Some good wins from Soto and Pacquiao this weekend.

Soto looks like he'll be another force at lightweight, I wasn't convinced he'd be able to carry his power up from super-feather. He dropped David Diaz twice however-once in the first and once in the last.

I really thought Soto could've have stopped Diaz if he wanted to as well. He was dominating the fight rather handily and could've forced the stoppage anywhere between rounds 6-10. Then he just eased up a fraction, allowing Diaz to recover a bit. I guess there was too much respect between the Mexican brothers.

Soto has proven himself as a solid lightweight and there's some good fights to be made for him. I'd like to see him against the winner of Funeka-Guzman. Granted he already has a loss to Guzman though.

Pacquiao looked good against Clottey, however given his recent performances against Oscar, Hatton and Cotto, the result was somewhat disappointing.
Clottey just didn't want to open up and Manny couldn't penetrate his defensive shell. I think this frustrated Manny quite a lot to be honest. Several times, he backed off trying to encourage Clottey into an exchange but Clottey wouldn't have a bar of it.

If I was a Pacquaio fan, I'd be concerned about how much his face was swollen at the end of the fight. Clottey looked fresh as a daisy, but Manny was badly swollen under both eyes. Given Clottey's less than prodigious output this was a bit suprising.

Expect Floyd to capitalize on this.

Your thoughts?

Clottey dogged that fight. The guy didn't throw ****. When he did he knocked PAC back with his power.

I have more respect for the efforts of Cotto and Hatton against Pac.

Seriously Clottey had a chance of making it a fight. Not a true warrior in my book. Even Katsidis would have had a better go than that.

Clottey dogged that fight. The guy didn't throw ****. When he did he knocked PAC back with his power.

I have more respect for the efforts of Cotto and Hatton against Pac.

Seriously Clottey had a chance of making it a fight. Not a true warrior in my book. Even Katsidis would have had a better go than that.

Agree 100%.

He went out there knowing he couldn't win and was just happy to go the distance. Not really good enough when over 50,000 people turn up to watch you I am afraid. Clottey did himself no favours in that fight as far as getting future paydays is concerned. Basically I am not interested in watching him fight because he cannot beat any fighter that has good volume. He is an incredibly limited guy. Didn't deserve to be in the same ring as Manny I'm afraid.

I thought the card was terrible. We need less Top Rank cards. They suck. All the undercard fights were awful and then the main event was not a contest. Not at all impressed with Soto. He was very ordinary IMO. Castillo has no business in the ring and Duddy was terrible.

So yeah, ****.

One thing I will say is that if Pacquaio and Floyd ever fight Manny is really going to need a plan for dealing with Floyd's lead straight rights. Clottey's were quick enough to get through fairly regularly, it isn't going to be a good night for Manny if he lets Floyd hit the target that often.

I am leaning towards Floyd beating Manny even more after yesterdays fight.

I actually thought Soto looked good. He fought well off the back foot, something I wasn't sure he was capable of. Each to their own I suppose.

I agree with you about Bob Arum, the guy is a grub (and a selfish grub at that). His refusal to match his fighters against other promoters is hurting the sport badly.

You do know what will be next for Clottey though...a rematch with Margarito. I think the writing is on the wall for that one. Clottey coming off a loss, Margarito making a comeback ( I suspect they will give him his license back), both top Rank fighters...Arum wins all round. Not interested.

The only thing worse would be Margarito/Pacquaio. The fact that Arum can even entertain this thought speaks volumes about the guy.

Even though I tipped Manny by TKO on here, somewhere deep down I knew the fight would probably go the distance. Just as well I slipped some $$ on Pac by decision. Probably the only saving grace in that fight for me.

I actually thought Soto looked good. He fought well off the back foot, something I wasn't sure he was capable of. Each to their own I suppose.

I agree with you about Bob Arum, the guy is a grub (and a selfish grub at that). His refusal to match his fighters against other promoters is hurting the sport badly.

You do know what will be next for Clottey though...a rematch with Margarito. I think the writing is on the wall for that one. Clottey coming off a loss, Margarito making a comeback ( I suspect they will give him his license back), both top Rank fighters...Arum wins all round. Not interested.

The only thing worse would be Margarito/Pacquaio. The fact that Arum can even entertain this thought speaks volumes about the guy.

Even though I tipped Manny by TKO on here, somewhere deep down I knew the fight would probably go the distance. Just as well I slipped some $$ on Pac by decision. Probably the only saving grace in that fight for me.

For me, when you are fighting a guy as bad as Diaz, you need to look a lot better than that for me to care about you.

Yeah, its gotta be Manny against the winner of Mayweather-Mosley next. It has to be. **** Antonio Margarito, the cheating grub.

One thing I will say is that if Pacquaio and Floyd ever fight Manny is really going to need a plan for dealing with Floyd's lead straight rights. Clottey's were quick enough to get through fairly regularly, it isn't going to be a good night for Manny if he lets Floyd hit the target that often.

I am leaning towards Floyd beating Manny even more after yesterdays fight.

I agree as well. I think Pac will have to do a lot of things different if he fights Floyd.

I don't think Manny took Clottey as seriously as Cotto or Hatton for some reason in training. I could be wrong.

I agree as well. I think Pac will have to do a lot of things different if he fights Floyd.

I don't think Manny took Clottey as seriously as Cotto or Hatton for some reason in training. I could be wrong.

Maybe no HBO 24/7 had something to do with it. We weren't allowed a good glimpse in his training camp this time around.

I was suprised Manny swelled up so easily under that eye. Clottey was accurate when he threw punches but that wasn't often so it seems Manny swells/cuts easy these days. Expect Floyd to really bust him up if they fight, faster, more accurate, and sits down on his shots more than Clottey, plus he throws more.

Manny used some nice angles though and threw a ton. Josh was successful at time when he let his hands go, and I was hoping he would punch out from behind his guard more often and have faith in his chin and size to exchange a bit with Manny, but just too inactive to win the fight.

Maybe no HBO 24/7 had something to do with it. We weren't allowed a good glimpse in his training camp this time around.

True, but I think he had less training time this time around.

One thing I will say is that if Pacquaio and Floyd ever fight Manny is really going to need a plan for dealing with Floyd's lead straight rights. Clottey's were quick enough to get through fairly regularly, it isn't going to be a good night for Manny if he lets Floyd hit the target that often.

I am leaning towards Floyd beating Manny even more after yesterdays fight.

Agreed...Pac will have to be at his best to deal with Floyd...no way Floyd hides away the whole fight unless Pac tags him often and stumbles him a little...however will Floyd opening up a dam site more than Clottey did leave him open for Pac counters??...who knows...really looking forward to this one...hope it happens this year!!

Pacquiao, Clottey was a good fight but thb Pacman looked more beat up than Clottey. Just think If fights did go 15 rounds or more. Do you think the outcomes would be a lot different?

Pacquiao, Clottey was a good fight but thb Pacman looked more beat up than Clottey. Just think If fights did go 15 rounds or more. Do you think the outcomes would be a lot different?

Well some fights, but not that fight. Clottey was too scared to throw punches.

The more a fighter opens up, the more open to counters he is, and when a fighter starts to get hit a lot, they slow down. Even Pacquaio can be slowed down.

How many times have you heard a corner say "you just gotta let ya hands go"? It's a difficult thing to do when another fighter already has your measure.

"In all, Pacquiao threw 1,231 punches (102.5 per round, far above the divisional average of 58.5) to Clottey’s 399 (33.25 per round, way below the 50 trainer Lenny DeJesus wanted). The jab was a non-entity for both as Pacquiao landed just 14 of 549 (3 percent) to Clottey’s 26 of 162 (16 percent) while the power punches proved to be everything as Pacquiao went 232 of 682 (34 percent) to Clottey’s 82 of 237 (35 percent)."

I am honestly not surprised (as with most) that Pacquiao threw a great deal more punches, but the numbers border the ridiculous. Averaging 100 punches per round is phenomenal irrespective of who your opponent is.

"The gaps in activity were almost breathtaking; on six occasions the difference in total output exceeded 70 punches (rounds four and eight through 12) and topped off at 92 in round 10 (120 to 28). Pacquiao exceeded the 100-punch mark seven times – including each of the last five rounds – and “The Pac Man’s” lowest output, 79 in round one, was 35 punches more than Clottey’s highest (44 in the 11th)."

I was not surprised that Clottey adopted a defensive style, as has been the case with most of his fights eg Margarito (after Clottey broke his hand) but he just gave away the first 6 or 7 rounds...he basically didn't even compete. Clottey looked great in the pocket landing left hooks and left uppercuts repeatedly. IMO this i where I believe Clottey could have done some serious damage to Pac and if he were more active, possibly win the fight. Obviously at a distance, taking into account Pac's lateral movement and speed it was always going to be difficult for Clottey, if they were to exchange at that range. I believe this is why Clottey went into his shell whenever the fight was at this range, it was just way too much of a risk for him.

Irrespective Pac won the fight by a wide margin. He had more controlled ring aggression, threw the greater volume of punches and was always the first to start any type of exchange.

IMO after watching that fight it seems that Pac is more effective against opponents who are willing to exchange and come towards him. This makes the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight all the more intriguing and IMO I believe Mayweather is one of the few active fighters who could stop Manny.

Information sourced from Compubox
boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=26046

IMO after watching that fight it seems that Pac is more effective against opponents who are willing to exchange and come towards him. This makes the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight all the more intriguing and IMO I believe Mayweather is one of the few active fighters who could stop Manny.[

Nice post Sine.

I agree, it's Manny's hand speed more than anything that gives him the advantage in those open exchanges. He will always beat you to the punch, as he did both Hatton and Cotto.

I'm not sure however, that Mayweather will be able to stop Manny. I just don't think he hits hard enough.

Nice post Sine.

I agree, it's Manny's hand speed more than anything that gives him the advantage in those open exchanges. He will always beat you to the punch, as he did both Hatton and Cotto.

I'm not sure however, that Mayweather will be able to stop Manny. I just don't think he hits hard enough.

Agreed.

Mayweather wouldn't even try to stop him. Even if he hurt him.

Agreed.

Mayweather wouldn't even try to stop him. Even if he hurt him.

This is very true and it's one of the main reasons I'm not a fan of his.

This is very true and it's one of the main reasons I'm not a fan of his.

I'm a fan but I don't mind admitting that I prefer the Floyd of the old days like in the Chavez and Corrales fights when he traded with combinations.

I'm a fan but I don't mind admitting that I prefer the Floyd of the old days like in the Chavez and Corrales fights when he traded with combinations.

I agree, he was much better then. He was lesser known then and took more risk.

Since he's been at welter and became more well know, he's really only been interested in staying undefeated.

I agree, he was much better then. He was lesser known then and took more risk.

Since he's been at welter and became more well know, he's really only been interested in staying undefeated.

That is where his value is now. Its not like his recent fights have been great to watch, he makes his money based on the fact that he is "undefeated" and proclaims to be "unbeatable".

He loses and that idea goes out the window along with a whole lot of Floyd's value.

That is where his value is now. Its not like his recent fights have been great to watch, he makes his money based on the fact that he is "undefeated" and proclaims to be "unbeatable".

He loses and that idea goes out the window along with a whole lot of Floyd's value.

I couldn't agree more Dan.

I'm not a fan of Floyd's every big fight he fails to deliver. He wouldn't have KO'd like that if Hatton did walk straight into that.