LAS VEGAS ? David Diaz said he?s ready to go 12 rounds with Manny Pacquiao when they square off on Saturday evening at Mandalay Bay.
He even said he?s ready to go 13 or 15 rounds – if needed.
?Oh, definitely, definitely, definitely,? said the reigning WBC lightweight champion who turned 32 exactly two weeks ago.
Diaz had just wrapped up Monday?s press conference when he spoke with scribes at the Santa Monico Pier, a sunny Southern California tourist spot facing the Pacific Ocean.
He said he?s willing to walk the extra mile with Pacquiao.
?Thirteen? Yes. Fifteen if we have to. If they want us to go three more extra rounds I?d do that,? said Diaz, clad in blue jeans, leather shoes and plain blue shirt.
After the interview, Diaz pulled the sleeve of his shirt, then smiled as he showed off his bulging biceps.
The former member of the US Team to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics said there?s just too much motivation on his part in his bid to beat Pacquiao.
?Definitely to keep my belt for Mexico, my family and my kids and for everybody who?s always believed in me,? he said.
How he intends to do it sounded so simple.
?I know what I?m going to do to win this fight and I?m going up there and try to do it. Pressure. Just go out there and put pressure on him and try to beat him at his game,? he said.
?He?s going up there and throw a lot of punches so we?ll try to match that.?
Pacquiao came to the press conference a little late from schedule. He wore a light shirt, sneakers and his Rock & Republic jeans.
He spoke very briefly through the microphone.
?This will be a great fight between me and David Diaz. I will do my best to win the fight. I will let everyone know who the best is on June 28th,? he said.
Diaz, out to retain his title for the third time following victories over Erik Morales last year and Ramon Montano last March, said he?s done everything in training.
In fact, he?s trained longer, but not necessarily harder, than Pacquiao, opening up his camp last April 19 in Chicago. The Filipino champ reported for serious training in LA on May 12.
But Diaz said he can?t recall how many rounds of sparring he?s had in training.
?Oh, no men I don?t know. Probably about a dozen. I?m just joking. Honestly, I don?t keep track of that. We just go with the flow. Sometimes we do six then we do 12 then we do 10,? he added.
Diaz said he sparred three times a week against four different boxers whose names he can?t recall.
And lastly, he said he doesn?t even care about the predictions of a knockout win for Pacquiao.
?Whatever happens, happens,? he said.
NOTES: There was no fanfare when both Manny Pacquiao and David Diaz stepped into Mandalay Bay?s hotel Monday evening. Pacquiao arrived a little past 9 o?clock with more than 50 persons that were part of a 14-vehicle convoy from LA. Diaz got in earlier as he reportedly flew in. Up in the Pacquiao suite on the 60th floor, dinner was served for everybody, and it was way past 10 when the elegant two-bedroom suite started to empty. The formal welcome ceremony for both boxers is scheduled at noon Tuesday… Vic Drakulich will be the third man on the ring when Pacquiao and Diaz lock horns on Saturday. The lawyer from Reno was tapped by the Nevada Athletic State Commission to work the fight where Diaz? WBC lightweight crown will be put at stake. Drakulich officiated the third fight between Pacquiao and Erik Morales in 2006, the one that ended in a devastating third-round knockout win by the Filipino. The judges for the coming fight are CJ Ross, Gary Merrit and Paul Smith.
