Former Ghanaian boxer Joshua Clottey has shared insights into the most challenging fight of his title-laden professional career.
Renowned as one of Ghana’s most successful pugilists, Clottey reached the pinnacle of his career by earning a world title.
In an interview with The Game TV, Clottey reflected on his boxing journey and revealed that his match against Mexican boxer Richard Gutierrez was the most demanding.
Clottey described this bout as the toughest of his career, stating it took him more than two weeks to fully recover.
Recalling his experience facing Gutierrez, who was the world champion at the time, Clottey admitted he had difficulty breathing after the match.
“My toughest fight was against Richard Gutierrez. I struggled to cough and breathe properly after the bout. I won the fight by majority decision, and it was my first fight on HBO. He had an unbeaten record of 28 fights, and I had seven wins and one loss.
“Heading into that fight, I knew beating him would be a tall order because he was very strong. I couldn’t walk after the fight and had to be held by my trainer and girlfriend. It took me two weeks to start feeling my body,” he said.
On June 29, 2006, Joshua Clottey made a significant mark on the world boxing scene by defeating Richard Gutierrez at the Chumash Casino Resort in California, USA.
In addition to reflecting on his career, Clottey shared advice for young boxers and athletes, emphasizing the importance of avoiding distractions, particularly from women. He stressed that maintaining discipline is crucial for success in boxing and warned that womanizing could jeopardize their careers.
Clottey’s professional record includes 47 fights, with 41 wins—24 by knockout—and five losses.