GRAPEVINE, Texas (MindaNews/DateLine Philippines)–It was Manny Pacquiao’s turn to do a workout on a boxing ring set up inside the posh Gaylord Texan hotel here on Tuesday, and the pound-for-pound king made no bones in displaying he’s in very good shape and is seriously set to send challenger Joshua Clottey to the canvass.

Much of the combinations Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach showed during the workout were aimed at hitting an opponent’s chin, head and body.

So methodically precise were the combinations to the head that the message was unmistakable, and chilling: the Pacman doesn’t want the 12-round WBO welterweight title fight to go the distance.

A Fil-Am proudly displays a poster of Pacquiao signed by coach trainer Freddie Roach. MindaNews photo by Merpu Roa

Because of Clottey’s strong chin and good defense, several boxers, industry enthusiasts and avid Filipino fans asked by MindaNews here in Texas think the boxing match will stretch between the 10th up to the last round. Previous Clottey fights showed the Ghanaian boxer is a top class welterweight counter-puncher.

Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) is set to face Joshua Clottey (35-3, 21 KOs) for the welterweight title match at the $1.2 billion Dallas Cowboys stadium in nearby Arlington City on March 13.

Clottey is ranked No. 1 welterweight boxer by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and No. 4 by the World Boxing Association (WBA).

The Pacman grabbed the title from three-time world champion Miguel Cotto via a 12th- round TKO in Las Vegas on May 2009. Cotto held on to the title belt through a controversial split decision over Clottey when he challenged the Puerto Rican in November last year.

There were several occasions where Roach urged Pacquiao to move on to the next scheduled routine of the workout. But the Filipino boxer appeared intent on perfecting some of the combinations, notably those that target an opponent’s head.

Manny Pacquiao spars with coach trainer Freddie Roach during workout at the posh Gaylord Texan Hotel in Grapevine City on Tuesday. MindaNews photo by Merpu Roa

Earlier, Clottey told MindaNews Pacquiao’s signature barrage of punches even to the head won’t hurt, much more floor him. Instead, a sustained and continuous punch work might do the trick, him, having a naturally strong chin.

Gauging by Tuesday’s workout, Pacquiao will most likely do a body to head combination, punctuated by stinging counter-punching, still aimed at both the head and the body.

What the Pacman, however, strongly communicated after an almost two-hour intense workout, was that he is bent on ending the fight as soon as it starts.

And if by chance, it will go the distance, still, the fight will be stopped or Clottey ends up being counted out. Merpu Roa/MindaNews