Clottey Fights In February
1/19/2009 10:45:01 AM -
Joshua Clottey ALL THINGS being equal, Joshua Clottey, International Boxing Federation (IBF) Welterweight Champion will defend his title against an unknown challenger by February 21, DAILY GUIDE SPORTS has learnt.
Currently, the Ghanaian champion who dethroned American Zab Judah last August, is feverishly preparing for the fight which will definitely be against one of the top boxers in the welterweight category.
Clottey was initially billed to fight Kermit Citron of the USA but the latter pulled out of the fight for unknown reasons.
He also threw a challenge at World Boxing Authority (WBA) champion Antonio Magarito for a unification bout of the IBF and WBA titles.
However, Magarito who stopped Miguel Cotto in the eleventh round of the WBA title fight in July 2008 also failed to accept the challenge.
Speaking from his base in the USA, Clottey said he was very surprised that Citron pulled out of the fight, adding that “when I was the number one contender to the title when he was then champion he refused to fight me. Now that I am champion he is also turning down my offer.”
According to Clottey, Citron failed to sign the contract to fight him in 2008 after agreeing to box him earlier on. “How can the manager ask me to sign a contract to fight Citron whilst he the challenger fails to sign”?
By Charles Nixon Yeboah
