Pacquiao Trainer and Promoter Take Shots at Mayweather

Sports News - March 2nd, 2010 - Written By Bryan Cross

As Manny Pacquiao prepares for his match up in the ring with Joshua Clottey, he's doing all he can get in the proper shape and state of mind as he defends his title.

Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach believes that his fighter improves everyday, and embraces the new challenge with Clottey on March 13th.

"Manny is getting better all the time," Roach remarked following a training session. "I know Clottey is a big, strong guy. I respect him, he's a great fighter. But Manny I feel is going to overwhelm him with his speed and combinations, and I do believe we will be the first one to stop him in 12 rounds."

This will perhaps be more a simple fight for Pacquiao, because it takes place in the ring.

It has been outside the ring of late in which Pacquiao has found himself making headlines, in a battle with Floyd Mayweather Jr. The two were scheduled to fight, but it was called off because the two parties could not come to terms, specifically on drug testing.

"We're not happy with his remarks and Manny really wants to fight him in the future because of the remarks he made," Roach remarked. "Manny, sometimes when he's shadowboxing, he shows me how Mayweather fights and how he'll take care of the problem, and I've never seen that before.

"He's trying to ruin our reputations and so forth," Roach continued, "but we want to fight him and we'll knock him out."

Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum is of the opinion that Mayweather never had any intention to square up with Pacquiao in the ring.

"We don't have to be geniuses to know what they were trying to do. They were trying to get into Manny's head so he'd be discombobulated," Arum stated. "Mayweather against Manny is a no-contest, no contest. Manny would wipe the ring with Floyd Mayweather."

Pacquiao however remains focused on the task at hand, defeating Clottey.

"Joshua Clottey I know is taller and bigger than me, and you cannot underestimate him," Pacquiao remarked, "because he's a former world champion also."

The fight will take place at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Tx and has already sold out the allotted 45,000 tickets.

"People were looking forward to a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, that's clear. But Manny has a huge, huge fan base," Arum remarked. "Every sports fan knows Manny Pacquiao. Our job is to present Joshua Clottey as he is, a bigger guy, a stronger guy probably, a guy who has never been off his feet, a real test for Manny Pacquiao. That's what will sell this fight."

Pacquiao has been installed as a -650 favorite to retain his title and defeat Clottey. Clottey takes the role of the underdog, with odds at +450 on Bodog Sportsbook.