Clottey back in title mix after victory over Alvarez

Josh Clottey is going to get another shot at a welterweight championship.

The Ghana native took few risks during his IBF eliminator bout against previously unbeaten Shamone Alvarez on Thursday at the Hard Rock Hotel. Clottey was rewarded with a 12-round unanimous decision and a fight against IBF champion Kermit Cintron in 2008.

“It’s been three years since I wanted to fight Cintron,” said Clottey, who lost to Antonio Margarito in 2006 for the IBO title. “If I fight (Miguel) Cotto, I make more money. But I want to be champion. I’m 30. It’s now or never.”

Clottey (33-2) rarely allowed Alvarez to get a clean shot, picking off Alvarez’s jabs with his gloves and shielding his body to make himself mostly impenetrable.

When Clottey went on the attack, he threw flurries of punches, and while he never hurt Alvarez, he did enough to score effectively. The judges agreed, as Chuck Giampa scored the fight 115-113, Robert Hoyle 116-113 and C.J. Ross 118-111, all in favor of Clottey.

“I wanted to stay patient,” Clottey said. “It’s 12 rounds. I just needed to take my time and win.”

A frustrated Alvarez said he never had a chance to really hurt Clottey.

“The plan was to go out there, work, try to maintain control and win the rounds,” said Alvarez (19-1). “I started fast, but I couldn’t finish.

“He fought a smart fight. I couldn’t get a clean shot on him. I thought I could hit him in the head, but his defense was good.”

Clottey said he has worked on picking off his opponent’s punches.

“My first professional fight, I got knocked down and I realized then I had to become a better defensive fighter,” he said. “I was real happy with my defense tonight.”

Cintron has 60 days to agree to fight Clottey. Top Rank president Bob Arum said it’s possible the two will meet March 15 on the undercard of the super featherweight title fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao at Mandalay Bay.

“HBO might be interested in Clottey-Cintron, sure,” Arum said. “But Cintron has to fight Clottey now that Clottey is the No. 1 contender.”