Philippines, 02 Apr 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Analysis: Pacquiao-Diaz Duel in Lethal Combination Will be Messy and Bloody


PhilBoxing.com


Los Angeles, California - Imagine two raging bulls in a head-on battle or two snorting buffalos whose horns are locked in mortal combat.

In both cases, the ending will be messy and bloody.

Such is the picture Top Rank's Bob Arum projects the fight between World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion David Diaz and WBC superfeatherweight titlist Manny Pacquiao.

While many would call that a hardsell effort on the part of Arum to boost the reputation of defending champion David Diaz, who as of last reckoning was already a +330 underdog against Pacquiao, it is highly probable that the June 28 fight may indeed be bloody and messy.

Why? Well for one, David Diaz's only chance of winning against Manny Pacquiao is for him to relentless attack the Filipino champion's body, apparently the chink in the armor of the Pacman as shown in his last fight against Juan Manuel Marquez.

Diaz, as is his style, is expected to endlessly move forward, duck the vaunted left of Pacquiao and go to the midsection. The Pacman is not known to throw a lot of body punches. Relying on his power and strength, he goes to the upper body hoping to connect to the head and score a knockdown or a knockout.

Diaz and his trainer, the veteran Jim Strickland, are expected to exploit this weakness in the armory of Pacquiao and drag the Filipino challenger to a Close Quarter Battle, where the American champion has the obvious edge.

But once Diaz and his trainer choose to fight a CQB, they will have to face the risk of the American champion getting tagged by Pacquiao's powerful left. This could be dangerous for Diaz because he is not that durable, as proven by the knockdown scored by Erik Morales.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, may opt to engage Diaz in the center of the ring where he has more room to maneuver -- backstep and sidestep - and tag the champion with his powerful punches.

If the Filipino champion is able to avoid being pushed to the ropes by the champion, described by Bob Arum as the modern day Jake "Raging Bull" Lamotta, then he will prevail, depending of course, on the level of his preparation for this fight. Pacquiao needs a lot of energy to offset the shoving and pushing that he should expect from Diaz.

An ill-prepared Manny Pacquiao may tire early on from the pushing, the shoving and the body punching of David Diaz. But a well-prepared Pacquiao, like the boxer who fought Marco Antonio Barrera in their second encounter, will finish off Diaz early.

With over a month to go before the "Lethal Combination" unfolds at the Mandalay Bay, how do I look at the outcome? Well, simply said if the fight last the distance and Diaz survives Pacquiao's vaunted power, he may still be able to hang on to his title by decision. On the other hand, a well-conditioned and well-prepared Pacquiao would be capable of disposing of the champion in the middle rounds.

But whatever is the case, the fight is certainly expected to be messy and bloody. That is what one should expect when two known sluggers who are too proud to back off meet in the center of the ring.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Melvin the Avenger
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • WORLD-RANKED LIGHTWEIGHT ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI TO FACE ALBERTO GUEVARA IN MAIN EVENT OF FISTS OF FURY 6
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Carlos Flowers Shines on Day One for Team USA in World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Tellez Sisters Reina and Gabriela Sign with Boxlab Promotions
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Arena Grand Master Mohamad Sacar sweeps 1st Vientiane Open FIDE Rated Standard Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Unbeaten junior middleweight prospect Anthony “ATV” Velazquez Ready to bust out of New England
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • BOOTS VS. STANIONIS – ‘MAKE THE DAYS COUNT’ PREMIERES NOW
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • “THE FILIPINO FLASH” NONITO DONAIRE TO MAKE FIRST VISIT TO CANASTOTA FOR 2025 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • Tokyo Olympian Rashida Ellis signs long term management contract with Trifon Petrov
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • Fightbook Adds Brendan Gibbons to Lead Athlete & Fan Activation Strategy
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • BOXLAB PROMOTIONS RETURNS TO ORLANDO FOR ACTION-PACKED FIGHT NIGHT ON APRIL 18
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • Takeaways From Last Weekend's Fights in Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Lope Tenorio: El Bulakeño Matón (The Bulacan Brawler)
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Luka Doncic's Shock Factor for LAL Dissipating? Dallas Mavs Getting Playoff Bid Boost From AD
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Jerusalem Easily Repeats Over Shigeoka, Spoils A Huge Boxing Weekend for Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • THE INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS LIVINGSTONE BRAMBLE
    , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • IIEE GenX 3-peat, SAEP Millennial Champ in PTC WED Basketball
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Jerusalem dominates Shigeoka in rematch, retains WBC World title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • AND STILL! WILLIAM "EL CAMARÓN" ZEPEDA RETAINS WBC INTERIM LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE WITH MAJORITY DECISION VICTORY AGAINST TEVIN "2X" FARMER
    , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • A Second Coat of Paint: Mikaela Mayer Defeats Sandy Ryan in Action-Packed Rematch
    , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • Cartel, 5 others share lead after Day 1 of 6th AQ Prime Standard Open Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • Jerusalem, Shigeoka successfully make weight for their WBC World Title rematch
    , Sat, 29 Mar 2025
  • Rematches Rule the Day with Zepeda/Farmer & Mayer/Ryan on ESPN and DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 29 Mar 2025
  • Three Lions Promotions Official Weights from Hamilton, Canada
    , Sat, 29 Mar 2025
  • Weights from Las Vegas: Mikaela Mayer - 146 lbs., Sandy Ryan - 145.5 lbs.
    , Sat, 29 Mar 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.