LAS VEGAS, June 28 ? Manny Pacquiao erased any doubt about who the top pound for pound boxer in the world is today with a crushing knockout at 2:24 of the ninth round over WBC lightweight champion David Diaz. Pacquiao put on a tremendous display of speed, skill, and accurate punching before delivering a picture perfect left cross that left Diaz face first on the canvas.
Early in the bout, Pacquiao proved once again what?s true in any sport: ?speed kills.? The ?Pac Man? would step in and rip off three- and four-punch combinations at a time, before quickly stepping out to reset with a befuddled Diaz looking on. The southpaw was dominant with his right hand, throwing fast and accurate jabs, uppercuts, and right hooks that couldn?t seem to miss Diaz the whole fight, while seemingly walking Diaz into hard left crosses.
Pacquiao?s renowned trainer Freddie Roach has worked hard over the years with the Filipino sensation in rounding out his game, particularly working on Pacquiao?s right hand upon criticism that his fighter was a one-handed fighter.
?That?s the best I?ve ever seen Pacquiao box,? stated Roach.
Pacquiao amazingly started his career in the Philippines thirteen years ago at all of 106 pounds after selling cigarettes in the street to make ends meet. He won his first major word title in 1998, capturing the WBC belt as a 112-pound flyweight. He made a stunning United States debut, capturing the 122-pound IBF bantamweight title with a six-round stoppage of Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in 2001. His boxing legacy was secured with a dominating 2003 stoppage of Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera and scintillating fights with other future Hall of Famers from Mexico, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez, capturing the WBC 130-pound title from Marquez earlier this year.
But the question going into his bout with Diaz was whether or not he would carry his vaunted speed and power up to the lightweight division.
Pacquiao did.
?It was his speed, it was all his speed,? Diaz, now 34-2-1 (17), said as he explained the one-sided beating he absorbed. ?He boxed more than I thought he would.?
Pacquiao, still only 29 years old, was poised and patient throughout the contest and appeared to carry 135 pounds as comfortably as he carried 126 or 130 pounds.
?I feel much more strong and more powerful at 135 pounds. I was kind of surprised the fight wasn?t stopped earlier,? said Pacquiao, now 47-3-2 (34). ?I was praying [Diaz] was alright [after it was stopped]. I tried to help him up.?
Diaz will be all right. He made a career-high payday of $850,000 and Top Rank will bring him back after a deserved rest. Promoter Bob Arum said he would put Diaz in with ?slower? fighters next time.
As for Pacquiao, the sky is the limit ? almost.
Both Arum and Pacquiao said that 140 pounds would be the highest in weight the future hall of famer would climb to find suitable challenges.
Roach would love to see a 140-pound showdown between his fighter and the ever-popular and world-recognized junior welterweight champ Ricky Hatton.
Arum brought up the name of KO artist Edwin Valero, the undefeated WBA 130-pound champ who has won all of his fights by stoppage and was recently cleared to fight in the state of Texas.
?Just keep [Pacquiao] away from [Miguel] Cotto? Arum said.
