FIERY FILIPINO HAS BITTEN OFF TOO MUCH
San Francisco, CA- The last tine I wrote that Manny Pacquiao would be beaten by Erik Morales ?10 out of 10? times, admittedly I was wrong and the Pac-fanatics came after me with daggers, bullets, and the Filipino?s favorite blade, the butterfly knife. That being said, I expect more of the same after this piece airs. Reason being? I think Manny Pacquiao is no match for World lightweight (135 lbs.) champion Juan Diaz. Not physically, and not from a style point of view either.
PACMAN NOT THE ?DEDICATED? GUY ANYMORE?
Manny Pacquiao, whether Team Pacquiao or anybody else in his crew wants to admit it, but he?s like a passenger train that is about to be derailed. The fact that Manny struggled to make 130 lbs., and that his conditioning for the Marco Antonio Barrera rematch a fortnight ago was lacking, this to me is a sign of things to come. Bad things! All this talk of moving up to 135, to me it?s ridiculous. Pacman has yet to ?clean house? in any of the weight classes (112, 122, 126 & 130 lbs.) he has held titles in. He is sort of like Oscar De La Hoya, picking and choosing opponents of his liking, and all the while avoiding the killers.
IS PACMAN DUCKING SLUGGER GUZMAN?
Oscar ducked Orzubek Nazarov, then the World lightweight king. Instead, he fought Rafael Ruelas and ascending 130 lb. champ Genaro Hernandez. After Kostya Tszyu destroyed an opponent on a De La Hoya undercard in Las Vegas, Oscar opted out of a fight with him to instead face a Coked out Pernell Whitaker, whom he didn?t beat, even though he got the decision. In Pacman?s case, there is Joan Guzman, among others, who might be good enough to scramble Pac?s eggs.
DIAZ FIGHT MIGHTR BE A MISMATCH
The fight with Juan Diaz is almost farcical. Not that this won?t be a big event, as anything involving Manny Pacquiao can grow to monumental heights. But with the upside of fighting for another title at 135 lbs., comes the reality that Manny Pacquiao will be a decisive underdog against the ?Baby Bull? from Houston, TX. And it?s not that Juan is so superior in talent or ability. No, this fight is all about size and Diaz, a 135 lb. fighter tried and tested, is just too big for the Pacman to beat!
DIAZ NOT A BIG PUNCHER?.BUT!
At 33-0, with 17 whacks, Juan Diaz has a style that will thwart Pacquiao?s aggression from the get-go! A ?pressure? fighter who lacks one-punch KO power, Diaz will have such a size advantage over Manny such that the fight might look like a mismatch as the pair are given their final instructions by the referee. At 44-3, 35 KOs, Pacquiao hasn?t really shown incredible punching power at 130, decent, but far from the devastating whack out artist he was at the lighter weights. This has to do with ?natural? size, and Manny, who first fought at 107 lbs., this before capturing the WBC 112 lb. title, the IBF 122 lb. diadem, and the Ring Magazine laurels at both 126 and 130 lbs.
LOOKING AT THE FIGHT ON PAPER
Although I was wrong in thinking Erik Morales would beat Manny time and again, dead wrong, the fight with Juan Diaz reminds me of a ?showcase? bout for the champion. For a young man (24) built like Diaz, Pacman is a big money foe, one who will put mucho dollars in Diaz?s bank account without being a serious threat. As for Manny beating Diaz, it would take a miracle in my mind!
