Joshua Clottey-Manny Pacquiao: New Trainer, No Problem for Clottey

SOURCE: Boxing-Examiner~y2010m2d24-Lenny-The-Locksmith-DeJesus-key-man-in-Clottey-corner-against-Pacquiao">http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-Boxing-Examiner~y2010m2d24-Lenny-The-Locksmith-DeJesus-key-man-in-Clottey-corner-against-Pacquiao

To continue my look at the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight, I am going to look at the trainer for Clottey. Everyone knows about Freddie Roach but few people know about Lenny DeJesus, the trainer for Clottey.

Normally Godwin Dzanie Kotey would be the head trainer for Clottey, but he was refused a U.S. visa. So DeJesus has taken over.

Who is Lenny DeJesus you ask? He is a renowned cutman and lead trainer for Joshua Clottey. He has plenty of experience in the fight game.

He was an amateur borough champ at the age of 16. Then he got some corner training from Angelo Dundee, Eddie Futch (Freddie Roach’s mentor), and Al Gavin.

He was actually the cutman for Pacquiao when he lost to Erik Morales. He has worked the corners of legendary fighters Roberto Duran, Wilfred Benitez, Wilfredo Gomez, and Hector “Macho” Camacho.

He seems to have a solid resume and while he may not be the most recognized trainer in the world, he is well respected. Matchmaker Johnny Bos praises DeJesus as a solid boxing man.

So even though Clottey is missing his main trainer, it seems he is in very good hands with DeJesus. I do not know what their game plan is, but it appears that Clottey should have confidence in his trainer.

He may have some insight into Pacquiao’s style of fighting as he was with him, but even without that, he learned from some of the best.

It seems that the gap between Roach and DeJesus isn’t as large as some people think. They both learned from Futch and DeJesus spent some time with the best out there.

Although Roach is the world's best trainer, he may have a harder time than usual outsmarting DeJesus.