Inactive Clottey Misses A Chance To Boxing Greatness: Was There Anything Else He Could Have Done?

March 15th, 2010

If there is anything historical about the recently concluded bout between seven-division champion Manny Pacquiao and Ghanaian banger Joshua Clottey, it would be the 50,994 people who watched The Event, making the bout the third largest outdoor boxing attendance ever registered in the history of the sport. And that it was the first boxing match held in the $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium, in Arlington, Texas.

But for so many fans who witnessed the boxing matchup, after all the hype, the promise, and the electricity that were built prior to the clash between two of the world’s top welterweights, The Event was a disappointment. And many place the blame on the challenger, who, although exhibited a very laudable defense throughout the fight, is much crucified for his inaction and unwillingness to engage Pacquiao in a slugfest.

And in between rounds, one can hear chief trainer Lenny de Jesus urging, pleading, egging Clottey to take the risks and let his hands go. And if he did, the result may still have still gone either way, but it would have been an epic clash worthy to be proclaimed alongside the wars of Hearns- Hagler, Leonard-Duran, Corrales-Castilo, Gatti-Ward, and Ali-Frazier. Unfortunately, Clottey did not let his hands rip and greatly missed a chance of greatness.

In a match where he might have given his all, Clottey opted to stay behind that tight high guard of his and became a punching practice for the Filipino champion. In the words of 8CN correspondent Lorne Scoggins as he told this writer, Clottey virtually became a heavy bag with legs.

But Clottey deserves respect. It is not easy to be the receiving end of a Pacquiao’s unrelenting punching assault. Caught in a whirlwind of blows and punches, instinct took over for Clottey. He covered up.

Because that was all he can do. There was nothing else.

Pacquiao’s punches were rocketing from everywhere and most landing in Clottey’s gloves and arms. He may have watched tapes of previous Pacquiao matches, but evidently he was not ready for that blinding speed and weird angles from where the punches are coming. And it is not just the angles and the speed, the volume punching of Pacquiao is something Clottey has never before encountered in his whole career.

With so many fast punches that are homing in from angles unheard of, can you really blame the man for covering up? Can you actually think behind that locked arms and figure out how to stop this little punching dervish while taking tons of punishment? Can you actually believe Clottey was not hurt?

If not, Clottey could have walked right through Pacquiao’s assault and bring on the pain. But he didn’t. Yet, he was not the one to run away either. He was always in front of Pacquiao, trying to pressure the Filipino. But then, Pacquiao is way too elusive and way too mobile for Clottey to cut off.

If styles make fights, then Clottey simply didn’t have the style to go with that durable body and tall frame of his to neutralize Pacquiao’s natural quickness. That said, one has to ask, was this bout a mismatch? That wholly depends on how one sees things.

When Clottey lands a punch, it stings. And the testament to that are the bruises on Pacquiao’s face. Evidently, those African hands have power. Should Clottey decided to use them in a less conservative fashion, perhaps Pacquiao would have gotten more than just bruises. A win would have been arguable, but plausible. It would have been a battle for the record books, no doubt.

But then, what would instinct tell you when you have a seven-division Filipino champion who comes at you with two potent fists popping every inch of your body faster than the famed bullet trains of Japan?

Here are your choices:

1) Quit like Golden Boy
2) Get smashed like Hatton
3) Backpedal like Cotto
4) Cover up like Clottey

Answer truthfully.