Clottey bubuksan ang Training Camp sa Florida

MANILA, Philippines - Kung nagsimula na ang pagsasanay ni Manny Pacquiao sa Hollywood, California, nakatakda namang magbukas ang training camp ni Joshua Clottey sa Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Sinabi ng manager ni Clottey, tubong Accra, Ghana na naninirahan ngayon sa Bronx, New York, na si Vinny Scolpino na magtutungo sila sa Florida ngayong linggo.

“Joshua is in great fighting shape right now. He is anxious to get into the ring against Pacquiao,” wika ni Scolpino sa 32-anyos na challenger.

Nakatakdang itaya ng 31-anyos na si Pacquiao ang kanyang suot na World Boxing Organization (WBO) weltrerweight crown kontra sa 32-anyos na si Clottey sa Marso 13 sa Cowboys Stadium sa Arlington, Texas.

Ito ang unang pagkakataon na idedepensa ng tubong General Santos City ang kanyang WBO welterweight title matapos itong agawin kay Miguel Angel Cotto ng Puerto Rico via 12th-round TKO noong Nobyembre 13 sa MGM Grand sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ibinabandera ni Pacquiao ang kanyang 50-3-2 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 38 KOs, habang may 35-3-0 (20 KOs) slate naman si Clottey.

“It will be a short camp but we’ll be ready,” sabi naman ni trainer Freddie Roach sa training camp ni “Pacman” sa kanyang Wildcard Gym sa Hollywood, California. “We have to start sparring earlier than normal.”

Sa unang tatlong oras pa lamang ng pagbubukas ng takilya, umabot na sa 20,000 tickets ang nabili.

“Right now, based on after the first day sales, more than 25,000 seats have been sold,” ani Bob Arum ng Top Rank Promotions. “That’s well over 50 percent of the house.”

Plano rin ni Arum na isama sa undercard sa “The Event” nina Pacquiao at Clottey sina dating world welterweight titlist Antonio Margarito ng Mexico, Jose Luis Castillo at John Duddy.

“When we’re able to announce the Margarito fight, and the other Hispanics on the card, I’m very optimistic that we’re going to go clean,” dagdag ni Arum.

Kumpiyansa si Arum na maganda ang magi­ging resulta sa pay-per-view buys ng Pacquiao-Clottey fight.

“I think Pacquiao has really established himself as a marquee fighter. I think it’s a very competitive fight, and with the help of the Margarito on the undercard, and Jose Luis Castillo, and John Duddy, I think we’re gonna hit that million home mark. That’s our goal, we certainly don’t need that to come down, but I would think we’re flirting with that million home mark,” ani Arum.