Clottey took the measure of Diego Corrales and blew a winning fight against prime Tony Margarito due to injury during their bout . He could have arguably beaten Cotto if not for the fact that Cotto was being reserved for a title defense against Bob Arum's new fair-haired ward Manny Pacquiao. As it turned out, Pacquiao beat Cotto for the WBO title and in his first defense took on Clottey.
Surprise of all surprises the new tiger of Ghana inexplicably came to the Pacquiao fight like a purring pet cat! He was pictured by the press covering that fight as a cowardly bastard trying hard to just survive. It was a complete reversal of a Clottey who came out charging against Margarito, Corrales and Cotto It was the first time I saw a fighter who was full of fight and confidence in his previous contests coming into a major bout like a wimp! He was totally uncharacteristic of the Ghanaian fighters who are generally known to fear nobody. That fight reeked of a set-up.
Arum could have set him up for the rest of his career with a biggest ever fight purse and possibly a fat bonus to boot for gamely playing such unenviable role in that gig. For he simply disappeared from boxing for years before surfacing recently with huge win over Australia's durable Tony Mundine.
I think he could have been among the best welterweights of his class but I would not be too hasty to say that he is now a major force to be reckoned with in the middleweight with a solitary win at 160 lbs. over an old vet as Mundine.
You must REALLY like Josh Clottey. Clottey is a tough boxer who can take a lot of punishment. But if you think he's the best welterweight TODAY, you REALLY need to do a little homework.
.
I can forgive his dismal performance against Pacquiao. I don't know what aliens invaded Clottey's mind and body but he didn't look like himself at all. It reminded me of the first Holmes vs M. Spinks fight. You'd think there was a sniper in the crowd. Holmes didn't throw many right hands.
.
We later found out that Holmes had a damaged bicep. I still don't know what Clottey's problem was against Pacquiao. I do know that he wasn't the best welterweight, then, and he certainly is not the best now.
.
Oh, um, the same applies for the middleweights.
I wouldn't go that far but he is very underrated. Right Now the best Light Middleweight is either Lara or Alvarez. Mayweather is a Welterweight despite being the champion of that division.
No. Clottey is an A level fighter who has come up short against the elites in the division. He is still a tough draw but I think that Canelo needs to fight better opposition and think that the decision to fight Clottey is like Mayweather taking Maidana on for the second time. It is a "hard on paper" but generally safe fight.
Sorry, but he's far from it. He ain't beaten no elite fighter. His biggest fights were Pac, Cotto and Margarito, and he lost them all.
i think he is not of the best in those divisions but not the best. Clottey has always been a high risk low reward opponent.
He is one the most underrated guys out there and can beat most welterweights.
He could probably beat most of these welterweights and Jr middleweights.
You're delusional.
you dont have to do this, clottey will be spectacular once he beat that overrated alvarez...happy now?
Clotteys first loss was a robbery, his second loss to margarito he was beating margarito up until he hurt his hand so lets give Him the benefit of the doubt and believe he would destroy margarito In a rematch, I truly believe he beat cotto, and the loss to Manny, come on man that was defenetly sold, had he tried he would have crushed mannys little frame.
With that being said i believe Joshua Clottley is an undefeated boxer. He is the strongest puncher in the welterweight/middleweight division, even when compared to guys like Mathysse and Berto etc. and he also has the best chin in the division, I mean who has even hurt the guy.
It seems like he is the most avoided boxer in the division. His promoters have messed up his career. I believe if he really wanted to he could KO both manny and Floyd.
