The final presser for the WBC lightweight world championship bout between defending champion David Diaz and four-time world champion Manny Pacquiao dubbed ?Lethal Combination? took place on Wednesday afternoon at the Mandalay Bay Resort-Casino of Las Vegas, Nevada.
For Pacquiao (46-3-2, 35 KOs) this fight has been labeled ?drive for 5? as it is marks his historic attempt to capture five world titles in five different weight classes. In the wake of Floyd Mayweather, Jr.?s recent retirement from the sport, Pacquiao is poised to perch himself atop boxing?s mythical pound-for-pound list with a victory Saturday night.
Selected as the 2006 Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association and Ring Magazine, Pacquiao is moving up in weight class from the junior lightweight division to challenge Diaz. Despite the fact that he is moving up in weight Pacquiao is an overwhelming favorite to beat the defending champion. At the time of the press conference the betting line on Saturday night?s main event was Pacquiao -550 and Diaz +400.
Considered a national treasure by the Filipino people, Pacquiao has been nicknamed the ?Mexicutioner? for his victories over Mexican champions including the three legends Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez. In his last fight in March, Pacquiao won a split decision victory over Marquez to capture the world title at junior lightweight. Pacquiao and Diaz have a common opponent in the three-time world champion Morales. Pacquiao fought Morales three times winning two of the three bouts with both 2006 victories coming by way of knockout. Diaz? first defense of his WBC lightweight crown was a unanimous decision victory over Morales in August of 2007.
Saturday night?s contest against Pacquiao will be Diaz? second defense of his lightweight strap which he won in August of 2006 with a TKO victory over defending champion Jose Armando Santa Cruz. From Chicago, Illinois, Diaz was a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. He defeated Zab Judah twice during the Olympic trials to earn the right to represent the U.S. in the 139 pound division.
Diaz (34-1-1, 17 KOs) dedicated Saturday night?s fight to the Mexican people. ?He (Pacquiao) has been beating up on a lot of my countrymen. It?s just a fact. I want to dedicate this fight to them,? Diaz stated during the final presser. He went on to dedicate the fight specifically to his Mexican father saying, ?He taught me how to be a Mexican and I love him.? The choked up Diaz fought back tears as he walked off the dais speaking directly to his father in his native Spanish, ?Te Quiero Mucho (I love you very much).?
Pacquiao also pronounced a dedication on Wednesday. The challenger dedicated Saturday night?s bout to the victims of the deadly Typhoon Fengshen that swept across the central Philippines on Saturday. Taking the podium, Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach praised Diaz for his accomplishments, but predicted a victory for his fighter saying, ?I think Manny?s speed is going to be too much for him (Diaz).?
In addition to the main event between Pacquiao and Diaz there will be three other fights on the televised portion of Saturday?s card including two additional championship contests. The first bout of the televised card will be for the interim WBC super featherweight world championship between Francisco Lorenzo (32-4, 14 KOs) and Humberto Soto (43-6-2, 27 KOs). The second fight will be a 10-round heavyweight contest between Tye Fields (40-1, 36 KOs) and Monte Barrett (33-6, 19 KOs).
Saturday?s co-feature bout is WBO featherweight champion Steve Luevano (35-1, 15 KOs) versus challenger Mario Santiago (19-1, 14 KOs) of Puerto Rico. About the bout the confident challenger Santiago said, ?I have no doubt in my mind that Saturday I will take the title back to Puerto Rico.? The soft-spoken yet determined champion Luevano emphasized, ?I am well trained. I will be ready for whatever he (Santiago) has to bring to the table.?
