Source: Manila Bulletin
By TIM DAHLBERG Associated Press
ARLINGTON, TEXAS (AP) – Manny Pacquiao dominated a strangely passive Joshua Clottey from the opening bell Saturday to retain his WBO welterweight title and extend his winning streak to 12 fights with a dominating performance Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
With 50,994 fans – the biggest fight crowd in the United States in 17 years – cheering him on at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Pacquiao made sure the result was never in doubt.
One ringside judge gave Pacquiao every round, while the two others gave him all but one. The Associated Press gave every round to the Filipino.
It wasn't as flashy as his knockout of Ricky Hatton or as savage as the beating he gave Oscar De La Hoya, but there was no doubt Pacquiao was in command the entire way against Clottey, who kept his gloves up high in front of his face, rarely risking a flurry.
The Ghanaian's strategy got him to the final bell, but he was never competitive in the biggest fight of his career.
``He's a very tough opponent,'' Pacquiao said. ``He was looking for a big shot.''
Pacquiao was supposed to have been fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. instead of Clottey, but the megafight between two claimants on the title of world's best pound-for-pound fighter fell apart over a dispute over blood testing.
``I want that fight, the world wants that fight, but it's up to him,'' Pacquiao said.
The tone of the fight was set early, with Pacquiao advancing against his taller opponent and throwing punches with both hands from all angles. It was the same style that gave him spectacular wins in his past three fights and, though Clottey was clearly the bigger fighter, he rarely sought to use his reach advantage.
Clottey's corner was urging him late in the fight to take some risks, but even in the final round when he needed a knockout to win, the Ghanaian only sparingly dropped his guard.
``Everything's working now,'' trainer Freddie Roach told Pacquiao after the third round. ``It's easy.''
The unanimous 12-round decision allowed Pacquiao to retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight title.
Pacquiao, who was recently named Fighter of the Decade, ran his win streak to 12 fights with a dominating performance in front of a record crowd at the $1.2 billion home of American football's Dallas Cowboys.
Pacquiao's punishing assault was reflected on all three judges’ scorecards as he won by scores of 120-108, 119-109 and 119-109.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo hailed the win as another victory for the Filipino people.
“The nation again rejoices with and congratulates the Peoples’ Champion, Manny Pacquiao, on another victory for the Philippines. We take heart in Manny’s proven formula of unselfish patriotism and unyielding perseverance,” she said in a statement.
“Sa pagkakaisa at pagsisikap, nagwaging muli si Manny para sa bayan. Ito rin ang ating landas tungo sa tagumpay ng sambayanan. Mabuhay si Manny Pacquiao! (In unity and perseverance, Manny again won for the nation. This is also our path towards the nation’s victory. Long live Manny Pacquiao),” the President said.
Meanwhile, an official of the Commission on Elections appealed to to spare the upcoming return of the Filipino boxing champion from politics.
“Let the country enjoy it. Let’s not mix politics with that celebration…Spare the event,” Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said.
He said politicians should just celebrate the return of Pacquiao.
“That event represents that Manny is for Filipinos, not for any individual or group or organization,” the poll official said.
It has been a tradition in Metro Manila and elsewhere to welcome Pacquiao with a parade every time he returns to the country from a successful boxing bout abroad.
Although no date has been announced for his return, many expect the boxing superstar to come home as soon as possible in view of the start of the campaign for local elective positions on March 26.
Pacquiao is running for a congressional seat in Saranggani province. (With reports from AFP and Leslie Ann Aquino)
Posts
0 comments: