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By Ed C. Tolentino, Contributor
A BATTERED David Diaz was arguably still
counting sheep when newly crowned World Boxing Council (WBC)
lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao started talking about the fights
he really wants.
"I feel I am stronger at 135 pounds [the
weight limit for the lightweight class]," said Pacquiao shortly
after annihilating Diaz in nine rounds Sunday at the Mandalay Bay
Resort and Casino.
"[But] I feel I can fight at 140 pounds
[the junior welterweight limit]. I am not worried about taking the
punches of a big opponent. It’s Bob’s [Arum, Manny’s promoter]
job to give me a lot of fights. I’m just a fighter," added
Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, 29, became the first Asian and the
ninth professional boxer overall to win four world titles in as many
weight classifications, following in the footsteps of great
champions Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Pernell
Whitaker, Leo Gamez, Oscar de la Hoya, Roy Jones Jr. and Floyd
Mayweather Jr.
Pacquiao had previously captured titles in the
flyweight (122 lbs.), junior featherweight (122 lbs.) and junior
lightweight (130 lbs.). He should be a five-time world champion
today, if only his duel with Juan Manuel Marquez for the World
Boxing Association (WBA)-International Boxing Federation (IBF)
featherweight title (126 lbs.) in May 2004 was not declared a draw.
Against Diaz, there was no stopping Pacquiao
from nailing his fourth crown. Ranged against a slower and
one-dimensional adversary, Pacquiao took control of the bout right
from the outset. Utilizing his underrated right jab to the hilt, the
Filipino kept Diaz at bay. Diaz kept chugging forward, but his
clubbing punches hit nothing but air particles as Pacquiao wisely
sidestepped out of harm’s way. By the end of the fourth round,
Diaz was already bleeding from the nose and right eyebrow.
Pacquiao took his time and repeatedly hammered
Diaz with sizzling combinations. Diaz barely survived round eight,
but his fate was sealed in the next round. As Diaz made another
desperate lunge, Pacquiao countered with a hellacious left hook that
sent the American flat on his back.
With the victory, Pacquiao raised his record to
47-3-2 with 35 knockouts. From December 1999 to June 29, 2008,
PacMan has figured in 24 fights—winning 20 (18 by knockout),
losing only once (against Morales in March 2005), and figuring in a
draw twice (against Marquez in 2004 and Agapito Sanchez in 2001).
The 135-pound division figures to offer a lot of
competition for the new WBC king. WBA-IBF lightweight king Nate
"Galaxxy" Warrior (35-5, 25 knockouts) is calling out
PacMan. Ditto former champions Juan "Baby" Bull Diaz,
Michael Katsidis and Joel Camasayor.
Casamayor, a 1992 Olympic gold medalist and
two-time world lightweight champion, totes a record of 36-3-1 with
22 knockouts. The Cuban is set to take on Marquez on September 13 in
Las Vegas and the winner is likely to call out Pacquiao.
Marquez, 48-4-1, 35 knockouts, lost a close
split decision to Pacquiao in their rematch in March for the WBC
junior lightweight crown. The Mexican is moving up in weight in the
hope of securing a third meeting with Pacquiao.
Former Pacquiao victims Marco Antonio Barrera
and Erik Morales are also still in the PacMan sweepstakes. Barrera,
who was decisively beaten by Pacquiao last year, is contemplating on
making a comeback at lightweight. Morales, who lost to Diaz in
August, has announced that he will return to the ring next year.
Pacquiao, however, appears to have his sights
fixed on former junior welterweight king Ricky "Hitman"
Hatton. Hatton, 44-1 with 31 knockouts, was knocked out in December
by Mayweather. The hard-hitting Brit hit the comeback road on May 24
with a decision over Juan Lazcano. Hatton, who is built like Diaz
but offers more power and speed, is planning to fight IBF junior
welterweight champ Paulie Malignaggi later this year. That could
only mean Pacquiao will have to stay at lightweight.
Arum wants Pacquiao back in action in November,
albeit against a still undisclosed opponent. Whether or not it’s
Hatton, Pacquiao appears hell-bent on competing for the 140-pound
belt. A fifth world title will place Pacquiao in a short list of
fighters (Leonard, Mayweather and de la Hoya) who have won titles in
at least five weight categories.
"Pacquiao is a phenomenon," said WBA
junior lightweight king Edwin Valero, another fighter who has been
mentioned as a future foe. "Doing something like that [winning
the junior welterweight title] is almost unheard of. That’s
something special. Pacquiao is special."
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