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LAS VEGAS: Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao added another world
title to his growing collection by dethroning David Diaz in a World
Boxing Council lightweight bout at the Mandalay Bay hotel on Sunday.
Pacquiao floored Diaz with 36 seconds left in
the ninth round to end the fight, becoming the first Asian to win
titles in four different weight classes.
“I am happy for the win tonight,” Pacquiao
said. “I never thought I would win four world titles in four
different classes. I feel great at this weight. I feel stronger at
135 pounds than at 130. He did hurt me one time during the fight.
David Diaz is a very strong fighter.”
Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs) used his quickness and
superior boxing skills to dominate the bigger Diaz who suffered just
the second loss of his career.
Although his World Boxing Council junior
lightweight belt was not on the line, Pacquiao went on the offensive
immediately and opened up cuts above Diaz’s right eye and across
the bridge of his nose.
Pacquiao put an end to the carnage in the ninth
round with a left jab that caught Diaz on the chin and sent him to
the canvas.
“Did anybody get the number off of that
truck?” Diaz said. “Today is the day that we lost. Tomorrow is
another day. He’s fast. The speed was the difference in the fight.
I have all of the respect for him.”
The 29-year-old Pacquiao recorded his
eighth-straight victory since losing to Erik Morales in March 2005.
Included in that winning streak is a pair of knockout wins over
Morales.
The 32-year-old Diaz was making the second
defense of his title after winning a unanimous decision over Morales
in August last year, a verdict that sent the Mexican star into
retirement.
On the undercard, Francisco Lorenzo claimed a
controversial victory by disqualification over Humberto Soto to
claim the interim WBC super featherweight title.
Congrats from GMA
President Gloria Arroyo on Sunday hailed
Pacquiao as a symbol of Filipino “excellence” after the boxing
star knocked out Diaz.
“Manny once again showed the sterling quality
of excellence of a Filipino at his best,” Mrs. Arroyo said in a
statement released by her spokesman here.
“We rejoice with the whole nation in his
victory,” she added.
Presidential spokesman Jesus Dureza told
reporters that the President watched the fight on television at San
Francisco airport, as she waited for her flight home after an
official visit to the United States.
Pacquaio is scheduled to return to the
Philippines on July 4.
-- AFP
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