.... Back As A Light-Middleweight On Cotto-Mayorga Card
By James Slater: Almost a year to the day after his poor and disappointing showing against Manny Pacquiao, Ghana’s Joshua Clottey will return to the ring in Las Vegas. Having put a fair amount of the blame for his poor showing against Pac-Man on the rigours of making 147-pounds, the 33-year-old with the good 35-4(20) record is set to return as a light-middleweight.
The former IBF welterweight champ who has never been stopped as a pro will face Texan Calvin Green, 21-5-1(13) on the under-card of the Miguel Cotto-Ricardo Mayorga Pay-Per-View card at The MGM Grand. A large number of fans may have lost all interest in Clottey after the Pacquiao loss, but “The Grand Master” remains a capable and strong fighter; one who could possibly win a major title at 154.
Against fellow 33-year-old Green, Clottey should be able to rid himself of the ring-rust he has picked up without being in too much danger. Green, who in his last fight was stopped in the 7th-round by Sergio Mora, is no huge puncher and he has been stopped four times. A decent enough fighter, Green has been in with other good fighters such as Saul Duran. But each time he has stepped up, the one-time light-welterweight has lost.
Clottey reportedly made a lot of money for the Pacquiao fight, and some fans have questioned what possible desire he can have left today. Giving the Zab Judah-conqueror the benefit of the doubt, Clottey has to be given one more chance. He’s unlikely to get it, but a return with the man who tops the March 12th card would be a most interesting fight. Some good judges felt Clottey deserved the decision that went to Cotto in June of 2009, and now that the Puerto Rican star has a belt at 154, a rematch would be a pretty big fight. Again, Clottey is unlikely to get a second shot at Cotto; seeing as how Miguel is looking at a return of his own for after he’s got past Mayorga - one with Antonio Margarito.
But with his promotional team, Clottey might get himself a big fight at 154 against someone. Let’s see if the New York-based warrior looks hungry and determined against Green. Clottey was big and powerful at 147; he might be even stronger and harder hitting as a light-middleweight.
The Clottey-Green fight is scheduled for ten-rounds and will be an off-T.V bout.
Article posted on 16.01.2011
