Outside his small circle of friends, loved ones and training team, nobody seems to believe that American David Diaz can get the job done on June 28 in Las Vegas.
A heavy underdog against Manny Pacquiao, Diaz told the Mexican media that those who belittle his chances in staving off the Filipino?s challenge only makes him more motivated to prove them all wrong.
“It motivates me to know that the people does not trust in me,” said the 31-year-old Diaz, who will be risking his World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight crown for the second time.
“But in truth, I have a magnificent preparation that will surely result not only in me being in the best shape ever but in my best career win ever,” Diaz told boxlatino.
Sportsbook lists Pacquiao as -360, while Diaz is +280.
Under this setup, a $ 360 bet on Pacquiao wins a measly $ 100, while a $ 100 wager on Diaz wins $ 280.
The US-born Diaz, whose parents are pure Mexicans, said that Pacquiao “is not that accustomed to facing southpaws like him”, while he is used to fighting them.
Diaz has been training for the Pacquiao bout since April 19, while Pacquiao only reported at the doorsteps of the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood last May 13 although the 29-year-old native of General Santos had been sweating it out two weeks before his departure for the US.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao and Diaz are going to treat their fans when they stage an open workout at the West Wind School in Berkeley, California, early Saturday afternoon (Sunday in Manila) as part of the promotional tour.
Pacquiao will be brought there from Los Angeles on a private plane that Top Rank chief Bob Arum will lease, while Team Diaz will fly commercial from Chicago.
Diaz, according to the Chicago media, will receive $ 800,000 (P3,360,000), his biggest to date.
His biggest paycheck was $ 350,000 (P1,470,000) when Diaz beat Erik Morales in August last year.
Pacquiao, according to US sources, is guaranteed $ 3 million, although the figure will rise once the pay-per-view buys are computed.
