Connect with us

Articles of 2010

Pacquiao Made Clottey Submit: The Stoppage Wasn't Necessary

Published

on

On a night when the HBO broadcast crew of Max Kellerman, Emanuel Steward and especially Jim Lampley were even harder to stomach than usual, the network’s marquee fighter, Manny Pacquiao, bailed them out. He fought the most complete fight of his career, and cemented his claim as boxing’s pound for pound best fighter. This past weekend WBO welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao outclassed Joshua Clottey like he's never been outclassed before in his long career.

For 12-rounds Pacquiao took whatever Clottey gave him and then some. Clottey, who had to weigh as much as a full fledged middleweight on fight night, didn’t benefit in any way from his advantage in size, and had no answer for anything Pacquiao did strategically. As it was said here before the fight, Clottey was in a Catch-22 fighting Pacquiao, simply because anything he tried to do, Manny had an answer for. Manny was faster and better outside, while picking his spots in trying to lure Clottey's hands down. When he chose to push the action, he was just too fast and sharp for his befuddled opponent.

It’s well established that Clottey always stays tight defensively, waits out his opponent’s aggression, and then looks to counter with one or two hard shots after his opponent unloads. And that's what he basically tried to do for 12-rounds Saturday night. For that reason Pacquiao wasn't afforded the chance to get the stoppage win, although he never gave up on looking for a way to get Clottey out of there. But sometimes it's even more impressive and conclusive when a fighter doesn't even have to knock the opponent out, once the opponent submits and can no longer even fathom trying to win.

And that's what happened to Joshua Clottey on March 13th. After sharing the ring with the champion for a few rounds, Clottey realized that he just wasn't good enough, and instead of getting embarrassed, he fought just hard enough to stabilize the fight and not leave himself vulnerable to getting humiliated. Within three or four rounds, Clottey was so intimidated that he had reservations about opening up at all. Even when Manny stood in front of him and gave him his body in an attempt to coax him into an error, Clottey still refused to commit because he was so leery and in awe of the return. Every time he’d venture a single punch, Pacquiao would answer back with half dozen or more dizzyingly fast shots to the ribs. There was simply no way for Clottey to deal with the speed and unpredictability of Pacquiao’s flurries.  Additionally, almost everything Manny threw was hard. If there was ever a doubt as to whether Pacquiao had the power to hurt a big, strong welterweight, those doubts have been silenced. I don’t care whether or not Manny Pacquiao is a full-fledged welterweight; he punches as hard as anyone in the division.

Clottey’s refusal to cut loose except when it was 100% safe, with absolutely no chance to get caught, was the utmost compliment he could have paid Pacquiao.  He recognized that he was in with his superior, and he didn’t want to get slaughtered. I'm sure Clottey's passive style is getting him killed in the media as of this moment, and to a large degree it should. But that's not the story. Instead of ripping Clottey like a lot of tough guy fans, broadcasters and writers will feast on doing, I'm marveling at how good Pacquiao must've been while he was in front of Clottey for 12-rounds. So much so that he broke the guy's will. And please… that stuff about Clottey never finishing is old news. He was never dominated like he was by Pacquiao. He’d be the first to admit it.

There's not one welterweight on the planet who could've reduced Clottey into just being happy to get through the fight like he was against Pacquiao. Granted, everybody would be lauding Clottey to the nth degree if he had gone for broke and tried to get Pacquiao out thus setting himself up to get taken out. But on this night, the performance was even more impressive than getting the knockout. Knockouts happen all the time in professional boxing, however, how many times have we seen a fighter get to his opponent who was considered one of the most dangerous fighters in the division before the fight, so much mentally and physically and to the point he was too awed to fight and try to win the title and set himself up for the rest of his life.

When all was said and done, Clottey's actions said, “Pacquiao, you don't have to knock me out, I know I can't beat you nor will I try.” If there's another active welterweight who could've defeated and shut down Clottey so easily, out-boxing and out-punching him so completely and thoroughly, I don't know of him.

What I do know is, he's not fighting on May 1st 2010.

Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Results-and-Recaps-from-New-York-Where-Taylor-edged-Serrano-Once-Again
Featured Articles3 days ago

Results and Recaps from New York Where Taylor Edged Serrano Once Again

From-a-Sympathetic-Figure-to-a-Pariah-The Travails-of-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr
Featured Articles1 week ago

From a Sympathetic Figure to a Pariah: The Travails of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Results-and-Recaps-from-NYC-where-Hamzah-Sheeraz-was-Spectacular
Featured Articles2 days ago

Results and Recaps from NYC where Hamzah Sheeraz was Spectacular

Catterall-vs-Eubank-Ends-Prematurely-Catterall-Wins-a-Technical-Decision
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catterall vs Eubank Ends Prematurely; Catterall Wins a Technical Decision

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Philadelphia-Welterweight-Gil-Turner-a-Phenom-Now-Rests-in-an-Unmarked-Grave
Featured Articles3 days ago

Philadelphia Welterweight Gil Turner, a Phenom, Now Rests in an Unmarked Grave

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Paro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

Avila-Perspecrive-Chap-334-Back-to-Back-Boxing-Cards-in-the-Big-Apple
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 334: Back-to-Back Boxing Cards in the Big Apple

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

Results-and-Recaps-from-NYC-where-Hamzah-Sheeraz-was-Spectacular
Featured Articles2 days ago

Results and Recaps from NYC where Hamzah Sheeraz was Spectacular

Results-and-Recaps-from-New-York-Where-Taylor-edged-Serrano-Once-Again
Featured Articles3 days ago

Results and Recaps from New York Where Taylor Edged Serrano Once Again

Philadelphia-Welterweight-Gil-Turner-a-Phenom-Now-Rests-in-an-Unmarked-Grave
Featured Articles3 days ago

Philadelphia Welterweight Gil Turner, a Phenom, Now Rests in an Unmarked Grave

Avila-Perspecrive-Chap-334-Back-to-Back-Boxing-Cards-in-the-Big-Apple
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 334: Back-to-Back Boxing Cards in the Big Apple

From-a-Sympathetic-Figure-to-a-Pariah-The Travails-of-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr
Featured Articles1 week ago

From a Sympathetic Figure to a Pariah: The Travails of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

Catterall-vs-Eubank-Ends-Prematurely-Catterall-Wins-a-Technical-Decision
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catterall vs Eubank Ends Prematurely; Catterall Wins a Technical Decision

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mexico's-Francisco-Rodriguez-Jr-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-June
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr is the TSS Fighter of the Month for June

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Paro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending