"Clottey plays it safe too much. I think he's going to have his hands covering his face, like he always does, and allow Manny to either outpoint him or possibly stop him. I think Manny can stop him...This was a safe fight to choose for Pacquiao. He's a durable guy, but he's perfect. Stylistically, he's perfect. He's safety first. He closes up like a suitcase and the only way to get in there is if you find the key. He's tailor made for any guy that can give it and take it. He's the perfect fight for anyone because he's safety first. He likes to complain after the fact, but he has no one to blame but himself," stated world-class trainer Jeff Mayweather as he shared his thoughts on the upcoming welterweight clash between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey. Check out what else he had to say about Pacquiao, Clottey, working with Celestino Caballero, Mickey Bey and much more.
PC: What's up Jeff? I know you have some dates coming up with your fighters and you're staying busy. Tell us about it?
JM: I'm just trying to keep busy man, that's about it. I am supposed to have Caballero come in from Panama. That was in the works for quite some time and it finally came to fruition, so that was a good thing. And of course, trying to get Mickey Bey in position to fight for a world title. Those are my 2 main fighters that I look for to make a little noise. Other than that, I'm working with a few other guys; some young fighters. I'm keeping busy. I got about 8 or 9 amateurs as well.
PC: Is it tough to have a guy like Caballero, who comes from so far away, and monitor what he's doing over there and still get him ready to go here?
JM: The one thing about him is he's a guy that...to be honest, he didn't necessarily need me to become champion of the world, but he trusted enough in me to get better and he feels I'm the right person to help him get better.
PC: How is Mickey coming along in the gym and what are you expecting from him?
JM: Well, Mickey is a very talented fighter and he is a guy that should have already been in the spotlight if it wasn't for unfortunate decisions made in his career, which is probably his own fault of just being young. But now we're in the process of getting him on the right track once again and leading him into the right direction.
PC: We have a big fight coming up in March. It was supposed to be your nephew facing Pacquiao, but Clottey will be the opponent instead. How do you see that fight going?
JM: It's a fight in which, to me, Clottey is a guy that doesn't work hard enough. He doesn't step on the gas. If he would have did that against Cotto, he would have won. Clottey plays it safe too much. I think he's going to have his hands covering his face, like he always does, and allow Manny to either outpoint him or possibly stop him. I think Manny can stop him because, first of all, he can't win that fight just covering up. It's no way he's going to win that fight covering up. I have never seen him fight and not cover up; even the fights he wins. That's what I'm looking for, a guy that's going to play it safe and then complain when it's over. He is a very durable guy, but if he doesn't play it safe, he can give himself a chance of winning or getting knocked out. But playing it safe, he's going to lose for sure. This was a safe fight to choose for Pacquiao. He's a durable guy, but he's perfect. Stylistically, he's perfect. He's safety first. He closes up like a suitcase and the only way to get in there is if you find the key. He's tailor made for any guy that can give it and take it. He's the perfect fight for anyone because he's safety first. He likes to complain after the fact, but he has no one to blame but himself.
CHECK BACK SHORTLY FOR MUCH MORE WITH JEFF MAYWEATHER...
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