Monday, June 23, 2008 Padilla: World boxing champions Manny Pacquiao and David Diaz are both hungry By Nars Padilla Sportscope
THE quest for added fame and glory for Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Mexican-American David Diaz, both world champions in their own rights is billed at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas this coming Saturday (Sunday, Manila time). By any yardstick, both superstars are hungry to box it out!
Pacquiao, 29, the challenger with a lot of heart, wants to dethrone Diaz, 32, from his prestigious title as the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion.
Pacquiao, who is fighting for the first time in the 135-pound class is seeking for his fifth world title in less than a decade.
Undoubtedly, both ringsters will move heaven and earth to make their dream come true. The Pacman, our ring idol, is the WBC super featherweight champion. Both protagonists claim they are in the finest shape ever before the thunderous rumble, 12 full rounds or less.
Diaz is a certified brawler. He, however, acknowledges the fact that Pacquiao who is a southpaw like him will be difficult to offset. He will be hard to handle because of his punching prowess and hand speed, concededly, the Pinoy's big advantage. "We have devised a battle plan to water down this advantage."
Meanwhile, Freddie Roach, the famed American trainer of Manny said they studied thoroughly the fighting style of Diaz. "We have devised a strategy for counter attack with appropriate combinations for the 'Lethal Combination' fight card against Diaz." We know that both fighters prepared heavily and properly for the Saturday ring bonanza which is of course very much awaited by millions of sports fans and enthusiasts around the world. And I am one of them!
Of course, like our “kababayans" here and abroad, I am rooting and praying in my own little way for Manny's victory. Let's hope and pray too that there will be no major injuries on both boxers.
For prestige, pride and glory for country and people, Diaz will protect his crown with his "heart and soul." In the same vein and fever-pitched spirit Manny will have to prove to all and sundry that he is the better man in the ring.
Practically, all the pros and cons have been said about the reigning WBC lightweight champion and the challenger. Only time will tell! Roach sees Diaz's end in the late rounds. "Manny will wear him out. I don't think there is a fighter in his weight who can take Manny's punches."
Buboy Fernandez, the Pacman's Filipino assistant trainer of Roach added that the Pinoy boxing sensation is stronger than ever! He is rated as the best pound for pound boxer in the international boxing arena today.
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A CAST of 1,000 runners are under klieg lights Sunday morning to mark the 2008 Olympic Day Run. Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose Cojuangco and International Olympic Committee (OIC) member Francisco Elizalde will head the list of runners from the Philippine National Police Training Institute, the Mariners RC, the Dragon Boat Federation and from several National Sports Associations.
I am wondering why there is no such symbolic footrace in this part of the country. I also noted with interest the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) "Women in Sports" edition set in Baguio starting June 25.
Scheduled are boxing and muay on June 26 at the Peoples' Park, wushu at SM Baguio on June 27 while a marathon is on June 29 at Burnham Park.
I asked several coaches and ranking sportsmen about the activities. Sorry to say they do not know anything about it. There is seeming lack of information as well as coordination on this score.
PSC Commissioner Jose Mundo is at the helm of the special event.
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I GOT biiig sports news from my good friend UC Athletic Director Yul Benosa yesterday (Sunday) morning. He said the 2008 National Volleyball Championship sponsored by the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) with president Pete Mendoza at the head of the organizing body will be held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila from June 28 to July 4.
Unfortunately, there will be no team from Baguio in the sportsfest mainly due to financial constraints. Yul will go down to Manila as a key member of the officiating team. Good ah!
He went on to say that July 5 is a red letter day for wushu warrior Eduard Folayang. He is the main event of the Mixed Martial Arts Championships at Mega Mall in Metro Manila.
Two UC URCC champions Roy Docyugen and Kevin Belingon will also see action in the under card. The duo will defend their RP national crowns in their respective division. Good luck to you guys. Bring back the bacon and share it with us.
July 19 is another red, white and blue day for volleyball sports all over the world. Yul said all countries with volleyball associations including the Philippines will join the day's international synchronized games to give essence and meaning to the occasion. In the city, exhibition games will be staged at the UC gym. Yul said the Holy Angel University men and women squads have been invited to match skills against host University of the Cordilleras teams.
I will get the final say on the forthcoming twinbill from Yul when he arrives from Manila.
Meanwhile, the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL) under the leadership of UPB Chancellor Precisillas Macansantos is preparing their games program which will kick off on August 23, at the UC gym. More on this next week.
