Source: Michael Marley, examiner.com
DALLAS--Tiger Woods occasionally shanks a golf shot. He's hit a few deep into the woods or buried a "fried egg" into an impossible bunker.
The smooth Frank Sinatra's vocal inflections were usually superlatively consistent but, once in a while, even Mr. S, hit a clunker, a false musical note.
Manny Pacquiao, riding a rocketship of spectacular performances, is overdue for an off night, a fight in which he is not exceedlingly outstanding.
But, if I were plucky Joshua Clottey, I wouldn't expect Pacman's bad day at the office to occur at Cowboys Stadium next Saturday night.
If I were Clottey, I'd be expected to get KTFO'd.
If I wanted to go the weak-kneed route, the weasel way, I would predict Manny by UD12, a clearcut winner on the scorecards in Arlington.
But, after seeing Pacman spar nearly 20 rounds at the Wild Card Gym over the past week, I have to discard my usual "gymnasium is a liar" rule and go with what I saw firsthand.
At age 31, Manny remains wildly enthusiastic about being the Pound for Pound king of the ring.
Politics is a sideline, a hobby if you will, and no serious distraction.
The camp is humming with harmony. Formerly controversial agent Michael Koncz seems to have been fully accepted by the other guys on Team Pacquiao.
Koncz is a hard worker and quite productive. He's really not the bad egg he was portrayed to be.
He makes enemies, sure, by being the guy who has to say "no" to many Manny requests but he does his job and does it well.
The division of labor by all those in Manny's orbit appears to be serene, to be orderly.
But the scariest thing for Clottey now, and for Floyd Mayweather if he steps up later, is that Pacquiao continues to improve, continues to refine aspects of his fighting arsenal.
His footwork is beginning to resemble Baryshnikov's and he two handed combinations grow more precise and more forceful.
It would take a perfect storm for anyone, even the immensely talented Mayweather to detail the Pacquiao Express right now.
Unfortunately for Clottey, game but not so bleesed with such skills, the perfect storm is going to be hitting him in the face and in the body.
Blazing fast combinations will be coming at him in all directions.
Questions will be asked and Clottey won't have the answers.
A peaking Pacquiao scores a stoppage victory over the Ghanaian.
Your White Gorilla official prediction...
Manny Pacquiao by TKO 10. I am sorely tempted to chop two rounds off and make it TKO 8.
Colleague and friend John Chavez of Boxingtruth.com opines that Manny will only win a close decision.
"What will Manny do when his punches are always bouncing off Clottey's gloves" Chavez, known as the "Boxing Bookie," asks.
I will ignore this heretic, this dyspeptic skeptic.
Clottey will get chopped up so that he will leave the ring looking like ground chuck.
The smooth Frank Sinatra's vocal inflections were usually superlatively consistent but, once in a while, even Mr. S, hit a clunker, a false musical note.
Manny Pacquiao, riding a rocketship of spectacular performances, is overdue for an off night, a fight in which he is not exceedlingly outstanding.
But, if I were plucky Joshua Clottey, I wouldn't expect Pacman's bad day at the office to occur at Cowboys Stadium next Saturday night.
If I were Clottey, I'd be expected to get KTFO'd.
If I wanted to go the weak-kneed route, the weasel way, I would predict Manny by UD12, a clearcut winner on the scorecards in Arlington.
But, after seeing Pacman spar nearly 20 rounds at the Wild Card Gym over the past week, I have to discard my usual "gymnasium is a liar" rule and go with what I saw firsthand.
At age 31, Manny remains wildly enthusiastic about being the Pound for Pound king of the ring.
Politics is a sideline, a hobby if you will, and no serious distraction.
The camp is humming with harmony. Formerly controversial agent Michael Koncz seems to have been fully accepted by the other guys on Team Pacquiao.
Koncz is a hard worker and quite productive. He's really not the bad egg he was portrayed to be.
He makes enemies, sure, by being the guy who has to say "no" to many Manny requests but he does his job and does it well.
The division of labor by all those in Manny's orbit appears to be serene, to be orderly.
But the scariest thing for Clottey now, and for Floyd Mayweather if he steps up later, is that Pacquiao continues to improve, continues to refine aspects of his fighting arsenal.
His footwork is beginning to resemble Baryshnikov's and he two handed combinations grow more precise and more forceful.
It would take a perfect storm for anyone, even the immensely talented Mayweather to detail the Pacquiao Express right now.
Unfortunately for Clottey, game but not so bleesed with such skills, the perfect storm is going to be hitting him in the face and in the body.
Blazing fast combinations will be coming at him in all directions.
Questions will be asked and Clottey won't have the answers.
A peaking Pacquiao scores a stoppage victory over the Ghanaian.
Your White Gorilla official prediction...
Manny Pacquiao by TKO 10. I am sorely tempted to chop two rounds off and make it TKO 8.
Colleague and friend John Chavez of Boxingtruth.com opines that Manny will only win a close decision.
"What will Manny do when his punches are always bouncing off Clottey's gloves" Chavez, known as the "Boxing Bookie," asks.
I will ignore this heretic, this dyspeptic skeptic.
Clottey will get chopped up so that he will leave the ring looking like ground chuck.
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