Pacquiao vs Clottey
By Jingo Quijano
IT’S only a week away from Manny’s bout with Joshua Clottey but in the meantime, Golden Boy Promotions is really revving up its hype machine in pushing the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Shane Mosley match on May 1.
The press conferences have featured the usual hoopla, eponymous verbal tussles and even some physicality between the protagonists.
One video showed the two future Hall-of-Famers jawing and trash-talking before Floyd shoved the “Sugar” man and the latter reacted by grabbing his hands and holding on tight for a few seconds before Floyd managed to extricate himself.
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That’s an old school bullying tactic for intimidating your opponent as if to say: “I’m stronger than you, look. You can’t get away.”
I scored that round for Shane Mosley, 10-9.
NEXT BEST. For all the criticism this match has been heaped upon by the Pacquiao faithful, this is actually a very good match up for boxing.
Of course, we all know it’s just the next best thing to a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao tussle, but hey that fight could still materialize later this year.
I’m sure none of you will mind some scrumptious appetizers before the main course. Plus, we are getting two good fights instead of one.
This match has been billed as “WHO RU PICKING?” but this message could also apply to your preference between the two match-ups.
LIMELIGHT. Floyd and Shane have been circling each other like tigers for a few years now. To me, it seems like Oscar de la Hoya’s retirement from the sport has provided his buddy the opportunity to step in and grab the limelight.
Of course, it could be a couple of years too late, but we never know with Sugar Shane.
On the other hand, we all know why Pacquiao vs. Clottey is being made. After both the Pacquiao and Mayweather camps failed to agree on the drug-testing procedures, Manny was scrambling to look for a name opponent for a March date--someone who would be a good credible match up for the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.
Apparently, Joshua Clottey satisfied that criterion.
COMPARISON. Action-wise, the Mosley vs. Mayweather fight is probably a dud and it doesn’t hooch me up as much as the Pacquiao-Clottey bout.
But style-wise, this is the more intriguing fight because this appears to be more evenly matched and promises to be a cerebral match up between two calculating veterans.
As opposed to the Pacquiao-Clottey bout which figures to be action packed from the opening bell, these fighters will predictably feel each other out for the first few stanzas before one of them takes over around the middle rounds.
So if it’s a slam-bang fight you are partial to, this fight will probably bore you, but if you like chess matches played out with gloves, then don’t’ miss this one.
CHAVEZ JR. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. visited the Wild Card Gym on the same day that Freddie Roach turned 50. Check out the photo featured at fightnews.com, and you will observe that Chavez looks like a giant standing next to Pacquiao and Roach.
Incidentally, Chavez was found positive for taking a banned diuretic and is serving a six month suspension imposed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
PUNCHLINE. “This fight is on May 1. May 1 is going to be ‘May’s first (loss). I will make sure of that.” --Shane Mosely on fightnews.com
LAST ROUNDS. Are on two outstanding Pisceans- kidney transplant surgeon, Dr. Oliver Baclig and my SAC teammate with the sweet stroke from rainbow territory—Jonas Panerio. Cheers!
Source: sunstar.com.ph
