en route to a third round stoppage.

Clottey’s power, however, isn’t as frightening as his ability to draw blood. He has scored only one knockout in his last 11 outings and his stoppage rate of 57.1 percent isn’t impressive.

But Clottey is taking on a fighter who’s naturally smaller. At this stage in his career, Pacquiao may be a legitimate lightwelterweight, not quite a full-blown welterweight. Clottey weighed 170 pounds when he entered the ring to floor the much smaller Diego Corrales twice and win a decision two years ago. He’d like to repeat the feat, this time with Pacquiao in Corrales’ role.