Manny Pacquiao insists he’s isn’t going through the motions in preparation for Saturday’s defense of his World Boxing Organization welterweight title against Joshua Clottey.
Even though the world sees the fight at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas as a consolation prize after the proposed megafight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. fell through, the Pacquiao camp says all the right things even though Clottey is an underdog.
“He doesn’t take anyone lightly,” Roach said. “If he were going to fight you, he wouldn’t take you lightly, or me.”
He had better not, according to Lenny DeJesus, formerly Pacquiao’s cut man and now Clottey’s trainer.
“Anybody who thinks Manny is just going to walk in and blow Joshua away is kidding themselves,” DeJesus said. “Joshua is one of the elite fighters in the world, too. These are two elite guys in there. Manny’s just the one getting all of the attention.”
Widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, the hero of the Philippines is facing a heavier fighter in Clottey who is superb defensively and has a great chin.
“Believe me when I tell you this,” Clottey said. “If I want to block punches, I can block. I won’t get hit by those.”
Promoter Bob Arum expects a Pacquiao victory, though, he adds, Clottey has a chance.
“I don’t think he’s going to win, but he definitely can win,” Arum said of Clottey. “It’s a dangerous fight for Manny because this is a guy that is big and strong and has a very good defense. I think Manny will win, but it’s no slam dunk.”
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