Pacquiao sisikaping makaiwas na makorner sa lubid ni Clottey

MANILA, Philippines - Kung may kilos man si Manny Pacquiao na gustong maiwasan ni trainer Freddie Roach, ito ay ang pagsandal ng Filipino boxing icon sa lubid sa kanilang darating na laban ni Joshua Clottey.

Ayon kay Roach, maga­ling bumasa ng sitwasyon si Clottey lalo na kung ang kalaban nito ay nakorner sa lubid.

“Don’t want to be on the ropes as much as we were in the (Miguel) Cotto fight. Clottey is very effective on the ropes and will throw uppercuts from that position,” ani Roach sa Ghana fighter. “We are working on not being there when he is trying to counter-punch.”

Hindi nagustuhan ni Roach ang pagsandal ni Pacquiao sa lubid sa isang bahagi ng laban nito kay Cotto noong Nobyembre 23.

Sinabi ng 49-anyos na si Roach na mahilig sandalan ng malapad na si Clottey ang kanyang kalaban kung saan siya makakapagtapon ng ilang kombinasyon.

“Clottey likes to lay on the ropes and counter when we are finished a combination, but we’re not going to be there – he’s not going to find us,” sabi ni Roach.

Itataya ng 31-anyos na si Pacquiao ang kanyang hawak na World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt laban sa 32-anyos na si Clottey sa Marso 13 sa Cowboys Stadium sa Arlington, Texas.

Para paghandaan si Clottey, kinuha ni Roach ang kababayan nitong si Abdullai Amidu para maging sparring mate ni “Pacman”.

Si Amidu ay may 18-0-0 win-loss-darw ring record kasama ang 17 KOs at nakakasama nina super featherweight David Rodela (14-2-2, 6 KOs), light welterweight Mike Dallas (11-0-1, 2 KOs) at welterweight Steve Forbes (34-7-0, 10 KOs) bilang mga sparring partners ni Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs).

“We have watched a lot of tape on Clottey. We know his characteristics, we know his mistakes and we know his habits. I do feel that the way Manny Pacquiao is training for this fight, the game plan and how to beat Clottey is in place,” ani Roach.

Nagdadala si Clottey, dating naghari sa welterweight division ng International Boxing Federation (IBF) at dalawang beses nang nabigong makuha ang WBO crown, ng 35-3-0 (20 KOs) card. (RCadayona)