Under The Radar
 By Julian Kasdin (April 6, 2007) Doghouse Boxing (Photo © Tom Casino/SHOWTIME)
There are two big fights this weekend, though it seems much of the fight world didn’t know about one of them till Monday. One features long reigning WBO 168 pound champion Joe Calzaghe against Peter Manfredo. However there is a better match up involving Diego ‘Chico’ Corrales, 40-4 (33), against recent title challenger Joshua ‘The Hitter’ Clottey, 30-2 (19). Now one has to wonder how this fight slipped completely under the radars of most fans and pundits alike.
Not to take anything away from Calzaghe versus Manfredo as it pits a true pound for pound stalwart against a decent challenger, but the quality of Corrales vs. Clottey simply blows away that of the HBO card. This proves, once again, that Showtime really is America’s number one boxing network. It is true that both Corrales and Clottey are coming into this match up off of losses. Clottey dropped a close decision to Antonio Margarito, arguably one of the top three fighters in the welterweight division, and Corrales dropped two to Jose Luis Castillo and Joe Casamayor, no shame in either of those. What this fight has that HBO’s doesn’t is two now near elite fighters looking for that win that propels them back into title contention.
I am sure all boxing fans know about Corrales. The man has had his ups and downs, literally and figuratively, ranging from losses to Floyd Mayweather, Joel Casamayor and Jose Luis Castillo to wins over Castillo, Casamayor and Acelino Freitas. Oddly enough this fight against Clottey might prove his toughest test as he is fighting seventeen pounds north of where he started his professional career, and against a natural welter. It is hard to gauge how much Corrales has left. Punishing fights against Castillo and Mayweather have clearly taken their toll, and his tendency to brawl will most certainly not help him against the naturally bigger Clottey. One also has to wonder will his power carry to the welterweight division, and if it does will it be enough to dissuade a man who stood up to Antonio Margarito? All of the questions surrounding Chico in this fight make his welterweight premiere all the more interesting.
What about Clottey? The man has never beaten an elite fighter, though before injuring his hand against Margarito he looked like he could pull an upset. Has his hand healed, and will he have what it takes to withstand Chico’s offensive arsenal. I have a hunch that come fight night Joshua Clottey, a man who by all means could only have one loss on his record, will be the fresher and “younger” man. The lack of ring wars, plus his position as a natural welter, might prove too much for Chico.
If Corrales’ power does not carry look for Clottey to approach him in a similar fashion to the way he approached Margarito before injuring his hand which will most likely lead to Joshua winning by close decision or late TKO.
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