David Diaz's Fights Short Review

The boxing career of David Diaz is not that colorful or exciting than his upcoming opponent, Manny Pacquiao, but he showed a valuable ring performances. His life is meant to be a boxer. At very young age he fascinated this game, until such time that he auditioned to the US Olympic qualifier as a junior welterweight, in which time he scored upset win against Zab Judah.

After Olympic chance he turned into professional. In his pro debut he beat a big guy Marcos Antonio Rodriguez via unanimous decision win.

The first 26 fights of his young career as professional he won it convincingly, until it came the counter puncher Kendall Holt, who knocked him out in the 8^th round. This lost shaped and transformed him as a real fighter in his next fights, knocking out Tyrone Wiggins in the 3^rd round, and in the fight against John Trigg, whom he out-boxed to unanimous decision win.

The bout against Juan Polo Perez marked his debut fight in the lightweight division, whom he scored a knock out victory in the 3^rd round. The most difficult fight he encountered in the lightweight was against the undefeated Ramazin Palayani of Georgia, they ended into a controversial draw decision.

After Palayani fights he collected two wins via unanimous decisions against Silverio Ortiz and Christian Favela, which landed him a shot to fight for the interim Word Boxing Council (WBC) title bout against the long reach Jose Armando Santa Cruz. He was rated then as the underdog; in fact he was out-boxed by Santa Cruz until in the 10^th round, where Diaz scored a stunning wild shot to the chin of Santa Cruz that made the latter wobble and sent his pant to the canvas.

Later, Diaz awarded the belt after the current WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo failed to make the weight limit in his title defends against Diego Corrales.

Again, he was then put in the underdog situation against Erik Morales, when he is entitled to defend his belt last August 4. Surprisingly the underdog seems doing a great job he pushed Morales in awkward performance, and he was the aggressive. He scored a unanimous decision win.

His last outing was on March 15, a non title fight against Ramon Montano, a tune-up bout before he go to defend his title against the very popular and Philippine national treasure Manny Pacquiao on June 28, 2008, at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight dubbed as “Lethal Combination”.

Again, he is been tallied as the underdog to this “Lethal Combination” showdown. Many boxing fans around the world see it would be the end of David Diaz boxing belt, or could be the end of his boxing career. Thus, many boxing expert expecting that this would be a bloody and messy fight, they are both aggressive, and both camps promised an action pack battle of punches.

Well, let us just mark our calendar, June 28, 2008, is the “Lethal Combination” day.

Next issue: “Manny Pacquiao’s Possible Next Opponents”

The Lightweights Threats For Manny Pacquiao

For power there is no question that Manny Pacquiao is gifted; this is the great weapon aside from speed he had that placed him in the limelight of stardom. His fighting style is the world loved to see. His dedication and attitude in the ring is superb, no question.

But he is moving in the lightweight. Many boxing aficionados and fans thinking the same question, “Is his moving up for his greatness or for money?” Whatever is the real score, the only certain for now he is moving up, and scheduled to fight to a lightweight champion, David Diaz, this coming June 28, 2008, dubbed as “Lethal Combination” at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

I discussed on previous issue that Pacquiao’s moving up to lightweight is no problem medically or physiologically for a typical Filipino 5’6” height athlete.

We focus on the subject of this issue.

Who are legitimate lightweights out there that give serious threat to Pacquiao?

There are many lightweights in the business that are much bigger than Pacquiao, or even equally or more powerful. They are Nate “The Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell (32-5-25) the IBF, WBA, WBO lightweight champion; Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz (33-1-17); Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor (36-3-23-1).

I see a biggest threat against Amir Khan (17-0-13), an Olympian silver medalist, young and promising lightweight. At the age of 21 he is the commonwealth lightweight champion in United Kingdom. Has a very advantage height at 5’10. He defeated the experienced and very tough Gairy St. Clair (40-6-17) by unanimous decision. But for now he is just too young for Pacquiao, and did not have so much to offer against Pacquiao's resume by far.

All of the aforementioned has the potential on beating Pacquiao, they are bigger than Pacquiao, they are natural lightweight, and used to fight in this division most of their boxing career. Their body are accustomed and determined to fight on this division. But I still bet Pacquiao has the bigger chance on beating them if he shown stunning and convincing performance against David Diaz. Let us just wait and see.

I’m not surprise if after the “Lehal Combination” bout against David Diaz, whatever is the outcome, he moves back to the 130 lbs as Super Featherweight, where he is the division king.

Next issue: “David Diaz’s Fights Short Review’