David Diaz sounded a bit peeved yesterday when told that Manny Pacquiao hasn?t started training for their June 28 clash in Las Vegas.
With less than two months before they square it off at Mandalay Bay, Pacquiao has yet to formally begin training camp although there are reports that he will train for a few days at close friend Wakee Salud?s Gym in Cebu starting today before reuniting with Freddie Roach in Los Angeles on May 10.
“Maybe, I don?t know,” said Diaz, who is in his second week of training at the JABB Gym in Chicago, when asked if he thinks the lethal-hitting Filipino lefty is taking him for granted. “That?s not my concern. I don?t worry about that and my focus is in getting myself ready for the fight.”
“I don?t care if he goes parachuting or something,” said Diaz, referring to Pacquiao?s new fascination, scuba diving.
“I will just train as hard as I can so there?ll be no excuses on my part (should I lose),” said Diaz, who will be staking his World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight crown for only the second time.
Diaz politely declined to make a prediction although he believes he has what it takes to repulse the challenge of Pacquiao, the 130 lbs star who is not only making his first fight at 135 lbs but bidding to become the first Filipino world champion at that weight class where many have met their Waterloo.
Before heading to training camp, Diaz said he made sure his weight remained in check.
“I didn?t allow myself to get bigger so right now I am just 143 to about 147 lbs,” added Diaz, who outworked Ramon Montano of Mexico in his last fight on March 15 underneath Pacquiao?s rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez.
Roach, meanwhile, is keenly awaiting the arrival of his top student at the Wild Card so they could immediately get it on.
A bevy of sparring partners, all southpaws like Diaz, will be lined up to work with Pacquiao, including former world champion Freddie Norwood of the US, who is currently training at the Wild Card.
“Manny?s always been a hardworker in the gym and once he gets here (to train), it?s going to be all business,” said the 48-year-old Roach.
Top Rank head Bob Arum has scheduled a one-day promotional tours of key cities in the coming weeks and after the press conference on May 13 in Los Angeles where Pacquiao and Diaz meet in the flesh, Arum will lease a private plan that will bring Pacquiao to San Francisco, Phoenix, Seattle and even in Diaz turf in Chicago.
“My people (at Top Rank) are working on this promotion and there would also be one that will be held in the Filipino community in Los Angeles,” said Arum.
