David Diaz has insisted that he is paying little attention to the experts and pundits ahead of his clash with Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night, a fight which is LIVE on Setanta Sports.
Diaz goes into the bout as the reigning WBC lightweight champion, but Pacquiao, who is bidding for world title glory in a fourth different division, is considered boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighter now that Floyd Mayweather Jr. has decided to retire and the Filipino is the heavy favourite to prevail.
However, Diaz, who faced similarly unflattering odds in his clash with ring legend Erik Morales last year, is ignoring the naysayers and is instead focusing all his attention on recording another upset win.
?I have my own opinion of myself and that?s all that matters. I pay no mind to what other people say and they are going to say what they want,? the Chicago southpaw stated.
?This fight means a lot to me. It means I will be able to put my kids through college and they will be all right.
?I was the youngest of nine children and that was something that my dad was unable to do for me. And if I win this fight? That will put me in a whole new tax bracket!?
And Diaz is in no doubt that he has what it takes to both outwit and outfight Pac-Man.
?If this fight has to go one round, I will go one round. If it has to go 12 rounds, I will go 12 rounds,? he vowed.
?This has been my best camp and I feel great. And I know Manny?s going to be at his best also.
?He?s got his nation on his shoulders and history in front of him. I don?t make any excuses and I know he doesn?t either. This is going to be an old-fashioned fight.
?This is my chance to knock down the wall. Manny is the wall and I?ve got to go knock it down.?
