LAS VEGAS?For Manny Pacquiao, it?s Drive for Five.
Though Pacquiao is officially listed as a three-time world champion gunning for his fourth, the Filipino ring icon already considers himself a four-time world titlist.
That is if you include the unofficial People?s Champion tag bestowed on him by Ring Magazine on Nov. 15, 2003, for stopping Marco Antonio Barrera in San Antonio, Texas.
Tacked on the walls of his unit at Palazzo in Hollywood, are computerized printouts of the 9 p.m. lights-out policy and below it the Drive for Five.
Pacquiao hopes to beat David Diaz for the World Boxing Council lightweight crown on June 28 (June 29, Sunday in Manila) here to enshrine himself as the greatest Asian fighter ever.
The 29-year-old Pacquiao became the WBC flyweight champion on Dec. 4, 1998, the International Boxing Federation super bantamweight titlist on June 23, 2001, and the WBC super featherweight king after besting Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15, also at the Mandalay Bay Events Center here.
But Pacquiao isn?t about to insist on the distinction of being the first Asian to hold world crowns in four divisions.
He?s willing to work on it against Diaz.
Fact is, according to Pacquiao, he?s going to make the record and the honor of being the first Filipino lightweight titlist ever as his motivation when he trades punches, and perhaps blood, with the Mexican-American.
?A record is at stake and that?s my motivation,? said Pacquiao during Thursday?s press conference at the Media Center of Mandalay Bay.
Pacquiao, acknowledged as Fighter of the Year in 2006 and current world pound-for-pound No. 1 boxer, said he doesn?t feel any pressure in his historic lightweight drive, where four other Filipinos have failed.
According to Pacquiao, he has done everything possible to succeed and that he feels comfortable at 135 pounds.
?I?ll just do my best. I feel all right because I no longer need to starve myself to make the weight,? said Pacquiao, noting that there?s no need for more talk at this point. ?We?re both ready to fight and let?s just see who?s better.?
As always, Pacquiao feels it?s his duty to deliver the victory to his country and fellow Filipinos. He is dedicating the fight to his countrymen, especially the victims of typhoon Frank (international codename: Fengshen) that ravaged the country over the weekend.
