| |
|
WBC Champ Diaz Challenges Pacquiao
By Bill Velasco PhilBoxing.com Mon, 12 Nov 2007

CHICAGO -- After the WBC told Manny Pacquiao to fight for a title, and after sending Erik Morales into retirement, World Boxing Council lightweight champion David Diaz issues a challenge to Manny Pacquiao.
The 1996 Olympian admitted that he was greatly fulfilled by being able to defeat a noble warrior like Morales.
"To have a victory over a legend, a living legend, was unbelievable. I mean this guy had fights with Pacquiao, Barrera. He kept the Mexican name high. And that's something I wanted to do and got it," Diaz told this writer at the Jabs gym here.
It took the Mexican ten years to become a world champion after campaigning in the Atlanta Olympics. Along the way, he overcame going into debt to pay for his mother's kidney transplant, the death of his brother due to AIDS, and a tear in his Achilles tendon. But he knows he won't be truly feared in the boxing world unless he beats the biggest draw in the fight game today: Manny Pacquiao.
"Not only would I be fighting a legend, I would be fighting the number one guy who has captivated the world in boxing."
After everything he's been through to become king of his weight class, Diaz says he has tremendous respect for the Pacman.
"What makes him tough? His aggressiveness, his toughness, and his hard punch," Diaz elaborates. "He's a non-stop worker in the ring. He's fast. You have to stay away from his left. That left could bring down a building, honestly."
But Diaz feels the fight would not be one-sided.
"I think his style would be a perfect match for my style. I don't back down from a fight. I work my butt off. So Manny, if you're listening, let's get this fight on," the champion called out.
The only question now is how interested Pacquiao would be in moving up and trying his luck in the next weight division. And what pay-off it would take to lure him there.
Editor's Note: PhilBoxing.com would like to give a warm welcome to its newest contributor, Bill Velasco.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Bill Velasco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Zhu Outguns "The Assassin" Ian Abne in Cebu Thriller, Earns Shot at IBF Champ Taduran By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 10 May 2026Arañas Survives Harsh Knockdown, Stops Noynay to Claim WBF Strap in Cebu (Fist of Fury X Results) By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 10 May 2026Mindoro faces strong Mexican opponent By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 10 May 2026Blood, Grit, and Iron: Zhu Outlasts Abne in a Cebu War By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 10 May 2026Tickets ON SALE NOW for Abdullah Mason-Joe Cordina at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center , Sat, 09 May 2026IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia bags gold in ASEAN E-Sports chess qualifying round By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 09 May 2026Wardley vs Dubois: Heavyweight Tussle in Manchester By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 09 May 2026Fireworks Expected as Cebu's Arañas and Noynay Rumble for WBF Silver Belt By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 09 May 2026Keyshawn Davis: "Nahir Albright’s Going To Be the Fourth Guy I Stop in a Row!" , Sat, 09 May 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Cinco De Mayo, A Historic Celebration Of Boxing By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 08 May 2026Abne, Zhu Make Weight for IBF Eliminator in Cebu; Winner Fights Taduran By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 08 May 2026IBA presents stacked fight card for May 21 event in Mexico City , Fri, 08 May 2026Laurente to promote amateur boxing By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 08 May 2026Heavyweight Gustavo Trujillo Has a New Date Returns May 30 at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale , Fri, 08 May 2026Toro Promotions & Whitfield Haydon Officially Announce ‘Sizzling Summer Boxing Series’ , Fri, 08 May 2026Jean Henri Lhuillier Drives ASAPHIL’s Winning System Through Long-Term Vision and Coaching Continuity By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 08 May 2026Dy ready to face Malignaggi in BKB on May 16 By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 07 May 2026‘A younger lion always comes for that old lions spot. Your time is up, GET OUT OF MY WAY! – Manny Ritti challenges former ONE FC World Champion Nobutsu Suzuki May 29 in Perth – Thunderdome 54 , Thu, 07 May 2026Kenia Enriquez Signs Multi-Year Contract with Latin KO Promotions , Thu, 07 May 2026FM Habla, Madriaga win Armageddon for IIEE-PSME Quezon City in PCAP By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 07 May 2026Undefeated heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor Graduates to 10-rounder this Saturday in Atlanta , Thu, 07 May 2026Jonas Magpantay bags P300,000 with Congressman Jeffrey Ferrer 10-Ball title win By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 06 May 2026Abdullah Mason Returns Home for Lightweight World Title Defense against Joe Cordina July 4 at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center , Wed, 06 May 2026Christopher Guerrero to face Delante Johnson on July 4 at the CSU Wolstein Center in Cleveland! , Wed, 06 May 2026Yanong and Horiike make weight in Japan for OPBF 140 lb. title By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 05 May 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|