Oddsmakers have listed the ?Pacman? as a -450 favorite over Chicago?s, David Diaz.
Is it rightfully so or just hype that?s caught the line-makers with their pants down?
Manny exudes numerous advantages over his rugged but limited opponent in virtually every department which includes speed, reflexes, explosiveness, punching power, and potentially even experience against upper echelon opposition. So how will the current WBC lightweight champion find a way to retain his title?
If there?s a chink that this internet hack has seen in Pacquiao?s perceived unbreakable armor over the past years it?s in the ?focus? department.
When I state the word ?focus?, I?m referring to the Filipinos ability to remain calm and cool amidst tactics that are either borderline illegal or downright ?down and dirty?. Low blows, head butts, elbows, and every other controversial method taken from the Bernard Hopkins book of boxing seem to have a lasting negative affect on the ?Pacman?.
Who can forget the now deceased Agapito Sanchez rattling the superstar by attempting to give him an exterior vasectomy in conjunction with numerous Holyfieldesque head butts?
While Diaz has virtually no chance of out boxing his southpaw counterpart this coming Saturday night, he just might be able to give him the rude awakening that 135 pounds is a house in which Manny should have tip toed into rather than taking on a top flight opponent. The keys to victory for Mr. Diaz are as follows:
Punch Pacquiao extremely hard around the belt line. Nobody enjoys having their family jewels tinkered with and Manny is no exception as he?s shown an extreme distaste for the body blows in the past.
Blood? make sure if flows from Pacquiao in any way possible. You have several warnings before the point deductions start taking place so use them. I?m not insinuating that Diaz should make like a Billy goat and blatantly ram his forehead into Pacquiao?s face? or am I?
Fight big. What you might lack in punching power you make up in overall body strength and natural size. Use some mauling and wrestling tactics to ?rough up? the perceived smaller man to show him that he?s now in there with the big boys.
Last but not least… body slam Manny over the top rope and into the surrounding tables. That should rough up the thoroughbred from General Santos City.
If you couldn?t already tell? the last key is an exaggerated joke.
Basically what all this boils down to is that David Diaz needs to rough up the ?Pacman? in order to gain a mental advantage over the course of the fight. It won?t be easy as Manny has indeed been battle tested over the course of his career and will undoubtedly be ready for everything and anything that comes his way.
I expect a brawl to break out somewhere in the middle rounds in which anything can happen including another huge upset for 2008?
