IT seems like the stars and the constellations are aligned just about right for Manny Pacquiao?s entry into the lightweight division.
Last Sunday, erstwhile undefeated Juan ?Baby Bull? Diaz?s suffered an upset split decision loss to Nate ?Galaxxy Warrior Campbell? and it looks like the 135-pound division has been thrown wide open.
Prior to the bout, Campbell?s name was never floated around as a possible opponent for the Pacman at lightweight, but Nate showed why it was disastrous for anyone to overlook him.
From all accounts, it was a great fight which featured plenty of two-way action, which turned only in the sixth after Diaz was cut.
So who is Nate Campbell and do you think he will be easy fodder for the Pacman to chomp on?
NATE?S GALAXY. His name might not ring a bell to the casual boxing fan, but the hardcore guys must have known that he had a spoiler?s chance of upsetting Diaz.
Although he is already 36, Nate turned pro only in 2000 and so he?s not ring weary. His amateur career wasn?t extensive and he failed to make it to the US 2000 Olympic team.
But he had the right attitude complemented by a booming right hand which makes for success in the pros. In 2002 he was 23-0 with 22 knockouts and was creating a minor buzz among fight buffs. But he lost to tricky Cuban southpaw Joel Casamayor and his career seemed to careen downhill after that.
The lowest point had to be his back-to-back losses to Robbie Peden, with the first a very humiliating one after he was knocked out after he inexplicably invited Peden to take a free shot. He went into a depression after that.
?I thought about finishing it. What kept me in the game of life was my love for my kids,? Nate said in an article published in October 2007 issue of Boxing Digest.
But he clawed his way back into contention and got his career back on track after moving to the more comfortable lightweight division and scoring an impressive TKO win over undefeated prospect Almazbek Raiymkulov.
He was previously the mandatory challenger for another Diaz, Julio, but was side-stepped after the latter chose to unify with Juan. It proved to be a blessing in disguise as it gave him the opportunity to fight for three lightweight titles.
Nate is a doting grandpa to Janiayah and proclaims himself as the ?hottest grandfather in America.? The ?Baby Bull? gave as good as he got, but styles make fights, and grandpa just had too many tricks up his sleeve.
VS. PACMAN? So how do you think Pacman would fare against Campbell? Hmm, I reserve my judgment till after the Marquez rematch, but my instincts tell me that Manny would fare much better than Diaz because of his speed.
Diaz was aggressive, tough and impressive with his flurries. But he lacks the lateral movement and foot speed that Manny will bring into the fight.
Like I said, the timing is perfect for Manny to crash the lightweight party, but he has to take care of business first this Sunday.
MILENYO. ALA Gym?s Milan Melindo isn?t your typical fledgling. Last week, in eking out a gutsy unanimous decision win over Indonesian Sofyan Effendi at the Mandaue City Sports Complex, he showed maturity beyond his years.
He wasn?t also averse to a little extra-legal maneuvering, by holding the back of his opponent?s head in order to get more leverage on his punches. Reminds me of how Lennox Lewis drilled Michael Grant.
But what was impressive was the true warrior spirit imbedded in that slender frame.
When an errant blow stopped his game Indonesian opponent momentarily in his tracks, Milan was ushered into a neutral corner while Effendi was given time to recover. All that time, he never let his guard down. He still held his hands up in a classic boxing stance despite being eight feet away from any danger his opponent might conjure.
Peculiar, but impressive.
THE LAST ROUND. It?s on two wonderful ladies, my Yakal buddies, Bugs and Cor, who turned a year older last week. Cheers!
