Ariza unfazed by Ghanaian superb form

HOLLYWOOD – Alex Ariza said he’d never seen Joshua Clottey up close, and doesn’t mind if the 33-year-old fighter from Ghana has the body of a super-athlete.

“I’ve only seen him in pictures and yes he looks tremendous,” said Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach from Colombia.

Ariza, who sports a 4-0 record since he took over the conditioning chores for Pacquiao, said a body like Clottey’s, strong and muscular as Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson in his prime, won’t mean anything on top of the ring.

He said it’s Pacquiao’s speed and power, and the volume of punches he throws against his opponents, that will matter.

“It may be aesthetic. Anybody can look good. But when it comes down to conditioning and pure power I don’t think there’s anybody out there who can match up with Manny,” he said.

“Manny is a phenom of an athlete,” added Ariza of Pacquiao, who looks unbeateable, as quick and as powerful, in the 140-and-over category.

Pacquiao agreed.

“I’m okay. I’m ready,” said the reigning WBO welterweight (147 lb) champion Sunday when reminded that the fight with Clottey, to be held before an expected 45,000 fans at the Cowboys Stadium, is just around the corner.

Pacquiao said he has no problem with his weight either, and until Sunday, he still gets to eat as much food as he wants. He hits 149 lb after each workout, and should find no problem making the weight on Friday, the eve of the fight.

“Kain pa nga ako ng kain eh. Walang problema sa timbang. All I’m doing is to maintain my condition,” he said.

“So, good luck to both of us. May the best man win.”