Pacquiao registers 146 lbs, Clottey still overweight

GRAPEVINE, Texas – It wasn’t only natural hard work ethic after all.

When Ghanaian Joshua Clottey was spotted doing a very early morning run at the lobby of the Gaylord Texan Hotel on Monday, he was not just trying to keep in tip-top shape. He was actually trying to lose extra poundage.

The suspicion that Clottey, a big welterweight, was still overweight was confirmed Thursday when he and his gang of four were spotted by Team Pacquiao member Roger Fernandez at the convention hall jogging wearing thermal suit for 45 minutes and then skipping ropes.

“Masama nga ang tingin nila sa akin, pero di ako umalis [They threw dagger looks at me, but I didn’t leave] said Roger, younger brother of Buboy, who is Pacquiao’s bosom buddy and trainer.

“I’m sure Clottey’s still overweight,” said Roger. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t do that [wear thermal suit].”

“He looks haggard and his stomach appears to be deep already,” added Roger.

In the final press conference Wednesday, Clottey’s chief trainer Lenny DeJesus claimed that Clottey, who has fought above the welterweight limit (147 lbs) 11 times, twice at 154, has made weight in his challenge for Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight crown.

As Clottey scrambles to shed pounds, Pacquiao relaxes as he weighed 146 even after a hearty lunch of beef stew and pakbet (vegetable stew) Wednesday, according to Roger, adding that the seven-time champion in as many divisions would still eat a full meal, hours before weigh-in Friday afternoon.

Making weight hasn’t been an issue for Pacquiao at 147 lbs. Fact is, conditioning expert Alex Ariza continues to give him protein shakes so as he’ll keep weight.

Source: inquirer.net