Jim Strickland, trainer of David Diaz, was quoted to have said before the Manny Pacquiao-Diaz showdown that ?I want him (Diaz) to start faster for this fight as Pacquiao may run him over.?
Run over Diaz is exactly what Pacquiao did in their battle for Diaz?s World Boxing Council lightweight title Saturday night (Sunday morning in the Philippines) by taking all eight rounds prior to sending the game and tenacious Mexican-American to the canvas bloodied face first at 2:24 of the ninth round. At fight?s end, I had Pacquiao way ahead, winning all rounds, 80-72. With the victory, Pacquiao achieved a record of being the first Asian to win titles in four different divisions: flyweight, super bantamweight, super featherweight and lightweight.
By getting his fourth title, the last two within two months of each other, Pacquiao joins, among others, Pernell Whittaker, Tommy Hearns, Oscar de la Hoya, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones Jr. and Roberto Duran. Pacquiao has also reasserted his claim as the world?s best pound-for-pound fighter. Floyd Mayweather Jr. had held the distinction before he retired but unlike Pacquiao (who fights anyone), Mayweather seemed to be too cautious in his last few fights and had the reputation of picking his opponents.
It was clear that Pacquiao had too much speed, power (in both hands), too much variety in the punches he was unloading and too much skill for the average Diaz who could not get his brawling style of fighting going because of Pacquiao?s speed and the Filipino icon?s stiff right jab that kept the amiable and likeable champion at bay.
The first time I saw that jab being developed by Pacquiao?s chief trainer, Freddie Roach was at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles when the former was training sometime in October 2006 for his second fight with Mexican living legend, Erik Morales. As soon as I saw Pacquiao master the right jab and improve his footwork, I said that Morales was in deep trouble. Pacquiao did use that same right jab to overcome succeeding opponents like Mexicans Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Pacquiao?s metamorphoses from a so-called one-armed bandit into a two-fisted attacker, proved the point of boxing expert Cesar Medina of Bgy. Sta. Teresita in Quezon City who would say, ?If Pacquiao wants to finish his opponent with his left, he has to do it with his right.? And this is exactly what Pacquiao did in stopping Diaz: two quick right jabs set up the picture-perfect, textbook-type left hook that had Pacquiao?s whole 145 pounds behind it and landing square on the jaw of the off-balanced Diaz.
In contrast, Diaz seems to have been biased against the jab which is for long distance fighting compared to the hook which is for medium distance and the uppercut for very short distances. The brawler that he is, Diaz saw little use for the jab and preferred short power punches thrown during close quarter fighting. That spelled his doom against Pacquiao who picked his spots, unleashing four or five shots at a time before moving out of Diaz?s reach and leaning tactics.
Diaz himself confirmed the impact of Pacquiao?s speed so graphically when he was interviewed atop the ring moments after the fight. Totally oblivious to the international audience, Diaz used a four-letter word that starts with the letter ?f? and ends with ?k? (and I?m not referring to the word ?fire truck?), Diaz said, ?His speed was more than what I expected. He was (four letter word) fast.? Fightnews.com would later quote Diaz: ?Did anybody get the number of that truck (in reference to Manny Pacquiao)? Today is the day that we lost. Tomorrow is another day. He?s fast. The speed was the difference in the fight. I have all the respect for him.?
Diaz apparently had hoped to do the same thing that he did in his last few fights before being thoroughly outclassed by Pacquiao. He had hoped to bring in the same stamina, aggression, hooks, crosses and uppercuts in toe-to-toe exchanges with Pacquiao. One is therefore reminded of Argentina?s bull from the Pampas, Oscar Bonavena who, like Diaz, only knew one direction: forward. Diaz?s style also reminds one of the relentless Smokin? Joe Frazier and Fists of Stone, Roberto Duran.
What?s in store for Pacquiao? There?s no shortage of opponents who want to cash in on Pacquiao being such an attractive draw. He can afford to bide his time and campaign in the 135-pound division and even move up to 140 for a fifth title. The important thing is to remain focused and remove all distractions.
