Who is David Diaz? This is the title of the column written by Robert Morales in 15rounds.com on May 7, 2008. "Never heard him? He is not exactly a household name, but he is the guy who is going to defend his title against Manny Pacquiao (46-3-35) on June 28, in Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Pacquiao, a junior lightweight champion and one of the most popular fighters in the world, is moving up in weight". That exactly the words I copied from Morales' column.
For a little background. David Diaz (36-1-17) is a true blooded Mexican, but American by birth. Born in Chicago Illinois, United States on June 7, 1978. He began his professional boxing career on November 30, 1996, at the age of 18, where he beat Marcos Antonio Rodriguez via unanimous decision. Prior to that professional blast, he is a member in the 1996 US Olympic boxing team in light welterweight division. He has outstanding amateur career records of 75 wins over 16 defeats.
His boxing career highlighted, when he fought a spectacular upset win against brawler Jose Armando Santa Cruz via tenth round TKO. Scores at the time of stoppage: 88-83, 88-83, 87-84 all for Santa Cruz. The win made him the WBC lightweight interim champion, and eventually awarded the belt after the current champion Jose Luis Castillo failed to make the weight limit in the his title defends, a rematch against Diego Corrales.
After Santa Cruz he's scheduled to defend the title against Mexico's legendary fighter, Pacquiao's bitter rival and dethroned, Eric Morales. Again he scored another upset win, he was knocked down in the opening round, but managed to capitalized his boxing skills and controlled the later rounds. He always rated underdog to all his major fights, but always brought the bacon. He proved that he has also the ability to withstand all odds. The first upset he made is when he beat future junior welterweight champion, future undisputed welterweight champion, and future junior middleweight champion, Zab Judah, on 1996 US Olympic qualifying bout. Diaz is a tough slick fighter and knew how to utilize his ability under pressure.
According to Bob Arum, the promoter of these two boxers, no one could knock out Diaz in Pacquiao's weight class. Pacquiao is naturally lighter in weight than Diaz, who I think not only naturally lightweight, but a natural junior welterweight. Majority of his fights come from this weight division. In boxrec.com count the number of bouts he fought in a weight class above 135 pounds. There you can see that 29 out of his 36 fights he fought it in junior welterweight and welterweight. And the only defeat in his career came in the junior welterweight division against Kendall Holt.
Diaz admitted that the June 28 bout is the most important fight in his life, even more important when he out-boxed and outscored the legend Eric Morales (54-6-34). How could anyone can utter that a fight with Pacquiao is a crap? Pacman is a big draw in boxing today. I respect David Diaz he is humble and simple. Besides, fighting with Pacquiao ensured him the biggest payday in his career, accordingly a whopping $900,000 he only received $350,000 when he fought Eric Morales. In an interview with Ron Borges, he said that the purse he would receive from upcoming fight secured his children's future and set-up better college education, "but if I win," he said, "I could set-up David Diaz."
Yes this is the chance of David Diaz to shine in the prestigious boxing elite. In his boxing life he is never been in the limelight. He is the champion, but not a boxing star, a win against Pacquiao would cemented his boxing legacy. This is the chance to make him a big significant part in the business. The business where he is tagged as the weakest lightweight champion. This is the chance to establish himself, a chance to fame in this sweet science, where he is always looked down as an easy prey.
And on June 28, 2008, is the judgment day.
Next issue: "My Prediction on Lethal Combination"
For a little background. David Diaz (36-1-17) is a true blooded Mexican, but American by birth. Born in Chicago Illinois, United States on June 7, 1978. He began his professional boxing career on November 30, 1996, at the age of 18, where he beat Marcos Antonio Rodriguez via unanimous decision. Prior to that professional blast, he is a member in the 1996 US Olympic boxing team in light welterweight division. He has outstanding amateur career records of 75 wins over 16 defeats.
His boxing career highlighted, when he fought a spectacular upset win against brawler Jose Armando Santa Cruz via tenth round TKO. Scores at the time of stoppage: 88-83, 88-83, 87-84 all for Santa Cruz. The win made him the WBC lightweight interim champion, and eventually awarded the belt after the current champion Jose Luis Castillo failed to make the weight limit in the his title defends, a rematch against Diego Corrales.
After Santa Cruz he's scheduled to defend the title against Mexico's legendary fighter, Pacquiao's bitter rival and dethroned, Eric Morales. Again he scored another upset win, he was knocked down in the opening round, but managed to capitalized his boxing skills and controlled the later rounds. He always rated underdog to all his major fights, but always brought the bacon. He proved that he has also the ability to withstand all odds. The first upset he made is when he beat future junior welterweight champion, future undisputed welterweight champion, and future junior middleweight champion, Zab Judah, on 1996 US Olympic qualifying bout. Diaz is a tough slick fighter and knew how to utilize his ability under pressure.
According to Bob Arum, the promoter of these two boxers, no one could knock out Diaz in Pacquiao's weight class. Pacquiao is naturally lighter in weight than Diaz, who I think not only naturally lightweight, but a natural junior welterweight. Majority of his fights come from this weight division. In boxrec.com count the number of bouts he fought in a weight class above 135 pounds. There you can see that 29 out of his 36 fights he fought it in junior welterweight and welterweight. And the only defeat in his career came in the junior welterweight division against Kendall Holt.
Diaz admitted that the June 28 bout is the most important fight in his life, even more important when he out-boxed and outscored the legend Eric Morales (54-6-34). How could anyone can utter that a fight with Pacquiao is a crap? Pacman is a big draw in boxing today. I respect David Diaz he is humble and simple. Besides, fighting with Pacquiao ensured him the biggest payday in his career, accordingly a whopping $900,000 he only received $350,000 when he fought Eric Morales. In an interview with Ron Borges, he said that the purse he would receive from upcoming fight secured his children's future and set-up better college education, "but if I win," he said, "I could set-up David Diaz."
Yes this is the chance of David Diaz to shine in the prestigious boxing elite. In his boxing life he is never been in the limelight. He is the champion, but not a boxing star, a win against Pacquiao would cemented his boxing legacy. This is the chance to make him a big significant part in the business. The business where he is tagged as the weakest lightweight champion. This is the chance to establish himself, a chance to fame in this sweet science, where he is always looked down as an easy prey.
And on June 28, 2008, is the judgment day.
Next issue: "My Prediction on Lethal Combination"
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