"He had no courage" Lenny De Jesus
Written by Rey Colon, Special Envoy Sunday March 14,
TEXAS - More than defeated, the Puerto Rican coach Lenny De Jesus face reflected frustration that Joshua Clottey did not meet the agreed plans to face Manny Pacquiao, he strictly got imited to remain upright for 12 rounds and so to show up Freddie Roach.
He had no balls, in spanish, No te tuvo los cojones, De jesus said. The training that was given was terrific but changed when Pacquiao began to throw lots of punches. He was honest with me and said 'Lenny I didnt wanted to give Roach the satisfaction of Pacquiao stopping me in the fight. I wanted to last the 12 rounds. "That's what he told me later in the clubhouse. I would have liked to have taken this fight to Wilfredo Gómez to teach Clottey how a real man fight. Gomez was a real man," revealed the Ponceño trainer.
Between rounds, De Jesus was trying to convince Clottey to be more aggressive but the African refused to follow those instructions and has apparently opted to make his own game plan.
"I told him he had to throw more punches, be creative and open up a bit to throw his own. But you saw, got stuck. No shot. He lost all the rounds. He wanted to last the 12 rounds. I could not put to fight for it. And he did not heed what he explained. He knew and I said it, did not want to open the guard. He threw two or three right uppercuts and not let go. The left stagnant, "he said.
The 160 pounds that Clottey weighted in the fight did not affect him or his performance.
"No, that was no factor. This weight is perfect. Maybe he got into his mind or which was to last twelve rounds to not give the satisfaction to Roach. I wasnt with that mentality. He didnt want to take the chance because most WW's have big power. The little man won, the big one didnt do what was expected.
De Jesus said that following the fight and above the ring, Pacquiao admitted that he came to feel the force of Clottey.
"Manny came up to me and said, Lenny, he hit me several times. He thanked me and I him and I think I will be given the opportunity to work with him. I told him in the ring. I will consider for the next fight, "settlement.
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