Manny Pacquiao?s sensational ninth round knockout of David Diaz midday yesterday (Saturday night in Las Vegas) is a validation of the efforts of the Filipino boxing icon and his trainer Freddie Roach to improve Pacman?s style and effectiveness.
For the entire nine rounds that Diaz was able to hang on, Pacquiao moved gracefully yet ferociously in a display of sheer dominance over the hapless Mexican-American.
From the opening bell, Pacquiao unraveled that much-ballyhooed right hand that boxing fans ? believers and otherwise ? have been eagerly watching out for after Roach first came out with the news that they were starting to develop Manny into a double-barreled threat several fights removed.
In the encounters against Morales, Marquez, Larios, Solis et al, that right hand was not seen as a critical factor, and Manny continued to be branded as a one-handed fighter who relied solely on a vicious and powerful left to subdue the opposition.
Yesterday was a masterful performance that highlighted the debut of the crisp and lightning-quick right hand that persistently landed accurately on Diaz?s face and noggin. The game ex-champion tried unsuccessfully to veer away from it, only to be stung time and again, forcing him to remark to his corner at the end of the sixth that “his punches are just way too fast.”
He could not, for the life of him, see them coming. That?s how blinding the speed of Pacquiao?s punches was. And while the Chicago-raised fighter admitted that he initially thought the Filipino champion?s punches weren?t all that powerful, the Pacman decided it was time to chastise him for his lack of faith. Pop went the mighty left hook and Diaz went plunging forward to the canvass to kiss his hopes of conquering Pacquiao a warm (as in blood-warm) goodbye.
Again the ex-champion didn?t know what hit him and he candidly admitted after the fight that he didn?t know what he was doing down on the canvass.
It was a pity to see the likeable Diaz sport a grotesque mask of crimson painted by the copious amounts of blood that poured forth from several cuts on his nose and brow from the beatings brought on by the two-fisted attack by the Gensan Bomber. But in this game of survival, one has to see to it that he inflicts the damage rather than be the victim of it.
And Pacquiao rained misery upon Diaz from the get-go. He didn?t allow the bigger guy a chance to settle down and figure out a way to steer clear of the pacman. At every twist and turn, a fresh barrage awaited and frustrated Diaz and it?s to his credit that he was able to last that long.
A man made of lesser stuff would have succumbed earlier to the persistent heavy knocking (on the head and body) that the bouncy Filipino banged on him.
There may be those who would downplay the latest Pacquiao achievement by saying that he won it against an inferior opponent. But although Diaz is admittedly several notches slower, it was not just the speed factor that made for the breath-taking Pacquiao performance.
He revealed a motley array of fresh moves apart from the hyper-active right. He bobbed and weaved, got under the punches of his opponent, danced adroitly away from trouble and ducked probably 90 percent of Diaz?s shots? and they could have been devastating shots had they landed.
The Pacquiao defense which used to be more of a wish than a reality, was a sight to behold after Diaz was foiled at his every attempt to counter-attack, his haymakers landing feebly on Pacquiao?s shoulders or worse, whiffing aimlessly in thin air.
Even as the now four-division titlist poured it on all fight long, he also showed that he had the patience to wait for the opportune time to launch his offensive sock. Gone are the days of the “bara-bara” or wild blitzkrieg assaults, Manny cunningly picking his spots and opportunities.
If the preceding sounds effusive and awe-struck, it is because on his way to a fourth world title, it looked as if Manny Pacquiao was just opening up a new and improved style that looks even more impressive than his previously successful one.
Credit belongs to Freddie Roach and the entire training team that includes Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri for the pain-staking work. The transformation should prolong Pacquiao?s career and earn for him more success should he decide to stay on for the long haul. It took some doing, but it came at just the right time when Manny decided to be more focused and determined in his boxing career and in his life.
This can only augur well for the Filipino fan who can?t get enough of the Pacman and will surely have more to cheer and celebrate about with the reawakening of Manny Pacquiao.
