SANTA MONICA?If David Diaz is to be believed, the relentless barrage with which Manny Pacquiao normally overwhelms foes to submission is exactly what the Filipino will have a taste of during their World Boxing Council lightweight duel on June 28 (June 29, Sunday in Manila).
?Pressure,? Diaz said, reiterating a game plan based on the belief that Pacquiao normally takes pauses after unloading punches with his blinding hand speed. ?(I plan to) just go out there and apply more pressure.?
The 32-year-old Diaz believes that those Pacquiao pauses will give him the chance to let the Filipino champion have a taste of his own medicine, citing the fact that he feels he is in better shape than the reigning WBC super featherweight king.
Diaz, in fact, has lost count of the rounds of sparring he completed against four partners in Chicago?s JABB Gym.
?Maybe a thousand,? Diaz said in jest. ?But I did 6, 10, 12 rounds at least three times a week.?
Meanwhile, promoter Bob Arum has joined the list of people who believe the ?Pacman? is going to be stronger as a lightweight than as a super featherweight.
Arum cited as an example Miguel Cotto, who became a more effective fighter after bulking up to 147 and joining the welterweight ranks.
Arum, chief of Top Rank which is putting together the ?Lethal Combination? card, said Pacquiao has been struggling to make the 130 lb in his past two fights.
And the weight struggles, Arum believes, may have been the reason why both fights?although victories?failed to produce a knockout.
?He depletes himself? trying to make the weight, Arum said.
Arum, though, believes Diaz stands a chance as long as he sticks to his game plan. Diaz is a 4-1 underdog in the fight.
