BY JUN MEDINA Special Correspondent

DALLAS, Texas: Take it from Manny  “PacMan” Pacquiao’s former sparring partners and former foe—the well conditioned Filipino ring superstar will overpower challenger Joshua Clottey from Ghana in their welterweight title fight on Saturday in Dallas, Texas.

David Rodela, Pacquiao’s friend and sparring partner since 2005, said Pacquiao had a great training camp and is in top shape.

“Manny is sparring very well now at 147 pounds. He is in great shape,” said Rodela, a lightweight speed monster like PacMan. “I’ve never seen him out of shape, and that’s the reason he’s considered king of the ring.”

Rodela, who started sparring with Pacquiao when both were still featherweights, conceded that the Pinoy icon has a tough fight in his hands Saturday.

“Clottey is a strong fighter. He cannot be underestimated because he is tough and durable,” said Rodela, who took a plane chartered by Pacquiao to accommodate a big contingent of some 140 people comprising his entourage, supporters and friends and media men, including those covering the fight from the Philippines.

Rodela thinks an early knockout is remote considering the level of competition between Pacquiao and Clottey, who has never been stopped in his career as an amateur and later as a professional.

“I think Manny will gradually break down Clottey and possibly stop him in the late rounds, from the ninth to the 11th rounds,” Rodela said.

Former junior lightweight champion Steve Forbes, another Pacquiao sparring partner, thinks the speedy Pinoy fighter would simply outwork Clottey, who is known to wilt in the late rounds of most of his big fights.

“I think PacMan will overwhelm Clottey with a lot of activity,” Forbes told Brett Mauren of 15Rounds.com.

“I look for a late stoppage or unanimous decision, and I also see very game and tough Clottey throughout,” said Forbes, a slick counter-puncher who now fights at junior welterweight.

David Diaz, former World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion, predicted a competitive fight on Saturday night, noting that Clottey has held his ground against some of the biggest welterweight champions before, referring to Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito and Zab Judah.

“I want to see how Manny gets through Clottey’s very tight defense,” said Diaz, who will fight Mexican star Humberto Soto for the WBC lightweight title.

Diaz also said Pacquiao’s speed and relentless attacking game could eventually turn what he expects to be a close fight in Pacquiao’s favor and earn a unanimous decision.

He said he does not expect Pacquiao to knockout a big and iron-chinned slugger like Clottey, but he added: “If Manny does knock him out, then that will add to his legend.”

In Dallas, meanwhile, a grim-looking Clottey refused to predict the outcome of his biggest fight, but he told the media that he is feeling great and is 100 percent ready for the big fight Saturday night at the modern Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

Showing tremendous respect for the Filipino champion, Clottey said Pacquiao is a great champion and probably the best fighter in the world today.

“I have prepared very hard for this fight, and you can expect a great fight,” said the soft-spoken challenger, who like Pacquiao, abhors thrash talk in boxing.