LOS ANGELES ? Pretty soon, Freddie Roach is going to tap a few sparring partners who will fit the fighting style of David Diaz, the Mexican-American puncher being lined up to battle Manny Pacquiao on June 28 in Las Vegas.
“I don?t have anyone in mind as of now,” Roach told the Bulletin on Friday afternoon. “Of course, I will be getting southpaws.”
Since Roach doesn?t expect Pacquiao to report to the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood until late April, the 48-year-old cornerman has enough time to scout for the left-handed banger-type who will try to mimic Diaz?s devil-may-care attitude on top the ring.
“I want another eight weeks for the training camp for this fight just like what we did for the (Juan Manuel) Marquez fight,” said Roach, who spent two months getting Pacquiao ready for the counterpunching style of Marquez.
While Top Rank has yet to come up with an official statement on Pacquiao?s next fight, promoter Bob Arum is already talking about that matchup as if the Las Vegas-based outfit had already announced that Pacquiao and Diaz are indeed getting it on.
“I talked with Bob this morning about that,” said Roach, who is expected to be in Manila for less than a day next week to work the corner of Gerry Pe?alosa against Ratanchai Sor Vorapin of Thailand at the Araneta Coliseum on April 6.
Pacquiao had to walk the tightrope in dethroning Marquez, who was defending the World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight crown last March 15 at Mandalay Bay. Still, it was widely believed that had Pacquiao opted to train in the Philippines, he would have not been that prepared for somebody like Marquez.
Diaz will be putting his WBC lightweight crown on the line against Pacquiao and regardless of what ringsiders think of the Chicago-bred Diaz, Roach is wary of what a gutsy and tough fighter like him can do when given the chance.
Although Diaz?s aggressive approach appears to be tailormade for Pacquiao, Roach is not taking him lightly, saying that the 29-year-old Pacquiao is not accustomed to facing fellow lefties.
Diaz has expressed his desire to rumble with Pacquiao and is only keenly awaiting official word before he plunges into serious training.
Pacquiao will be making an unprecedented attempt for an Asian fighter when he vies for Diaz?s WBC 135-lb throne.
Already the first Oriental pugilist to capture three world titles in three different weight classes, a win by Pacquiao over Diaz will make him a four-division titleholder, a feat so rare that only a few have achieved so far.
