Pacquiao Faces A Southpaw

June 4, 2008  --  Got something to say?
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By Joseph G. Lariosa
CHICAGO, Illinois – Since most of the fighters that Manny Pacquiao had faced recently were right-handers, the Filipino boxing sensation will have to adjust when he faces his fellow left-hander David Diaz.
Pacquiao’s trainer coach Freddie Roach, however, said that there is no cause for alarm at the joint press conference at Lalo’s Restaurant at 500 North LaSalle St., Chicago, to drum up visibility of the “Lethal Combination” on June 28 at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada where Diaz’ WBC lightweight belt is on the line.
Roach said, “I do not anticipate Manny having a problem fighting a southpaw. Manny will have to make adjustments.” He did not elaborate.
Pacquiao, the World Boxing Council super featherweight champion, said he had faced at least two southpaws in the past and this will be his third time that he will be facing a lefty.
Pacquiao, 29, said he plans “to learn more strategy” in facing a southpaw. “And both of us are southpaws. And it will be a good fight because this is the third time for me to fight a southpaw. I think it’s hard for both of us. But I will try to make people happy. It is a big honor for my country. I will do my best.”
For his part, Diaz, holder of the World Boxing Council lightweight champion, did not show any concern that he will also be facing a southpaw in Pacquiao. In his last two title bouts, Diaz, 31, both faced right-handers – Jose Armando Santa Cruz and Erik “El Terrible” Morales – and he beat both of them.
In his opening statement at the crowded press conference at the former Michael Jordan’s restaurant May 21, the confident Diaz thanked God for getting him this far. “This will be an all-out war between Manny and myself. Manny is a straight forward fighter as I am. We will both go at it. But the only thing that will happen is that I’m going to win the fight. And we will bring the (return) fight to Chicago and hopefully the Filipino people will forgive me for that. But I can not allow it (his belt to be lost). We’ve been in this situation before and somehow I had the victory and I don’t see why not.”
In an interview with this reporter, Diaz said if he beats Pacquiao and the return bout is in Chicago, their third fight can be held in the Philippines.
Diaz predicts the fight will last the distance – 12 rounds. He said he does not mind being an underdog ‘which is part of the territory.” But he said he has beaten “a guy I am not supposed to beat (before). I expect to be 100 percent (healthy during the fight). As you see, (Manny) has been tearing everybody up in the scene. He is trying to take my title (away) and I am going to stop that.”
Although, he does not like the “promotion” schedules because it is interfering with his workouts, Diaz said he is trying his best to do some workouts (in between). From Chicago, Diaz and Pacquiao are due in San Francisco, California to hold another press conference and mix with the Mexican and Filipino population, like they did in Chicago, “before they get ready to rumble,” according to Bob Arum, Top Rank Promotions CEO.
For his part, Pacquiao did not make any predictions for the outcome of the fight, beyond saying, “I will do my best.”
Jim Strickland, Diaz’s manager, said the upcoming fight between Pacquiao and his ward, “is one terrific fight because both are in-your-face solid fighters, both are not backing out, trying to hit as hard as he can. They are not the type like Leroy Jones or (Floyd) Mayweather, or some great naturally gifted boxers. Manny is fast and strong. If Manny hits with three combinations, we are going to hit with four combinations. If he hits us hard, we will hit him harder. That’s our style and we thank Manny for giving us this opportunity.”
After the press conference, the boxers motored several blocks south to Federal Plaza on the block of South Dearborn, Adams and Jackson for a pep rally with their fans, mostly Mexicans and Filipinos, where they greeted them and signed autographs for them.
Mr. Arum invited the crowd to watch the fight in Las Vegas. But he said for those, who could not leave Chicago for the fight, they can watch the fight live on HBO pay-per-view beginning at 9 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. PDT (Saturday, June 28) (10 a.m., Sunday (June 29) Manila time).
During the pep rally, Pacquiao’s CD recorded hit song, “Para Sa’yo Ang Laban Na’to,” was being played.
Arum said that if Manny Pacquiao beats Diaz, Manny becomes “the first Asian and Filipino fighter to have won four world championships in four different weight divisions – tremendous accomplishments that mean a lot to his country.”


Posted by News Team | Filed Under Articles/Stories 

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