MANILA, Philippines - The title clash between world welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey, dubbed as “The Event,” ended with the pound-for-pound king's unanimous decision victory over his Ghanaian challenger.
Pacquiao retained his WBO welterweight title with the scores 120-108, 119-109 and 119-109 Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Pacquiao threw 3 jabs to start Round 1. Clottey, meantime was in turtle defense. Pacquiao tested the Ghanaian's body and circled away from Clottey's punches.
Pacquiao also landed a big left which made Clottey wobble a bit. Clottey threw a left but Pacquiao answered with a left and right. There was not much activity from Clottey in the first round. It was all Pacquiao.
The Filipino champ continued to test Clottey's defense in Round 2. Clottey tried to advance and attempted to trap Pacquiao to the ropes. The Filipino boxing icon wisely circled away. Clottey connected with a left to the body. Pacquiao threw a big 1-2-3 which wobbled Clottey.
Pacquiao opened Round 3 with spectacular body punches. His punches reverberated throughout the stadium. Clottey threw body punches, too.
Pacquiao threw a 1-2 to the head, then a 1-2 again to the abdomen. Clottey caught Pacquiao with a right.
The pound-for-pound king rested a bit then continued to press the Ghanaian fighter. He even threw a beautiful combination to the head and body and trapped Clottey to the corner. Clottey moved away then charged back. Clottey's hands were always up.
The fighter from Ghana became aggressive in Round 5 but Pacquiao fought back. Clottey threw a 1-2 then launched a big jab. He, however, missed a right hook. Pacquiao effectively used his own right hook and exploded with lightning punches. Clottey retreated.
Clottey tried to attack his foe’s body in Round 7, trapping Pacquiao at the ropes, but the Filipino moves away. Pacquiao patiently chipped away Clottey's defense, inviting the Ghanaian to fight back. Clottey remained in his shell then suddenly charged with a 1-2. Clottey was frugal with his punches.
Clottey's hands were up again in Round 8. He threw a double right to the head. Pacquiao fires back with punches to the body and head. Clottey then landed a blow just below the belt. The referee warned him.
Pacquiao then landed a big right. An accidental clash of heads followed. As the round was about to end, Clottey landed a low blow again.
The Filipino boxing superstar scored combinations in Round 9, with a couple of hooks to the body and an upper and hook to the head. Clottey responded with 4 hook combinations. The fighters moved to the center then Pacman exploded with big body punches again. Three of them apparently jarred Clottey but the Ghanaian survived.
Pacquiao had a welt in his right eye in Round 10 while Clottey had a bloodied nose. The Filipino prized fighter suddenly landed a beautiful right hook to Clottey's jaw. Clottey fought back with a big right. It looked like Clottey was inviting Pacman to throw body punches so he can retaliate with hits to the head. Pacquiao, however, continued to attack the body, never giving Clottey a breather for that head punch.
Clottey approached his opponent in Round 11 but Pacquiao kept him away with head punches then sidestepped away. Clottey tried to match Pacquiao. Both fighters traded head punches. Clottey stepped into Pacquiao’s defenses and sneaked in 2 uppercuts. Pacquiao was slightly dazed, but fought back. He pressed the attack and chased Clottey to the ropes.
In the 12th and final round, Clottey chased Pacquiao and landed a good left hook. A clash of heads happened again. The fight continued with Clottey throwing body punches. Pacquiao stepped back a second, fired 3, then circled away. Clottey landed big left hooks. Clottey became active with his punches but Pacquiao dominated him.
The fight, scheduled for 12 rounds, was Pacquiao’s first title defense since his 12th-round technical knockout win over Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto last November.
Most boxing analysts predicted the fight to last until the later rounds, with Pacquiao getting the upper hand. However, they said it will be a hard fight for the Filipino champ.
