INQUIRER Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas?Boxing pundits were right after all. Manny Pacquiao will overwhelm Joshua Clottey with the sheer volume of punches.

Pacquiao, his fists working like pistons, unleashed a staggering 1,231 punches to retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown by unanimous decision at the Cowboys Stadium here.

The game Ghanaian was clearly outgunned as he managed to throw 399, less than one- third of what the Filipino icon rained down on him.

Affirming his superb condition, Pacquiao kept Clottey at bay with 549 jabs, connecting on only 14, however, for a miserable conversion rate of three percent. In contrast, Clottey jabbed 162 times and landed 26 for 16 percent.

In power punches thrown, Pacquiao also pulled away with 682 against Clottey?s 237. Again, Clottey turned out to be more accurate with 82 connections or 35 pwercent, nippng Pacquiao, who landed 232 for 14 percent.

Against David Diaz, from whom he wrested the World Boxing Council lightweight title in 2008 by stoppage in the night round, Pacquiao unloaded 788 punches and connected on 230 for a 29 percent accuracy.

Against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, from whom he wrested the WBO title, Pacquiao threw 780 punches and connected on 336 for a lofty 43 percent accuracy.

In his two-round demolition of Hatton last May, Pacquiao sent home 73 of 127 shots for an amazing 57 percent conversion arte.

Pacquiao was also impressive in his eighth round stoppage of Oscar De La Hoya on Dec. 6 as he landed 274 of 575 punches.