Manny Pacquiao’s Heavy Pick

June 16, 2008

LESS than two weeks before his title fight with American David Diaz, Manny Pacquiao l remains the overwhelming favorite to wrest the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight crown.

In the latest betting odds released for the June 28 bout (June 29 in Manila) dubbed ‘Lethal Combination’ set at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Filipino ring icon is listed as a -450 favorite to win a fourth world championship in four different weight classes.

If translated, the number means a $450 bet on the 29-year-old fighter now considered the best in the world, pound for pound, would only earn a measly $100.

In contrast, Diaz is a +360 favorite, meaning a $100 bet on the reigning champion will earn the bettor $360.

Inside the ring, the Pacquiao camp believes the odds disparity is not really that big, Diaz being a fighter who is ‘durable’ as how trainer Freddie Roach describes him.

“David is a tough guy who gets stronger as the fight goes on,” admitted Pacquiao’s equally popular trainer.

“But he’s not a tough guy to find, and if a guy isn’t hard to find, Manny does pretty well.”

Jim Strickland, head trainer of Diaz, admitted his boy is the underdog in the 12-round bout, in the same manner the native of Chicago was during his first title defense against Eric Morales and in his first crack at the 135-pound title belt opposite Jose Armando Sta. Cruz.

“We need to do our best in the first round to make an impression that we’re not a 4-1 underdog,” said Strickland.

“If Manny hits us three times, we’ll hit him four. If he hits us hard, we’ll hit him harder.”

Promoter Bob Arum, whose outfit Top Rank promotes both Diaz and Pacquiao, acknowledges that the Filipino, the reigning WBC super-featherweight king trying his hand in the lightweight class for the very first time, is really favored to win over the stocky champion.

But he believes the fight could just prove to be the most difficult one in Pacquiao’s 13-year pro career that spawns 46 wins, 3 losses, 2 draws and 35 by knockouts.

“David will be there fighting. He’ll be in there toe-to-toe with Manny,” the veteran boxing man pointed out. “Look, he’s not the hardest puncher in the world. But David is a difficult fight for everyone.”

Meanwhile after the Ring Magazine, it’s the Yahoo Sports rankings turn to elevate Pacquiao as its top pound for pound boxer in the world today.

A consistent no. 2 in the list for several years now, the native of General Santos City assumed the top spot following the unexpected retirement of six-time world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Ironically, the 32-year-old Diaz is not included in neither the Ring Magazine of Yahoo Sports Rankings despite a fairly decent record of 34-1-1, 17 of them by KOs, including a come-from-behind unanimous decision win over Morales in August of last year.

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