Manny Pacquiao was in a jolly, cheerful mood yesterday when he talked about his coming fight against WBC lightweight champion David Diaz on June 28 in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao said he was watching Game One of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the LA Lakers on television when he granted Pinoy scribes an interview.
Through phone patch, as members of the press and top officials of network partners GMA-7 and Solar Sports listened, Pacquiao gave his latest thoughts on the fight.
?It?s not going to be easy because this is the first time I?m fighting in the lightweight division,? said Pacquiao from the comforts of his posh apartment unit in Los Angeles.
He said he sparred 10 rounds against three different boxers at the Wild Card Gym earlier in the day, raising the number to 69 (5-7-8-8-10-11-10-10) in three weeks of sparring.
Pacquiao wasn?t quite sure how many rounds he?s had, first saying it?s over 80 then saying it?s 70 plus. Before training camp began, he said he plans to do a total of 120 rounds.
With 21 days before the fight, Pacquiao said his weight is down to 138 lbs from as high as 146 lbs in the first week of May. Now he has three weeks to lose three lbs and make the 135 lb limit.
?I?m comfortable right now,? he said in the overseas interview arranged by GMA-7, which will bring the coming fight live to the Philippines in partnership with Solar Sports.
A couple of times, Pacquiao brought the house down during the interview, first when he was asked why it seemed noisy inside his apartment.
?We?re watching the NBA finals. Boston is ahead,? said Pacquiao, who said he?s not bothered by the fact that several Filipino boxers, including the great Flash Elorde have failed in their bid for the lightweight crown.
?Iba sila, iba ako. Siguro malas lang sila (They?re different, I?m different. Maybe they weren?t lucky),? he told those who packed the press conference on the 17th floor of the GMA-7 headquarters.
Pacquiao was also asked how come his last two fights against Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez have ended in close decisions when almost everyone else had predicted a knockout.
?Kung ako sana si Superman eh. Di puro first-round knockout sila lahat (If only I were Superman then they?d all be knocked out in the first round),? he said, once again eliciting a burst of laughter.
