Clottey, Margari To Fight Now December 1

The much-anticipated welterweight title unification bout between IBF champion, Joshua Clottey, and his WBA opponent, Antonio Margarito, has been rescheduled for December 1.

The Honda Centre in Anaheim, California, has been maintained as the venue for the bout which was initially scheduled for November 1.

Clottey told the Graphic Sports yesterday that the fight was rescheduled to enable his camp do some more negotiations.

“This is a big fight and I want everything to be done properly. I don't really mind if it takes a whole week to finish negotiating the fine details of this bout.

Once myself and Margarito agree to the terms of the fight, we will sign the contract and start counting the days,” he said.

The 31-year-old Ghanaian boxer plans to leave town in a fortnight together with his trainer, Kwame Asante, to begin intensive training in Bronx, New York, USA.

Clottey defeated American Zab Judah on August 2 to annex the vacant IBF welterweight title to book a date with Margarito.

Aside the monetary considerations, Clottey intends to avenge his loss to Margarito two years ago.

“You know, I am as confident as I was in the days preceding the Zab Judah fight.

This time around by God's grace no injury will stop me from overpowering Margarito,” he told this reporter.

With a record of 35 wins and two losses Clottey, aside topping the IBF rankings, is rated third by the WBO and sixth by boxing website fightnews.com in the division.

Margarito (37-5, 27 KOs) tops on WBA rankings and is rated first by the same website.

Story by Nathaniel Attoh