Sunday, June 30, 2008 (Philippines)

Manny Pacquiao grabs the hand of David Diaz following their WBC lightweight championship boxing match in Las Vegas. Pacquiao won by knockout in the ninth round. (AP photo) BY THE time David Diaz hit the mat, he had taken 325 more punches than he had managed to throw. And as Diaz fell, Manny Pacquiao became the first Asian boxer to win major titles in four weights, stopping the slower boxer in the ninth round of their WBC lightweight bout yesterday. After starting his career 13 years ago as a flyweight, Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs) has evolved into a dominant fighter in five divisions. His lightweight debut was every bit as action-packed as his long history of brawls at lower weights—and like most of his opponents, Diaz (34-2-1) couldn’t match Pac-Man’s ferocious pace. [full story]