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By Ed C. Tolentino,
Contributor
RING experts expect a hostile
atmosphere when World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion
David Diaz and Manny Pacquiao clash on Saturday (Sunday in Manila)
at the Mandalay Bay Resort Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
“This fight, believe me, is
going to be a tremendous battle. Both fighters have prepared
extremely well,” trumpeted promoter Bob Arum. “I think it will
be one of the classic matches in boxing, certainly one of the best
fights of the year.”
But the fireworks and animosity
will surely be confined within the four corners of the ring.
As they prepare for their
upcoming duel, Diaz and Pacquiao have shown mutual respect for each
other’s fistic abilities.
“Manny’s got a lot on his
plate. He’s trying to make history for his country by becoming the
first Asian to win four titles in four different divisions. I think
he’s going to come very well prepared for this fight. And I place
him as one of the best, if not the best right now since Floyd
Mayweather retired,” said Diaz.
Diaz, 34-1-1 with 17 knockouts,
considers it a great honor to be locking mitts with PacMan. For the
record, Diaz is making only the second defense of the title he won
in August 2006. The champ’s only other successful defense was his
decision win over Mexican Erik Morales in August 2007.
“This [fight against Pacquiao]
is the biggest fight of my life. Bigger than when I won the title.
Even bigger than beating a legend like Morales because Pacquiao is a
guy in his prime,” said Diaz, who has been guaranteed a
career-high $800,000 purse. “Manny’s a guy who’s been beating
up people in different weight classes. Now I have a title he wants
and he’s trying to put me on the mat. It’s one of those fights
where you got to prove yourself to yourself.”
Diaz has been a living witness to
the immense popularity of Pacquiao. In one public workout the two
fighters conducted at the West Wind Gym in San Francisco, Diaz
admitted to being in awe of the PacMan.
“I’d love to be as popular as
Manny is and get the big fights he’s getting, especially because
he’s doing it the right way. He’s earned everything. He’s a
great fighter, he’s shown me nothing but respect and he’s a good
guy,” said Diaz.
Pacquiao, 46-3 with 34 knockouts,
is all too familiar with Diaz’s dramatic ascension to world
champion status. Married and the father of two children, Diaz quit
boxing for two years after his older brother died and his mother
became ill before eventually receiving a kidney transplant.
“I think Diaz is a nice guy,”
said Pacquiao. “My personality outside the ring is different than
[my attitude] in the ring. When I am in the ring I am like a warrior
and I fight like there is no tomorrow, but outside the ring I am a
friendly man and a good person.”
Of course, when the bell rings,
both Pacquiao and Diaz intend to temporarily set aside the mutual
respect for a whole lot of haymakers.
“Manny and David are not
dancers; they don’t dance under the stars. They’re going to
fight for 12 rounds or however shorter it goes, but they’re going
to give it all, and they’re going to leave everything in the
right, and it’s what boxing is all about,” said Arum.
“Manny Pacquiao and David Diaz
are two fine young men, great, great sportsmen, not one bit of trash
talking, but it’s going to be a hell of a fight.”
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