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Ghanaian ring gladiator and national treasure Joshua Clottey steps into the ring Saturday determined to finish some unfinished business when he engages WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in a fight fans dream before a sell-out crowd at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York.
In one of his last workouts Clottey ripped the punch mitts screaming” I will die for my country!” even as he appealed to his countrymen to come together to enjoy his fights and also in national unity.
The story of Clottey is a rags to riches story that dreamers weave and a whole new generation of young Ghanaian seek to emulate.
Five years after his sensational debut in the U.S. in which Clottey dropped Jeffrey Hill three times in the opening round with his awesome left but was amazed as the American fought back to turn the tide for several rounds before Clottey recovered with a vengeance, nailed Hill and stopped him in the sixth round before a raucous crowd.
Clottey said later he “couldn’t believe it” even as celebrated trainer Kwame Asante told sportswriters that after the “three knockdowns in the first round I thought the fight was over.”
Both Clottey and Cotto made it clear they didn’t want Joe Cortez who refereed the Mayweather-Hatton battle to be appointed by the New York State Athletic Commission which apparently took their sentiments into consideration and named Arthur Mercante Jr. who handled Cotto-Judah as the third man in the ring.
The fight card will be telecast by HBO in cooperation and will also be shown on pay-per-view over Lion Satellite TV and in several theaters throughout the country.
The nation’s life is certain to grind to a halt as fight fans, families and friends gather around television sets in their homes or public venues to watch the Ghana's most popular personality by far, strive once again to enhance the pride and glory he brings to the country even as he continues to appeal for national unity.
The fight may be just as difficult as achieving national unity. A poll among twenty experts handpicked by the “Bible” of boxing Ring Magazine was dead even, 10-10, with Clottey evening it up through the magazine’s Ghanaian correspondent Doug Fischer and this reporter picking Cotto win. But while the Ring chosen experts were deadlocked, the magazine’s respected editor-in-chief Nigel Collins predicted that Cotto, being the great fighter he is will win “convincingly” over a very good fighter, Clottey.
In one of his last workouts Clottey ripped the punch mitts screaming” I will die for my country!” even as he appealed to his countrymen to come together to enjoy his fights and also in national unity.
The story of Clottey is a rags to riches story that dreamers weave and a whole new generation of young Ghanaian seek to emulate.
Five years after his sensational debut in the U.S. in which Clottey dropped Jeffrey Hill three times in the opening round with his awesome left but was amazed as the American fought back to turn the tide for several rounds before Clottey recovered with a vengeance, nailed Hill and stopped him in the sixth round before a raucous crowd.
Clottey said later he “couldn’t believe it” even as celebrated trainer Kwame Asante told sportswriters that after the “three knockdowns in the first round I thought the fight was over.”
Both Clottey and Cotto made it clear they didn’t want Joe Cortez who refereed the Mayweather-Hatton battle to be appointed by the New York State Athletic Commission which apparently took their sentiments into consideration and named Arthur Mercante Jr. who handled Cotto-Judah as the third man in the ring.
The fight card will be telecast by HBO in cooperation and will also be shown on pay-per-view over Lion Satellite TV and in several theaters throughout the country.
The nation’s life is certain to grind to a halt as fight fans, families and friends gather around television sets in their homes or public venues to watch the Ghana's most popular personality by far, strive once again to enhance the pride and glory he brings to the country even as he continues to appeal for national unity.
The fight may be just as difficult as achieving national unity. A poll among twenty experts handpicked by the “Bible” of boxing Ring Magazine was dead even, 10-10, with Clottey evening it up through the magazine’s Ghanaian correspondent Doug Fischer and this reporter picking Cotto win. But while the Ring chosen experts were deadlocked, the magazine’s respected editor-in-chief Nigel Collins predicted that Cotto, being the great fighter he is will win “convincingly” over a very good fighter, Clottey.