Pacquiao vs Clottey: Brace for war in Texas

IT WAS lull before the storm. As Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey came face-to-face on stage following a press conference Wednesday at Cowboys Stadium, both boxers appeared calm and showed respect to each other. They smiled, offered kind words and engaged in a warm hug.

On Saturday (Sunday in Manila), the atmosphere will no longer be civil.

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Instead, war will erupt in Texas as Clottey made no secret of his battle plan when he goes up the ring against Pacquiao for the Filipino's WBO welterweight crown in a 12-round showdown at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

"I'm not going to go backward. I'm going to stay there. I'll make him fight. I want him to fight for the first time," Clottey told journalists who gathered around him after the news conference.

Clottey, a Ghanaian boxer with a record of 35-3 with 20 stoppages, relishes the chance of fighting Pacquiao and promises to meet head-on the world's pound-for-pound king right at the opening bell.

"I want to see if I'm gonna feel Manny Pacquiao's punches. Call me crazy, but I just want to see that," the 5-foot-8 Clottey said.

The formula to stay in front of Pacquiao maybe a good one, but it would not be a wise idea for Clottey for he will be facing a champion who packs power in both fists.

The 31-year-old Pacquiao is a devastating puncher, having stopped 38 of his 50 previous opponents, the last one a sensational 12th round TKO victory over Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.

Coming into the fight, Pacquiao also had KO wins over Oscar dela Hoya and Ricky Hatton, two ring warriors who are bigger than him.

Clottey is also bigger than Pacquiao, but he is the older fighter between the two of them.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's famed American trainer, believes his prized fighter can handle Clottey's size advantage. He had also desired for Pacquiao to become the first boxer to stop Clottey.

"We have a plan, we have a strategy. Whatever happens in the ring we have to adjust," Pacquiao said as quoted by Fightnews.com.

Roach considers Clottey a dangerous fighter, but said they have their battle plan ready against the Ghanaian, too.

Pacquiao has been installed the heavy favorite in the fight, which will be held at football stadium with a seating capacity of 45,000.

Billionaire Jerry Jones, owner the Comboys Stadium, had earlier hinted of sellout for the fight card dubbed "The Event."