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By Ed C. Tolentino, Contributor
THE last thing World Boxing Council (WBC)
lightweight champion David Diaz wants to hear is that he has only
two chances against Filipino Manny Pacquiao—slim and none.
In 12 years as a pro boxer, Diaz takes pride in
bucking great odds to become world champion. Considered too
unpolished to thrive as an amateur boxer, Diaz ended up beating
future world champion Zab Judah to earn a spot on the 1992 US
Olympic boxing team.
Diaz turned pro in November 1996 and did not
score a knockout win until his seventh fight, consequently earning
the reputation as a feather-fisted fighter. Diaz proved his critics
wrong in August 2006, when he flattened the heavily favored Jose
Armando Santa Cruz with a crushing left uppercut in the 10th round
to win the WBC interim lightweight title.
On June 28, Diaz will face his biggest test when
he makes his second defense of the WBC title against Pacquiao, the
reigning WBC junior lightweight champion. While Pacquiao is moving
up in weight to challenge Diaz, the Filipino is the heavy favorite
to prevail.
Diaz, of course, thinks otherwise. “I feel
pretty good about this fight,” the WBC champion told Fightnews.com.
“Pacquiao is a top fighter in his prime but when I look at him I
see a guy I can hit real easy. I see a guy I can beat.”
Born in Chicago in June 1976, Diaz is the
youngest of eight children, By the age of eight, David’s father
Anselmo (who earned a living by working in a factory that made Oscar
trophies for Hollywood) was already training him to be a boxer at
the Wells Park gym on the north side of Chicago, instilling on his
son a work ethic that defines him to this day.
Diaz won four Chicago Golden Gloves and three
National Golden Gloves championships as an amateur fighter. He made
it to the 1992 US Olympic boxing team that included the likes of
Floyd Mayweather, Fernando Vargas and David Reid. Diaz went as far
as the quarterfinals of the Olympic boxing competitions, losing his
second bout to Oktay Urkal.
Diaz has since compiled a pro record of 34-1-1
with 17 knockouts. He went unbeaten in his first 26 fights before
getting stopped in nine rounds by Kendall Holt. Diaz rebounded by
earning interim recognition as WBC lightweight champion after
beating Santa Cruz. The WBC later stripped Joel Casamayor of the
regular title and handed the same to Diaz.
Diaz merited attention from Team Pacquiao when
the former outlasted Mexican Erik Morales in August 2007. Diaz
kissed the canvas in the opening round but ended up winning a close
decision.
Diaz’s penchant for slugging, porous defense
and suspect power have many ring experts believing that the WBC
champion is tailor-made for Pacquiao. Diaz, however, is more
accustomed to the heavier lightweight class. Before winning the
135-pound crown, Diaz had fought as a junior welterweight (140
pounds).
Diaz prepped up for Pacquiao by beating
journeyman Ramon Montano on March 16. Montano came in with only one
knockout in 21 previous fights, but nailed Diaz with some clean
shots. Diaz wore down his foe to secure a majority verdict.
Diaz admitted to performing below par against
Montano but promised to be in better shape for Pacquiao.
“I believe that people want me to fight
Manny,” Diaz told Fightnews.com. “I think that’s what they
want. I think Manny’s camp thinks it’s going to be an easier
fight, and I welcome that. Train hard, please train hard, because
I’m going to be there all 12 rounds.”
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