Clottey apologises, pledges to return big

Joshua Clottey has apologised to Ghanaians for letting the nation down on his failure to beat Manny Pacquiao in their WBO Welterweight title fight last night. “I want to tell Ghanaians that I am sorry for what happened that I lost. I promise that next time I will come back big,” Clottey told journalists at ringside moments after losing a unanimous decision to the Filipino icon Saturday night.

Ghanaians have variously expressed disappointment at the performance of Clottey against the highly-rated Pacquiao. Many believe the Ghanaian fighter could have stood a greater chance of success in last night’s fight had he attacked more. Instead Joshua chose to be adamant, and on the defensive throughout, one judge ruling all 12 rounds for Pacquiao with the other two giving the Ghanaian just one of 12 rounds.

But Clottey says his tactics were spot on for the opponent. “He’s fast so I wanted to slow him down so I needed to be careful. I felt more of his speed not his power. He couldn’t hit me and I’m not hurt at all,” he responded to the criticisms.

The defeat is the 4th of Clottey’s career but it’s the second successive one after losing a split decision to Miguel Cotto last June, the same opponent Pacquiao battered to a 12 round TKO last November. Many boxing connoisseurs have expressed the fear that Clottey may find opponents and fighting opportunities hard to come by in future.

But the Ghanaian has stated his willingness to venture into a fight against anyone. “I am always ready to fight against the best and I can say that I am ready for anybody,” he said. v