Tuesday, November 27, 2007 Diaz match, yes, but Pacquiao fights heavier
FILIPINO boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is bent on fighting WBC lightweight champion David Diaz for his March 15, 2008 fight in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao’s business partner and ring adviser Rex “Wakee” Salud revealed that the 28-year-old super featherweight superstar is more inclined to fight Diaz than having a rematch with the WBC 130-lb. champion Juan Manuel Marquez.
Salud accompanied Pacquiao in the US where they were set to meet Top Rank chairman Bob Arum in Las Vegas.
To fight Diaz, however, means Pacquiao moving up to the 135-lb. division, in which no Filipino fighter had conquered before.
The great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde twice failed to conquer the world title when he lost by knockout to Carlos Ortiz (Nov. 28, 1966) in the 14th round for the WBA 135-lb. title in Madison Square Garden in New York.
But Pacquiao is another case as everybody in his division or within the range of his division are dying to fight for recognition and bigger prize money.
Besides, Pacquiao has already proven himself when he started fighting as a light flyweight, then winning the flyweight belt, turning to the super bantamweight division, where he became an attraction.
Aside from attending to his next fight, Pacquiao is also scheduled to shoot in his first Nike commercial together with the other sports stars. (RCM)
