Manny Paqcuaio: Diaz is a tough fighter

May 15, 2008

It was a press conference bereft of the usual taunting and arrogant remarks common among professional boxers.

WBC super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao and world lightweight champion David Diaz instead heaped praises on each other and assured boxing fans they are in for a great fight that will be talked about for a long time.

The Filipino superstar and the pride of Chicago faced the media at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles on Tuesday to promote “Lethal Combination” slated at the Mandalay Bay Casino Resort on June 28.

Pacquiao will be motivated by his desire to win a fourth division title, and Diaz wants to prove to his detractors that he deserves his belt.

Initial odds have placed Pacquiao a +400 favorite and Diaz a -320 underdog. That means it will take a $400 bet for Pacman to win $100 while a $100 bet on Diaz could fetch $320.

“It’s going to be a great fight because we have similar styles,” said the 29-year-old Pacquiao who arrived in LA on Monday. “David is a tough fighter and I like that.”

Diaz repeated his earlier pronouncements that his battle with Pacquiao would be the biggest and toughest of his career.

“Any fighter should want to have this fight, to prove that I belong among the best,” said Diaz, who turns 32 three weeks before the fight. “Pacquiao is one the best fighters right now, very powerful.”

Pacquiao (46-3-2, 34 knockouts) wants to add the lightweight crown to his current super featherweight belt he grabbed last March from Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez. He had previously held the flyweight and super bantamweight championships.

Diaz (34-1-1, 17 knockouts) is making his second title defense after a unanimous decision win over another Mexican star, Erik Morales, last August.

“This fight is an honor and a test to prove to myself what I’ve got,” said Diaz, who thanked Pacquiao for agreeing to the fight. “I know a lot of writers out there do not believe in me. I know I’ve to believe in myself to be victorious.

“If I train hard and do the right things, things would come out good on June 28,” added Diaz.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said they will be making a lot of adjustments but come fight night, they will be ready.

“It won’t be an easy fight,” said Roach. “No boxer becomes a champion by accident. We have our work cut out for us.”

Naturally, Diaz’ trainer, Jim Strickland, believes otherwise.

“I have seen a lot of boxers who are underdogs and won their fight,” said Strickland. “I believe we will prevail.”

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