Those looking ahead of David Diaz, who stakes his WBC lightweight title against Manny Pacquiao on June 28 in Las Vegas, may end up being disappointed.
?I have utmost respect for Manny, but I can?t allow him to become (lightweight) champion,? Diaz, confident of a victory over the Filipino slugger, said recently.
?This is the chance for me to prove myself. I know a lot of writers out there don?t really believe me. But I believe everything will come out good for me,? he added.
An American with Mexican lineage, Diaz told The Sweet Science that, ?I hope this fight is one people will talk about for a long time. I?m not letting go of this belt.?
These statements came amid reports that Bob Arum of Top Rank, who promotes Pacquiao and Diaz, has made a ?tentative offer of a $3 million purse? to Nate Campbell.
Campbell is the holder of the IBF, WBA and WBO lightweight crowns, and is being considered as Pacquiao?s next opponent should the 29-year-old sensation beat Diaz.
This would give Pacquiao the chance to unify all four major belts by the end of the year.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, is into his first few days of training at the Wild Card Gym under Freddie Roach, who didn?t sound amused that his prized fighter reported for training Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Pacquiao, who normally shows up at the gym after lunch, came in late although the workout went on, and the following day he was on time.
?Nobody had the balls to wake him up,? Roach told a Pinoy scribe.
Michael Marley yesterday wrote that there are indeed discussions regarding a Pacquiao-Campbell bout, and no less than John David Jackson, Campbell?s trainer, said so.
Jackson, a former welterweight champion, said it was Campbell himself to disclosed to him of Arum?s offer.
?We talked about it, yeah. I told Nate he?d be a fool not to take that. Pacquiao is tailor-made in style for Nate,? Jackson told Marley of boxingconfidential.com.
He even talked about a possible game plan.
?Freddie (Roach) isn?t suddenly going to try to make Pacquiao evasive. Manny just has one style, coming forward and throwing bombs. I?d tell Nate, ?Let him come to you,?? he said.
Jackson believes that Pacquiao, who took the WBC super-featherweight crown from Juan Manuel Marquez last March 15, will not be as strong in the 135 lb division as he is in the 130 lb division.
And for this, he believes that Pacquiao is a fight Campbell shouldn?t let go of ? if and when the Filipino beats Diaz in June.
