HOLLYWOOD?David Diaz knows he?s in for a tough fight against Manny Pacquiao, but he isn’t about to let it consume his zest for life.
?You have to have fun,? Diaz told Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Monday. ?But I?m not letting anything bother me or distract me. I know what I have to do on (Saturday).?
Diaz was referring to his defense of the World Boxing Council lightweight title against his super featherweight counterpart on June 28 (June 29, Sunday in Manila) in Las Vegas.
?You can?t let the fight consume you,? Diaz said. ?I can shut it off pretty quick and turn it back on when I have to.?
Relishing his new-found celebrity status, Diaz was able to insert in his hectic training schedule at the JABB Gym in Chicago guest appearances in the games of the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears.
The 32-year-old Diaz, who arrived in Los Angeles by plane from Chicago Sunday night, even graced the commencement exercises of his grade school class.
Having experienced playing second fiddle to Erik Morales, whom he beat via a 12-round decision last year, Diaz doesn?t mind assuming the same role again against Pacquiao, acknowledged as the world?s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.
?I’ve been through this before,? Diaz said. ?When I fought Morales, nobody thought I could win. But I feel good and relaxed. That?s a good sign.?
Like Pacquiao, Diaz is an ardent sport fan, rooting for his home team Cubs (baseball), Bears (football), the Bulls (basketball) and the Blackhawks (hockey).
?I’m a huge sports fan, anything Chicago,? Diaz said.
A son of Mexican immigrants who was born and raised in Chicago, Diaz said the Mexicans are looking at him as their last hope to get back at Pacquiao, tagged as the ?Mexican assassin? for beating their best fighters like Morales (twice in three meetings), Marco Antonio Barrera (twice) and Marquez (one win and one draw).
