Manny, Clottey face off sans trash talk

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

DALLAS – There’s just too much respect between these two fighters it may take a little while before they start hurting each other inside the ring.

They smiled at each other, shook hands and embraced like they were friends more than foes. They looked very comfortable standing beside each other, then face-to-face, against their backs.

In Wednesday’s final press conference for their keenly awaited fight, Manny Pacquiao, the WBO welterweight champion, and Joshua Clottey, the challenger, did look like friends.

They were under one roof, the retractable roof of the giant $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium, which on Saturday should be packed with 45,000 fans watching the big fight dubbed “The Event.”

Facing the press and standing before the podium, Clottey thanked everyone for the great opportunity to be right there, in the sport’s biggest stage, and to fight the sport’s biggest name.

He thanked Bob Arum of Top Rank, Mark Taffet of HBO and Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys. Then he thanked Pacquiao and his American trainer, Freddie Roach.

“I thank Freddie Roach for this opportunity because if he said no, then this fight is not going to happen,” said Clottey, a 33-year-old fighter so hungry for the chance to beat Pacquiao.

“I think he’s a very good fighter and he’s the best fighter in the world. I want to see what he can do. I want to see that. But no matter what happens I will still love him and respect him,” he said.

“Good luck to Manny and good luck to me,” Clottey said in closing his very short speech, and drawing a genuine smile from the Filipino icon seated just a few feet to his right.

Roach, who was introduced by Arum as the greatest trainer in the world today, got up and also wished Clottey all the luck, describing the Ghanaian as a great fighter whom he respects.

Then Pacquiao took his turn, and the 31-year-old champion was just as nice, with his few words.

“I like this fight because (all along) there was no trash talk. You can be a great fighter and be a good example by being a nice person. I know Joshua. I respect him because he’s a nice person,” said Pacquiao.

Too bad that on Saturday, they will fight. Clottey said that’s what’s going to happen.

“I respect him so much and I feel comfortable with him. I respect him that he’s very humble. I respect him and I want to give that respect back. If you disrespect me I will never talk to you,” he said during the one-on-one interview.

“The gloves... they’re the spirit. Once we put them on, if he hits me I will hit him. We can’t become friends in the ring. But this is business,” he said, hoping that after the fight, they’d be friends again.

“Yes. Then he can call me or I can call him,” said Clottey.

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