Manny Pacquiao, Joshua Clottey both make weight in Arlington

By Brett Okamoto

Friday, March 12, 2010 | 4:58 p.m.

ARLINGTON, Texas — As expected, there was a mixture of Manny Pacquiao fans, Joshua Clottey fans and Dallas Cowboys fans at Friday's weigh-in for the first fight in the team's $1.2 billion structure.

And as expected, the Pacquiao fans made the most noise.

"Who all out there are Dallas Cowboys fans? What about Joshua Clottey fans?" asked former Dallas Cowboys safety Darren Woodson to a lukewarm response.

"What about Manny Pacquiao fans?" he finished as the crowd erupted.

A large audience gathered outside of the east end of the stadium where the weigh-in was held to get a final glimpse of the fighters before they take the ring Saturday in a welterweight championship bout.

Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO), who set boxing history by winning a world title in his seventh weight class with a TKO win over Miguel Cotto in November, was the lighter fighter, weighing in just less than 146 pounds.

Clottey (35-3, 20 KO), who is coming off a split decision loss to Cotto in June, weighed in at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was on-stage throughout the proceedings and promised he would do his best to make sure his site would host more boxing events in the future — something he's been hinting at all week.

"On behalf of myself, the Cowboys and this stadium I thank you and (Top Rank promoter) Bob Arum for being here," Jones said. "Hopefully this is one of many boxing events here at Dallas Cowboys Stadium."

A short promotional video was shown on numerous screens set up on the outside of the stadium, highlighting some of the fighters' previous bouts.

Footage of the left hook Pacquiao used to knock out Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in May brought out the loudest response from the crowd.

The two fighters were respectful toward one another and even laughed and turned away while giving media photographers the traditional stare-down pose.

"I feel good, I'm very conditioned for this fight," Clottey said. "I know Manny is a great fighter and I'm ready for him. I'm ready to show the world how good I am."

Pacquiao closed the weigh-in by thanking his fans and, although not guaranteeing a knockout, promised he would do his best to not let them down.

"I'll do my best for them," Pacquiao said. "I'm not going to promise a knockout, but I'll do my best to make them happy and not be disappointed tomorrow night. We have created a strategy, and people will be surprised tomorrow."

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or [email protected]. Also follow him on twitter: LVSunFighting.