I understand we?ve got a few Manny Pacquiao fans who check in to The Confidential once in a while, Saturday night must have been a throat-lumping experience for you. First you had to listen to all of the talk last week of Manny looking drained, and thinking about making the move to lightweight. Next you had to watch the replay of a bigger and slower Pacman eventually finish the career of older and slower Marco Antonio Barrera without much inspiration. And to top it all off you were then exposed to watching human dynamite, in the form of Juan Diaz, who just may be Manny?s next opponent as he deconstructed yet another champion by making him quit on his stool. Literally forced his opponent to give up his title belt rather than to face another round. It?s become a habit for Diaz?s opponents to stay seated under the fire they?re facing.
Manny is sitting close to the top of the pound for pound pile. He?s an international hero and the pride of a great country. He?s one of the most easily-cheered athletes of this generation with his combination of boyish exuberance and freakish power. He?s a young multi-millionaire, and he?s gaining steam.
That?s exactly why he should avoid Diaz at all costs. They are too high.
Don?t be surprised if Pacquiao does make the move to lightweight, but chances are he?ll take the road that avoids the Baby Bull without looking as though he?s avoiding. Pacquiao versus light hitting lefty Joel Casamayor holds nearly as much cache without the risk, and David Diaz would provide a not-too-tough test to the same end. Let someone else be the one to try to play matador to Diaz?s bull.
