Sometimes, the nom de guerre ?Dangerous? precedes the name David Diaz.
But on the night of June 28 in Las Vegas, Diaz, the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight king, is expected to be just like that against Filipino star Manny Pacquiao.
Former multi-awarded sportswriter-commentator Ricardo Jimenez, who does publicity work for Top Rank, told the Bulletin yesterday that Diaz indeed poses a big problem for Pacquiao, who will be making his debut at 135 lbs.
Diaz is used to fighting at this weight class, while Pacquiao will be entering unfamiliar territory, having been fighting as a super-feather (130-pounder) for the last three years and three months.
“Nobody gave Diaz a chance when he fought (and beat) Erik Morales (in August 2007) and people thought Erik would beat him,” said Jimenez, who formerly worked as the sports editor of La Opinion, the biggest Spanish-language newspaper in the US before being recruited by Top Rank chief Bob Arum in 2000.
Jimenez, who handles the publicity for Top Rank?s wide array of Hispanic talents, said the 29-year-old Pacquiao will encounter difficulties if he can?t manage the extra five points that he will add to his normal fighting weight.
“Erik (Morales) looked terrific but it was different when he got in there in the ring with Diaz,” said Jimenez, who also covered the NBA Finals, The World Series and the Super Bowl in a journalistic career that began in 1985 after he earned a degree in Business Management at the Cal. State U at Fullerton.
“They (Mexican boxing fans) didn?t know who he was until he beat Morales,” said the bilingual Jimenez, who lives in Los Angeles.
Despite his US nationality, Diaz, who turns 32 tomorrow, “is proud of his (Mexican) heritage.”
“He speaks Spanish very well and he has a large following in Chicago which has the biggest population of Mexicans in the US outside Los Angeles,” added Jimenez.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao is also revving up for his ambitious quest to become the first Filipino fighter to win the world lightweight crown.
“Sparring is going to be at its peak when I spar for 12 rounds maybe next week,” said Pacquiao on Wednesday night from his apartment in the trendy Los Angeles area of La Brea.
Pacquiao started working out under Freddie Roach on May 11, while Diaz kicked off training camp in Chicago on April 19.
