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DAVID
DIAZ may be the perfect fighter to test Manny Pacquiao’s
ability to effectively sustain the power of his punches.
According to Ring magazine chief editor Nigel Collins,
there are several variables about Saturday’s (Sunday in
Manila) fight, specifically about Pacquiao’s capability
to wreak mayhem with his power punches in the 135-lb
class, much like he did in the lower weight classes.
“David
Diaz, perhaps, his greatest weakness is that he
is easy to hit and, of course, I am sure Manny will try
to take advantage of that,” Collins told an interview
with dzSR 918’s Sports Chat.
David Diaz signs autographs
as the two boxers take time off Tuesday in Las Vegas. -- AP
Although
Diaz may be an easy target, Collins stressed the current
World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion is one
tough guy who just keeps coming and is determined to win
at all cost.
“There
are some unknown factors in this fight. I think it’s
pretty obvious that Manny is the faster man, more
versatile fighter, but Diaz seems to have an ability to
absorb a lot of punishment and keep fighting so I think
it’s a very good test for Manny,” said Collins.
Pacquiao
hopes to add Diaz’s WBC belt to his distinct collection
of crowns that include a belt each in the flyweight,
super-bantamweight and the super-featherweight division,
where he is currently the WBC and Ring magazine
champion.
Collins
also revealed that he has asked Pacquiao if he intends
to relinquish the Ring’s 130-lb crown. Collins said
Pacquiao requested them to wait until after the Diaz
fight before he decides.
“His
position as the Ring magazine junior lightweight
champion is in the balance but we are not going to strip
him [of the title]. We are going to honor his request to
wait until after the fight and see what happens,” said
Collins.
A few
weeks ago, Pacquiao, once the Ring magazine’s
featherweight kingpin, was named the new pound-for-pound
king by the same magazine after top fighter Floyd
Mayweather Jr. announced his retirement.
Golden
Boy Promotions bought the Ring from Kappa Publishing
Group late last year.
Meanwhile, Diaz and Pacquiao arrived Tuesday in Las
Vegas and were greeted by a throng of fans and the
media. Today the two protagonists will hold their final
news conference at the Media Center of the Mandalay Bay
Resort and Casino.
Third
man on the ring of the 12-round battle will be veteran
Vic Drakulich, who was the same referee when Pacquiao
fought Mexican legend Erik Morales for the third time.
The judges are CJ Ross, Paul Smith and Gary Merrit.
The
29-year-old Pacquiao (46-3-2, 35 knockouts) won the WBC
super-featherweight crown via split verdict over bitter
Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15 also in
LasVegas. The win made Pacquiao the first three-division
world champion from Asia.
Diaz’s
last bout was beneath the Marquez-Pacquiao rematch where
the Chicago native won a 10-round verdict against
Mexican Ramon Montano.
Diaz
(34-1-1 with 14 knockouts) was crowned the regular WBC
lightweight champion when he outpointed Morales in their
12-round encounter in August in Rosemont, Illinois. Diaz
also captured before that the interim belt with a
10th-round TKO of Jose Armando Sta. Cruz in August 2006
at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. |
