The No.1 boxer in the world is moving up in weight for another tough challenge, but that hasn?t stopped SecondsOut?s team of fearless writers from making their confident picks for Saturday night?s WBC lightweight world title fight between champion David Diaz and challenger Manny Pacquiao at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, televised in the USA on HBO Pay-Per-View.
?I see Manny Pacquiao as a slight favourite going in to this match and my gut feeling is his speed, high workrate and experience will see him through a tough fight on points or late stoppage. Pacquiao W.12 or late KO.? – Clive Bernath, Editor-In-Chief
?This fight pits a multi-championship superstar (Pacquiao) against a solid, but somewhat unproven champion (Diaz). Whether Pacquiao can knockout lightweights remains to be seen, but either way his quickness and speed will probably allow him to hit Diaz cleanly enough times to find out. Pacquiao W.UD.12.? – Gregory Juckett, Content Editor
?While Pacquiao will be a strong favourite going into the fight, history has proven that moving up multiple weight classes and continuing to win is never easy. Diaz proved with his upset win over Mexican great Erik Morales that he is a worthy world champion at lightweight. This will not be an easy fight for Pacquiao. Diaz will have periods of success, but ultimately Pacquiao will win a close twelve round points decision in an exciting fight. Pacquiao W.12.? – Paul Upham, Content Editor
?The Pacman?s speed and big fight experience are enough to clinch him a close one on the scorecards. Pacquiao W.12.? – Mark Butcher, Founding Editor
?Diaz is a good lightweight title holder but his reign as WBC champion will probably end after he fights Pacquiao. Diaz is as tough as old boots and will probably rise from the canvas once or twice to hear the bell, but he?s not hard to hit and doesn?t have the power or superior boxing skills to trouble his opponent. Pacquiao is just too strong, fast and big fight experienced for the Chicagoan. Pacquiao W.12.? – Michael Norby
?David Diaz is a tough guy, and very determined in that ring. In this fight both Diaz and the Pacman share that same important ingredient in their hearts, grit and a strong no-quit determination. Manny may even get dropped early and he may be moving up, but he has a proven track record and will prevail within ten by TKO. Pacquiao W.TKO.10.? – Jerry Glick
?Watching the clip of the left uppercut that Diaz used to clobber Santa Cruz en route to a TKO win, you gotta give the guy a genuine puncher?s chance. But that?s all he?s got – a chance. He was almost shut out on the cards before knocking out Cruz, and he had a hell of a fight on his hands when he beat Pacquiao?s nemesis Morales, who was already well over the hill by the time they fought yet still was able to knock Diaz down in the first round. Pacquiao W. late TKO.? – Sean Waisglass
?Personally I can?t see Pac man having any problems in there. Diaz will bring heart, and will come out with a ?brave fighter? label, which in English translates to takes a beating well. Pacquiao will grind him down and earn a stoppage win somewhere in the final quarter, probably the tenth. Pacquiao W.KO.10 .? – Craig Phillips
?Manny Pacquiao has spent a lot of time promoting this fight, and since he has a financial stake in the amount of PPV?s that are sold, it makes sense. However, in Diaz he is facing a naturally bigger guy, who despite entering the ring with a belt, has nothing to lose. I think it will take Diaz a while to adjust to Pacman?s speed, but by the time the bout reaches the championship rounds, it will be Diaz coming forward landing the harder blows. In the end he will come up a point or two short of pulling the upset. Pacquiao W.SD.12 .? – Jason Pribila
?I might be in the minority here but I think this is the fight Pacquiao will lose that he?s not supposed to. His between fight regimes have become legendary and he typically balloons in weight. Granted, Pacman always comes into his battles in shape, but he?s been in too many back-and-forth wars and his best days could be behind him. I like Diaz, the much bigger man, to wear down Pacquiao and put the Filipino into discomfort throughout. I said over a year ago that Pacquiao has two great fights left and then he?ll lose to a guy he?s supposed to beat. He thwarted both Barrera and Marquez in their rematches, both thrilling affairs. Now it?s time for my prediction to come to fruition. Pacquiao is not shot, but he?ll look sluggish and unfocused en route to losing a spirited, but close split decision to Diaz in a fight that will actually be more one-sided in favor of the Mexican than the scorecards will indicate. Diaz W.SD.12.? – Mike Sloan
?I like the underdog in this one. The Las Vegas sports book has Diaz as a huge underdog (as of the final press conference on Wednesday the odds were -550 for Pacquiao and +400 for Diaz). Members of the press support the bookmakers by emphasizing that Diaz only has one marquee name on his list of victims and it is a faded Erik Morales, while Pacquiao has beaten the best of his generation including Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez. However, in his two recent wins over Barrera and Marquez Pacquiao he did not look like the giant slayer that boxing fans have come to adore the world over. Rather, he was content to eke out decisions in those two bouts versus pressing for the knockout. I see Pacquiao winning early rounds but I believe he will let up as the fight goes on. Diaz came from behind against a talented Jose Armando Santa Cruz to win his WBC title via 10th round TKO. Although I do not see Diaz knocking out Pacquiao, I believe he will stay competitive early on and rally in the second half of the fight much like he did in his victory over Santa Cruz, only this time the win will be by decision. Diaz W.12.? – Albert Jim?nez Howell
?I?m going against the cart wheel here and am backing Diaz, he is bigger and he fights for twelve rounds. Pacquiao has been in a lot of wars and I think in this fight that will start showing. He has a chance early on but I don?t think he will have enough power to knockout Diaz. Diaz?s constant pressure and punch output will see him being victorious after twelve bruising rounds. Diaz W.UD.12.? – Lwazi Ndzobongo
?This is the type of a fight that could be a bit difficult for Manny Pacquiao in a psychological sense because he is used to fighting the big names of late. He has been fighting and mostly beating the Barrera?s Morales?s and Marquez?s of the boxing world, so taking on a David Diaz, may be a bit tougher to get up for mentally. However this Filipino dynamo is also fighting for his place in his country?s boxing history, to be ranked along with Pancho Villa and Gabriel Flash Elorde. Manny should be too fast, too quick and too good for Diaz, and stop him late or win a going away decision. Pacquiao W.12 or late KO.? – James Smith, Host, IN THIS CORNER TV
?I think this is going to be a good fight. Diaz will be hyped for many reasons one to keep his title and two to take Pacman?s pound for pound status. But Pacman will have just enough to outgun Diaz and win by a UD. Pacquiao W.UD.12.? – Ray Kilgore
?I see a more than likely tough fight for Pacquiao. Diaz is a very strong fighter and he is the natural lightweight. That said, I do feel Pacman has a chance of overwhelming the slow-starting Diaz in the early rounds, but if that doesn?t happen it could well be the defending champion?s fight. I wouldn?t be surprised to see Pacquiao on the floor at some point if this becomes the case. If he doesn?t get his man out of there quickly, Pacquiao will have to go the full twelve rounds to win. Pacquiao on points for me in a close one. Pacquiao W.12.? – James Slater
Total:
DAVID DIAZ = 3
MANNY PACQUIAO = 11
