IF Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao and ?The Hitman? Ricky Hatton would meet in the ring next year in a mega-battle, former World Boxing Council lightweight champion ?Dangerous? David Diaz is confident that the Filipino boxing superstar can demolish the British brawler.
Diaz, who visited Cebu City along with knockout artist Edwin Valero last Saturday upon the invitation of Cebuano promoter Rex ?Wakee? Salud, feels that Hatton?s aggressive brawling technique is tailor-made for Pacquiao?s style.
?Pacquiao is very fast; he will catch Hatton. He has the perfect style to get knocked out by Pacquiao. Hatton?s in for a rude awakening,? Diaz said in a press conference hosted by the Cebu City Government at the Parklane Hotel last Saturday.
Diaz, who picked the bigger Oscar De La Hoya to win against Pacquiao in their epic clash last Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, firmly believes the 30-year-old General Santos native will win his future bouts regardless of who they place in front of him.
?I?m picking nobody else but Manny when Manny fights,? told Diaz. ?I would be picking Pacquiao even if he fights Klitschko,? he jokingly added.
Amazed
In Pacquiao?s masterful eighth-round demolition of De La Hoya, Diaz was amazed at how much Pacquiao?s speed has improved since they fought each other last June 28, in which Pacquiao stopped him in the eighth round for the WBC lightweight crown.
?Definitely, speed was a major factor. When I saw him fight De La Hoya he was three to four notches higher than when he fought me. It was just unreal,? said the 32-year-old Chicagoan.
Despite his desire to fight Pacquiao, Diaz has no intention of fighting him because he feels that he has to start all over again at the bottom and that the Filipino hero has bigger fights next year.
?I have nothing to offer Manny. Not right now, I have no plans. I have to regroup because his way of beating me was hard. I would love to fight him again, but he has bigger fish to fry,? disclosed the American-raised Mexican fighter.
Challenge
However, the Venezuelan Valero thinks differently, he still desires to fight Pacquiao, but wants to face The Ring Magazine lightweight titleholder Juan Manuel Marquez first, here in the Philippines.
?Boxing has full of possibilities. I think there will be a possibility that me and Manny will fight. But, honestly, I want a fight between me and Marquez here in the Philippines,? explained the former World Boxing Association super featherweight titlist in his native tongue, which was translated by his trainer Rafael Garcia Jr. to English.
Interim
Valero, who is ranked No.1 in the WBC and No.2 in the WBA, also said that his first step will be to fight No.2 contender Antonio Pitalua for the interim WBC lightweight belt then a series of other big fights that could lead him to Pacquiao.
?Right now, my main intention is to fight for the interim title against Pita-lua, then maybe Diaz, Marquez and then possibly Pacquiao here in the Philippines,? added the 27-year-old knockout artist.
On the other hand, Diaz is still undetermined who he will fight next, but is open to anybody, including a clash with Cebuano pugilist Randy Suico here in the Philippines.
?I?m not a picky person. I don?t care who?s in front of me. Whoever he is, I?ll fight him. I want to fight the best out there,? explained Diaz. ?I?m not saying yes and no. If it?s good for us, then without a doubt I?ll do it. I would love to fight here because I?ve been treated well here,? he added.
But a proposed bout between Diaz and Suico is now unlikely because the latter lost in his Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation lightweight title against Japanese Ichitaro Ishii last Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.
