The Philippine Online Chronicles

The Event seemed to be a nonevent for boxing fans who expected a slam-bang affair, but with the performance of reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao against the timid – yet sturdy – Joshua Clottey, I can’t help but raise some doubts on whether the Pacman can beat someone like Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

The recently-concluded world title fight between the now Sarangani-based seven-division champion and the Ghanaian former world champion seemed to have been a sleeper with Clottey fighting like a turtle in its shell. In assessing the lopsided outcome of the bout, however, there are things that Pacquiao must consider for his future battles.

Negotiating a stonewall defense

Clottey seemed to fight to lose against Pacquiao, throwing a minimal amount of punches. In boxing, punches and not defense will hurt the opponent, and that’s what Clottey failed to do.

But Clottey had nothing to lose in the fight, essentially being a replacement for Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who backed out last January. Before The Event, Clottey lost to Miguel Cotto in a controversial split decision, while Pacquiao beat Cotto in a much dominating fashion via a 12^th round technical knockout.

Clottey, for all his merits, is a D-leaguer compared to Pacquiao. It’s an achievement for him to just have survived the fight without getting knocked down and without getting bludgeoned, unlike the likes of Cotto, Ricky Hatton, and Oscar De la Hoya. The scorecards—one judge scored it at 120-108 while two judges saw it at 119-109—translated into awful rout, but Clottey seemed to have no swells and cuts at the end of the fight.

The fact that Pacquiao failed to knock out, or at least bludgeon, Clottey is a problem he and Coach Freddie Roach have to address in the event that Pacquiao finally inks a bout with Mayweather. Pacquiao had problems with defensive specialists like Juan Manuel Marquez and the late Agapito Sanchez in the past, and he slightly experienced that problem with Clottey.

Survival tactics

Though Clottey’s reluctance on offense made the fight a sleeper, Clottey’s fight plan was commendable, given the fact that he surpassed the expectations of fans, experts, and Roach. His ability to survive Pacquiao's onslaught is a testament to both his toughness and technique.

First, Clottey maximized his left foot to put significant distance between him and the southpaw Pacquiao, which lessened the impact of the Filipino’s flurry of punches. Clottey never let go of his guard and used his elbows in a sleek manner, which for me, is absolutely legal in boxing.

The thing with Clottey is that he simply didn't throw enough punches, though he connected with a few powerful blows. That makes Clottey entirely different from Mayweather, as the latter can perfectly time his power punches to hurt an opponent, despite being a counterpuncher.

In Pacquiao's next bout, against either Mayweather or Shane Mosley, Pacquiao has to pick up the slack from his failure to literally destroy Clottey.

Adjustments

In fighting a counterpuncher, Pacquiao has to learn the art of maximizing the ring and roping a defensive opponent. A boxer who’s locked in the ropes is always at a disadvantage for lack of ample space.

When an opponent uses his foot as a shield, Pacquiao has to increase the agility in his footwork and go to his usual repertoire of throwing punches from all angles. Pacquiao has to let his opponent fight his game, instead of him fighting the opponent’s game.

Lastly, Pacquiao has to put some spunk in his game. He has to go out from the shell of being a polite yet powerful puncher and add some ring savvy, for as long as it is bound by boxing’s rules. That facet, added with Pacquiao’s power and hand speed, is the lethal combination needed to neutralize or to knockout the Mayweathers and Mosleys of the industry. Putting a little dirt in Pacquiao’s game is not bad, if he wants to beat ‘em all hollow.

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