Manny Pacquiao, 46-3-2, 35 KO?s, is moving up to the lightweight division and is looking to win the WBC Lightweight Title against defending Champion, David Diaz, 34-1-1, 17 KO?s. The Filipino Superstar has a huge following and has proven to be a successful pay per view attraction, and reputation will be put to the test this Saturday on HBO Pay Per View, when he faces the relatively unknown and lightly regarded defending champion, on top of a questionable under card.
Pacquiao is nearing the end of his career and is now looking to position himself for a big showdown, probably with England?s Ricky Hatton, in what would be one of the biggest fights left in this game. Although Diaz has a lot of heart, he doesn?t have the chin nor the reflexes to hold off Manny and that is why this fight is being made. Typically a superstar moving up will be pitted against the weakest champion on the block and here is an example. If Manny can cut through Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera like a hot knife through butter, what is he going to do with David Diaz? Diaz is a man that had a world of trouble with Erik Morales and eked by with a decision that could have easily went the other way. He will have to be at his best just to survive the early rounds. So, if you like to see Pacquiao destroy somebody quickly, this is a good place to pay fifty bucks to see it.
On the undercard, we have heavyweight ?contender? Tye Fields, 41-1, 37 KO?s. With that impressive record, he is championship bound, right? Wrong. If any fighter screams Toro Moreno, it?s Tye Fields. His last bout looked fixed and if his opponent on this night, Monte Barrett, 33-6, 19 KO?s, is on his game AT ALL, he should win this bout rather easily. If you see him drop in the first round or so, the commission might want to take a look at it. I heard Bob Arum claiming that Fields is the goods and has gone on a promotional frenzy, pushing his large heavyweight that looks like a world beater, but is a clubber at best with little skill and questionable power, despite the knockout ratio. This fight, although not pay per view worthy, is worth a watch, just for the mere fact that I have some questions about it, outside of the typical inside the ring ones. It should be interesting.
In the interim WBC Super Featherweight Title match, Humberto Soto, 44-6-2, 28 KO?s, will be facing off against Francisco Lorenzo, 32-4, 14 KO?s, in another ?supporting? bout. Rounding out the card, we have Steven Luevano, 35-1, 15 KO?s, facing the WBO Featherweight Champion, Mario Santiago, 19-1, 14 KO?s.
Overall, this is a very weak card and I doubt that we will get much drama out of it. Manny is going to feast on Diaz, most likely early.
