Cowboys Stadium, 3/13/2010 - what if fear wasn't the mind killer?

Of course, when Joshua "Grand Master" Clottey fought Manny Pacquiao he was coming off a demoralizing SD loss to a version of Miguel Cotton that was perceived as damaged goods (after Margarito I, but still before the boricua's own subsequent loss to Pac-Man). Worse yet, the onetime poster child for the archetype of "teak-tough Ghanaian warrior" in boxing had suffered a flash knockdown in the first round against Cotto - and from a jab.

Obviously his self confidence was a little shaken following that with a career payday that required stepping in with the fearsome little Filipino buzzsaw whose ATG legacy was still arguably in its "imperial phase". It would have been bad enough had Pacquiao not thrashed Cotto in the months that passed between Clottey vs. Cotto and Pacquiao vs. Clottey, leaving Junito even more damaged than Margarito had.

Let's say that on the night, instead of willfully disappointing the more than 40k in attendance and the millions watching around the world on HBO (and in the process pissing away all the goodwill Grandmaster had banked with most fans of the sport), he had remembered just how strong a chin he possessed as a second line of defense behind that high guard. Let's say he hyped himself up by placing in context that the flash KD from Cotto was the only one of his entire career...and that he was never close to going down again. Let's say he threw anywhere close to his normal welterweight per-fight average. Let's say he didn't hide in a shell all night, and was willing to get into exchanges with Pac-Man.

Obviously he is still losing IMO (that version of Pacquiao was beyond his capabilities), but probably still by decision. He may or may not get put down in a willfully spirited contest with the future Senator of the Philippines, but he isn't staying down. And he would not have lost hearts & minds as he likely has in this reality.

Yes, he would later batter Mundine senseless - but let's be honest, nobody outside Australia noticed or cared. He also fought Gabe Rosado in a forgettable and unsuccessful effort on a random HBO card. Throw in a handful of meaningless victories at home and in the USA - but really, the sundowning began in Arlington, TX and it has remained perpetually dim ever since. Deciding to squander the huge platform and opportunity to dare to be great hurt Clottey's standing more than even the slight risk of being KTFO by Pacquiao would have.

Damn shame, too. Good fighter, and his stock took a massive dip from this. As steep as his fellow 147lb titlist - and old rival - Carlos Baldomir's...except what Clottey did (being a bit of a safety first coward with anemic output) was at day's end just a mild letdown and not utterly reprehensible.