Giant cable network HBO has reportedly decided to drop Joshua Clottey for his unimpressive performance during the HBO-Arum promoted boxing fight between Joshua Clottey of Ghana and Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines last March 13, 2010 in Arlington Texas.
“He (Clottey) was satisfied with going the distance with Manny Pacquiao,” said a visibly disgusted Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s American trainer. “And he did. But HBO will never use him again.
The much-publicized fight covered by HBO on PPV has reportedly drawn around 700,000 pay-per-view hits according preliminary reports from Top Rank promotions headed by Bob Arum. The relatively low turn out could be the reason for HBO’s decision as reported.
Manny Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach has been vocal and critical about Clottey’s defensive strategy during the fight. Many boxing fans believe that Clottey was just trying to protect his zero knock-out loss, just like Floyd Mayweather, jr. protecting his zero loss record thereby remaining undefeated in his boxing career. Others say that Clottey was happy with his $2 million take home pay for bravely facing Pacquiao.
“He (Clottey) was satisfied with going the distance with Manny Pacquiao,” said a visibly disgusted Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s American trainer. “And he did. But HBO will never use him again.”
“They told me that if you fight for a world title, you don’t go on a survival mode. You try to win the title because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
” Meanwhile Manny Pacquiao returned to the Philippines, his home country, to prepare for another challenging fight – this time- outside the boxing ring, as the popular Filipino boxer starts to campaign for a congressional seat in the coming May 10 elections to represent his district constituents in southern Philippines.