Pacquiao's camp to bat for 145-lb catchweight

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao wants Josh Clottey to trim down to 145 lb for their WBO welterweight title fight on March 13 in Texas.

“We will push for 145 pounds just like in the Miguel Cotto fight,” said Pacquiao’s lawyer, Franklin Gacal, in an exclusive ABS-CBN interview yesterday.

“We will push for that catchweight,” he added despite a statement earlier issued by chief trainer Freddie Roach that they’re ready to take on the former IBF welterweight champion at 147 lb.

“These guys (Cotto and Clottey) are naturally bigger than Manny,” said Gacal.

Pacquiao fought Cotto at a catchweight of 145 lb, weighed in at 144 and climbed the ring under 150. It’s the winning formula as far as Roach is concerned, and to the trainer two pounds less wouldn’t spell a difference.

“I think Manny can fight Clottey at 147. He is the welterweight champion and therefore should fight anyone at 147,” said one of Pacquiao’s adviser, Wakee Salud.

It may not be too good for Pacquiao’s image if he calls himself the welterweight champion but calls for a catchweight each time he fights.

“Medyo hindi nga maganda. But as long as the opponents agree, then there’s nothing wrong with it,” said Salud.

Against Cotto, Pacquiao proved that he can take any of the world’s best welterweights, and their punches as well. He took the best Cotto could offer and ended up knocking out the Puerto Rican in the 12th and final round.

The Pacquiao vs Clottey showdown will take place at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, after a superfight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. bogged down due to a disagreement on the blood-testing procedure.

Mayweather had wanted to keep the March 13 date at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but reports came out yesterday that the fight had been pushed to April because HBO had decided to stick with the Pacquiao fight for its pay-per-view coverage.

Mayweather’s camp said there’s no way the undefeated American will face Paulie Malignaggi and had shifted its focus to Nate Campbell.