If David Diaz is looking for motivation for his fight Saturday night with Manny Pacquiao, he could do a lot worse than to read the story by Steve Carpl in today's Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The story makes clear that Pacquiao isn't looking past Diaz, but it also demonstrates that just about everyone around Pacquiao is assuming that he's going to beat Diaz and then move on to more lucrative fights against more famous opponents, especially a third fight against Juan Manuel Marquez.
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, sees the fight happening as long as Marquez beats Joel Casamayor, and he sounds as if he thinks Diaz is little more than a speed bump. That's what the betting public seems to think, as Pacquiao is a heavy favorite.
I guess I'm in the minority, because while I expect Pacquiao to win, I think Diaz is going to give Pacquaio a good, competitive fight Saturday night -- and I think it's way too soon to be talking about fighting Marquez again.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-25-2008 @ 7:38AM
jesus said...
I agree that Diaz is a more than live underdog. I haven't picked a winner for this fight but I think Diaz a fair chance of beating pacquiao. Diaz has pulled off many upsets incl Judah (olympics)and Erik Morales. I wouldn't be surprised if Pacquiao doesn't look that good at lightweight, especially since he hasn't looked that great in his last fights at jr. lightweight.
In regards to fighting Marquez, Roach may want it but I don't think Pacquiao really wants to fight him again. Although both fights were close, a lot of reporters think Marquez won one or both of the fights against pacquiao. Clearly the second fight could've gone either way but somehow Marquez found himself on the wrong side of the median. I think Pacquiao doesn't want to deal with the kind of skeptisism that has surounded his performances with Marquez. This is why Pacquiao is already naming prospects that sound outlandish to many (Hatton, De La Hoya).
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6-25-2008 @ 10:16AM
joxgee said...
I saw both fighters in person at Berekely during their promo - both were gentlemen, very gracious, and respectable. I am Filipino American and I think Diaz is a very classy person. It should be a good fight! (Bob Arum was there too).
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6-25-2008 @ 11:31AM
The Ref said...
I think this fight is closer that everyone thinks, Diaz is not a pushover he can box and has a lot of heart.I saw Pacquiao when I was in LA and he looks ready to rumble.my prediction is Pacquiao by a KO. this is why,Diaz likes to fight straight up he wants to fight,but if Morales knock him down and Diaz came back to win by a Decision, this time if Manny knock him down i dont he's getting up,coz Diaz is an easy TARGET,he does not move at all.
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6-26-2008 @ 6:19AM
john_clarin said...
Diaz has only 1 style. He comes in very slow and that it will find a way pacquaio to target him(diaz) a solid punch. I see TKO win by pacquiao in middle rounds.
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6-29-2008 @ 8:06PM
Fearless Bong said...
This fight will be the hardest battle will going to face compare to JMM fight. because the JMM fight was just a fight of two warriors that they only come to bang when the one attacks. JMM keep on backing off to avoid a KO defeat. but this fight will come and bang toe-to-toe, because both fighters love going forward and dictates the preasure to its opponent.
Diaz is so called a durable fighter in this bout...has all the stamina to last for 12 rd or even 15 rd, but this will counter by Pacman with his speed and power (but I think both of them has the power to KOed each other).
The key here for Pacman to be victorious will be his boxing skill because he is now considered a technical fighter just like what he did in the MAB fight.
He very patience in setting up his punch for a KO win.
But in this fight whoever have the high percentage of punch hits will win. and the one absorbs more punch will get lose.
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