By Prince Dornu-Leiku – Former IBF Welterweight champion Joshua Clottey is ready to wrestle away the WBO crown from the grips of Manny Pacquiao when he meets the Philippine on March 13 in Las Vegas. Clottey last fought in June last year when he lost a close split points decision to Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, a fight that the Ghanaian still believes he won. A supposed eliminator against former WBO Welterweight champ Carlos Quintana last December 5 fell through but the 32 year old has now got the big fight he craves.
“I am so happy to fight Pacquiao because when you fight such opponents it means you are also in the game. I must say I was surprised when I got the call to fight Pacquiao. It is a big fight and even though I was not expecting it, I am up for it and ready to beat him in March,” Joshua told this writer in Accra where he has been holidaying since Christmas.
The left-handed Manny Pacquiao had to settle on Clottey as the opponent for March 13 after the supposed mega multi-million fight with Floyd Mayweather was called off following the two camps’ failure to agree terms over blood testing. Pacquaio will be defending the WBO Welterweight crown he so decisively won against Cotto, and Clottey is too aware of the Pacman’s huge billing in today’s pound-for-pound boxing..
But he remains unfazed. “I know all about the pressure of fighting Pacquaio and how he is a smaller guy but very fast with good punches. But this is a lifetime opportunity you will never get again. I also know how to handle southpaws so I am ready,” stated Clottey who leaves Accra to his New York base on Tuesday to begin preparations for the big fight.
The Ghanaian hitman is also cautious because he has not fought since the June defeat to Cotto, much to the advantage of Pacman who beat the same Cotto in November. Clottey however has an antidote of his own against the ring disadvantage. “It affects people but it depends on you the fighter. I train everyday, all the time, I even play soccer when I am not training so there is no ring rustiness here,” the 32 year old with a 35-3 (20K0s) record has confidently stated.
As he flies out of the country on Tuesday on the mission to rewrite Ghana’s name on the world boxing map again, Joshua has reminded his countrymen of the mission ahead and the need for their prayers. “I have repeatedly told Ghanaians that I will win back a world title for them in 2010 and I think now is the time. This is the third time I’m fighting for the WBO title and I will not fail again, not this time. All Ghanaians have to do is to support me with their prayers and it will be done,” Clottey said.