It came from the mouth of former light middleweight and middleweight champion John David Jackson which serves as an unsolicited advice for Ghana’s Joshua Clottey.

In an interview by Fighthype.com on Thursday, Jackson said “Pacquiao is not a good inside fighter… and he also can’t fight off the ropes. Clottey has to capitalize on that. If he can do that, he can beat him.”

“Pacquiao has no quit in him and he will fight for three minutes of every round,” said Jackson. “He’s going to fight you; he’s going to bring the fight to you.”

Analyzing Clottey’s past performances, Jackson, however, noted that the Ghanaian seems to be incapable of a relentless attack which will affect his chances of taking away Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight crown

Still, Jackson believes that if Clottey can use his strengths, and find the right people and the right program, he stands a good chance of unseating Pacquiao as pound-for-pound king.

Pacquaio will be defending his WBO welterweight belt against Clottey on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“I don’t think I’m going to bring him (Brooks) back. He got hurt a few times. Manny was too much for him,” said Roach.

Brooks once served as sparring partner of reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Shane Mosley, but has a lackluster career as a pro with a 0-6 record.

The former light-middleweight, however, was obviously a bit bigger than Pacquiao and has a solid built just like Clottey.

Although up against a non-quality fighter, Roach said it’s a good way for Pacquiao to start and get his rhythm in training camp.

Pacquiao said the first week of training has been so far so good.

“Training is good. Right now, I have pretty good movement. I am throwing good combinations and will definitely be ready on March 13,” he said.

The Filipino will be staking his World Boxing Organization (WBO) 147-pound belt in the 12-round fight to be held at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Clottey (35-3, with 20 KOs) is coming in as a last-minute replacement following the aborted super-fight between Pacquiao and unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr.

But Pacquiao said he’s definitely not looking past the 32-year-old challenger from Ghana.

“Clottey is tough. He can punch and he’s definitely very strong,” said the General Santos City native. -

“It was no surprise and we are not shock with the news. We (Team Pacquiao) knew that Manny will test negative since he’s not using any drugs when he trains for a fight,” said Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser and liaison officer to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum

He made the formal announcement Saturday during a press conference at the Diamond Hotel in Manila. He also added that he should know if ever the reigning pound-for-pound king is really taking steroids. “I’m with Manny 24/7 and if there’s any person that can reveal if Manny is a drug user then that’s me.”

The Nevada Sports Athletic Commission (NSAC) released the results of Pacquiao’s drug test Friday (Saturday in Manila) where it showed the General Santos City boxer tested negative for drug use. Mayweather Jr., Pacquiao’s supposedly opponent in March, also tested negative.

Pacquiao, on Dec. 28, quickly complied with the urine test ordered by the NSAC after undergoing the procedure in General Santos City before World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited doctor Alex Pineda.

He also tested negative for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs after his 12-round TKO of Miguel Cotto last year.

The Mayweathers – Floyd Jr., Sr. and Roger – along with Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) owner Oscar De La Hoya have accused Pacquiao of using performance enhancing drugs while ascending in weight that resulted to the Filipino boxing icon winning titles in seven different weight divisions.

Team Pacquiao has filed a lawsuit against the Mayweathers, De La Hoya and GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer, who all accused the seven-division world champion of steroid use.
Pacquiao, after talks with his mega-fight with Mayweather Jr., will stake his World Boxing Organization title belt against Ghana’s Clottey on March 13 at the $1.3 billion dollar Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Team Pacquiao said that Mayweather Jr. feared that confronting Pacquiao would ruin his unbeaten 40-0 record.

News from GMANews.tv

Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao will engage a fight with Ghana’s Joshua Clottey at the billion-dollar state-of-the-art home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, promoters said Sunday.

Promoter Bob Arum and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones announced the deal a day after Arum attended the Cowboys’ NFL playoff victory over Philadelphia at the stadium on Saturday night.

Manny will defend his title against the hard-hitting Joshua Clottey who lost in a controversial split-decision against Miguel Cotto last June.

Pacquiao has a 50-3-2 record with 38 knockouts. He won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title with a 12th round knockout of three-time world champion Miguel Cotto.

Clottey has a 35-3 record with 20 knockouts. He claimed the International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight title in 2008 by defeating American Zab Judah but lost a split decision to Puerto Rican Cotto last June.

Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said Sunday he has finalized a deal to match Pacquiao against Joshua Clottey in a welterweight bout after his debatable discussions for a mega-fight with Mayweather fell apart in a lingering dispute over blood testing.

“Too bad you didn’t get Mayweather, but what difference does it make?” Arum said Bush told him. “Everybody just wants see Pacquiao anyway.”

The Pacquiao-Mayweather bout, which had been tentatively scheduled for March 13 in Las Vegas fell apart over the issue of pre-fight anti-doping blood tests. Mayweather originally insisted they be conducted right up to the fight, while Pacquiao wanted a 30-day cut off before the bout.

“Liars go to hell. They should be man enough and own up to their words,” added Pacquiao, who provided proof that Mayweather Jr. had charged him of using performance enhancement drugs.

The Mayweathers (Floyd Jr., Floyd Sr. and Roger) had claimed in past interviews that Pacquiao, BoxingScene’s 2009 Fighter of the Year, was into some kinds of steroids.

Pacquiao said the black propaganda is intended at systematically tearing down his legacy as one of the finest fighters of all time.

In an October audio recording, Floyd Jr. maliciously attributed that the Philippines is a maker of the best PEDs, which irked the Filipino fighter more.

Pacquiao said Floyd Jr. and those who are blameworthy should be punished, whether it be in the courts or in the ring and he stressed that a lawsuit will be filed against his detractors whether or not his fight with Floyd Jr. will push through in Las Vegas.

Team Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions require Pacquiao to undertake a new set of drug testing measures other than those already mandated by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Pacquiao repeated that he has no opposition to drug testing and will provide any specimen, whether it be blood or urine samples, just right after the fight but not a day or two before, for obvious reasons.

The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum is preparing to open negotiations with World Boxing Association super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman as talks with Mayweather falter.

Unbeatable “Money” Mayweather(40 wins, 25 by knockout) has agreed to fight the Filipino champ “Pacman” (50-3-2, 38 by knockout) in a 147-pound limit match with any eight-ounce glove brand to come with.

As money being the matter, both camp agreed with a 50-50 split with each of them guaranteed of $25 million which can go up between $30 million and $50 million after ticket sales. Profits that will be gained in the fight are projected to break the record set by the Mayweather-Oscar De La Hoya fight in 2007.

The fight’s schedule was set few days before Pacquiao’s campaign for his congressional seat bid in the province of Sarangani, Southern Philippines.

The venue of the fight is still unknown but there are sites that are being considered such as: MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the new Cowboys stadium, also in Vegas and the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

Foreman claimed the WBA super welterweight championship in one of the Pacquiao-Cotto under-cards, with a 12-round unanimous decision over Puerto Rico’s Daniel Santos.

Press reports quoted Roach as saying that while the boxing world anticipated a blockbuster welterweight showdown with returning American Floyd Mayweather Jr., it would have to wait until after May 10 Philippine elections.

Pacquiao however said he was focused on the election, and the Filipino hero registered a bid for a congressional seat representing the southern province of Sarangani.

“There’s nothing to it at this time,” he said of the reports that Roach wanted him to fight the undefeated Foreman at 154 pounds (70 kilos) in March.

“I have not spoken to him (Roach) about it,” Pacquiao said by telephone.

He said that if elected: “I will work for children, for the health of our countrymen and for their livelihood.”

Pacquiao, who became the first boxer to win seven championships in as many weight classes, underwent urine tests twice — before and after the fight — and both came back negative, said Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It’s the the 10th time the Filipino has turned in clean tests in Nevada, the report said.

Floyd Mayweather Sr., Floyd’s father and trainer, has publicly accused Pacquiao of taking steroids.

He told SI’s Chris Mannix that performance-enhancing substances were taken by  Pacquiao so he can take Cotto’s powerful shots. “I know Floyd is the best,” said Mayweather Sr. “But when [your opponent] uses something illegal, even the best can get hurt.”

Floyd Sr., however, did not show any evidence to support his claim.

Since 2002, Nevada has required fighters to submit urine samples before every fight. Those samples test for 40 types of steroids, diuretics and masking agents. In his 10 Las Vegas fights, Pacquiao has never tested positive, and his conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, said the only substances his fighter took leading up to the fight with Cotto were whey protein and liver-support supplements, in addition to his 6,500-calorie diet.

Pacquiao has been bombarded with accusations of doping, having conquered seven weight divisions since entering the sport at 106 pounds when he was 16.

And after Mayweather Sr.’s comments following the November 14 bout, there has been speculation that if a megafight between Floyd Jr. and Pacquiao is agreed upon, Mayweather’s camp may place stipulations in the fight contract that would require both fighters to take separate, mandatory drug tests in addition to the required tests by state athletic commissions.

But at 10-0 with his Nevada drug tests, Pacquiao has provided plenty of proof he cleanly fought his way to seven world titles.

Photo and news via Manila Bulletin

Due to the overwhelming victory and also the epic seven-title hold, President Macapagal-Arroyo crowned Pacquiao’s homecoming by conferring on him the Order of Sikatuna, with the rank of Datu, one of the highest honors given by Malacañang to civilians and one usually awarded to statesmen.

Ms Arroyo even expanded on Pacquiao’s popular title of Pambansang Kamao (National Fist) by referring to him in a ceremony at the Quirino Grandstand at Manila’s Rizal Park as “Pangmundong Kamao (Fist of the World).”

It was five days after Pacquiao brought the country its biggest ring glory by destroying Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in 12 rounds to win the World Boxing Organization welterweight title—his seventh world crown in seven boxing divisions.

Asked about the rumors that their marriage (with his wife Jinkee) was in trouble, the champ said that everything was fine in the Pacquiao family. “Walang problema (No problem),” he said in an interview over GMA 7.

Talking with the media, Pacquiao joked about a possible fight with former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. “If the time is right, the time is right. Weather-weather lang ’yan,” he said in a play on Mayweather’s name.

Pacquiao said he would pursue his plan to run for Congress, either as a representative of Sarangani province or through a party-list that would push for sports development. “Yes, definitely (I’m running),” he said.

They prayed at the historic Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church) in Manila, before attending a victory party in the Mall of Asia (MOA) later.

The Mall Atrium of MOA overflowed with jostling people with Pacquiao and Jinkee, in a long floral dress, walking on a red carpet up a stage, their hands locked together.. When Pacquiao began to sing, they jumped with joy. Most of them waved yellow, blue, and red flaglets.

He sang at least six songs, including his own “Lahing Pilipino” and the song “Born for You” dedicated for one woman—his wife Jinkee.

Photo and news via Inquirer

Juan Manuel accepted the challenge and would love to come to Manchester as confirmed by Richard Schaefer, head of Golden Boy Promotions.

Marquez lost his bout to the returning Floyd Mayweather in September, getting himself outdone in 12 rounds while Hatton still licks his wounds after losing to Mayweather and experiencing a humiliating two-round KO by Filipino Manny Pacquiao, which is the world’s current welterweight champion, in May.

Marquez is a former world champion at featherweight, super-featherweight and lightweight, and a fight against Hatton would almost certainly take place at light-welterweight, Hatton’s natural division.

But his most recent appearance in a ring was against another Mexican in Chavo Guerrero, whom he ‘fought’ at a WWE wrestling show in Sheffield last weekend.

Photo and news via BBC