Opinion: Pacquiao Must Watch out For Headbutts, Low Blows & Dirty Tactics
03/03/2010 16:45
A boxing fan's unsolicited advice for Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and his team is to watch out for Joshua Clottey's known 'dirty tactics style' to gain added advantage in their March 13 fight at Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas
Manny Pacquiao should watch out for Clottey's low blows and head butts as the boxer from Ghana will try to snatch a victory over the Filipino boxing icon.
Joshua Clottey is taking advantage of his rare opportunity to face Manny Pacquiao, currently the world's most popular boxer. Clottey's fight with the Filipino boxing icon on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Alington, Texas is a dream-come-true for the boxer from Ghana. He knows that fighting Pacquiao will boost his dwindling popularity after his controversial loss to Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico about a year ago.
At every opportunity after the launching of the promotional tour, Clottey have repeatedly expressed his gratitude to Pacquiao and Bob Arum for the rare opportunity given him. Win or lose, Clottey will be transformed into a popular boxing celebrity status that he won't attain from an opponent other than Manny Pacquiao.
With the real rare opportunity at hand, Clottey may try to use just about every possible option available to him in order to gain an added advantage during the fight. Some of these options could be illegal and the designated referee should watch out for these dirty tactics. Clottey, 33, is notorious for his dirty tactics.
Headbutting, hitting below the belt and holding are what he resorts to in trying to gain an advantage over an opponent. The fighter known alternatively as “The Hitter” “The Grand Master” and “Satan” has been described as instinctively dirty.
In 1999, he led in the three judges’ scorecards but couldn’t stop himself from butting Baldomir and was disqualified in the 11th round to blow a golden chance to win the International Boxing Council (IBC) welterweight crown at the Wembley Arena in London. Clotteys' known 'dirty tactics' style was also observed during his fight with Richard Gutierrez, Steve Martinez, and Zab Judah.
In his latest fight with Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, Clottey inflicted serious damage on Cotto that drew blood from his head flowing down to eyes due to head butt. Cotto almost lost the fight due to the damage resulting from the 'accidental' headbutt.
With the documented records of Clottey's past fights, the designated referee for the March 13 Pacquiao-Clottey match should be extra vigilant in his officiating as Clottey may again resort to his old 'dirty tactic' trade mark as reported in the media.
(original article appeared @ Digital Journal )