Marc Abrams–This will be no walk in the park for Pacquio as Diaz is a rugged southpaw from Chicago. He mixes in some good technique as he is a former Olympian. This figures to be a an action packed affair and the key to the fight will be the legs and athletci ability of Pacquiao as I expect him yo move in and out and score. When the fight gets in tough, Diaz will use his size advantage. This could be a fight where Diaz wins the event yet Pacquiao will get his hand raised by split decision.
Mike Swann–Pacquiao TKO 11.
Rick McKenzie–pac man
Matt Yanofsky–I am picking Paciquiao to win by unanamous decision. Pacquiao is more explosive and much quicker then Diaz. With that said, Diaz is a tough guy who is not the most skilled and has nothing to lose and everything to gain in this fight. There is a chance Pacquiao can stop him but we will have to see how his power carries up to lightweight
Joon Lee–David Diaz TKO11
Conventional wisdom would suggest Pac will have a relatively easy fight against the bigger, but much less dynamic Chicagonian. Little do we know about Pacquiao’s 135 pound debut, but what we do know is that Diaz has been a career jr. welterweight until recently.
Superiority in terms of skill, speed, or even power belongs to the great Pacquiao, but my gut instinct tells me that Diaz’s amazing recuperative power might save him once again, prevailing in a thrilling come-from-behind knockout.
Anson Wainwright–I like Pacquiao to win on points. Continuing his morphing from fighting almost with reckless abandon to clever two handed boxer. Pac-Man to win something like 117-111 in an entertaining fight.
Bart Barry–Anyone who’s met David Diaz can’t possibly root against him. But that doesn’t mean one shouldn’t pick against him. There are lightweights who would give Manny Pacquaio a world of trouble. But Top Rank doesn’t seem to think Diaz is one of those guys. I’ll take Pacquiao in a close fight: UD-12.
Norm Fraunheim–Manny Pacquiao, ninth-round TKO
Mario Ortega Jr.–Neither fighter looked their best in their last outing, which was on the same night. David Diaz was unimpressive in his decision win over Ramon Montano, although he did clearly win. Manny Pacquiao won a razor thin decision over Juan Manuel Marquez in a fight I scored against him, but barely. The difference being Pacquiao was facing one of the top fighters in the world, where as Diaz met a solid journeyman. I expect Diaz to hang in there with Pacquiao for the first half of the fight, but slowly break down against the speed and power of his Filipino opponent. Finally late in the fight, his corner will stop the bout in between rounds.
Gary Herman–In what should be an all-out action brawl, I’ll take the world’s best fighter in Manny Pacquaio over what will be a game opponent in David Diaz. When the fight gets to the later rounds, Pacquaio’s power will have worn down Diaz to the point that Pacquaio scores the KO victory in the 10th.
