CHICAGO - Former world lightweight champion David Diaz has become a firm believer in Manny Pacquiao ever since the Filipino ring icon took away his 135-lb belt via a ninth-round TKO last year.And now that “Pac Man" is proceeding with his plans to conquer the heavier weights, particularly the welterweight division in his upcoming “Firepower" duel with tough Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, Diaz sees yet another Pacquiao triumph.
“Manny is beating the best of the best," Diaz said during a recent press conference in Chicago, admiring how Pacquiao dismantled two marquee rivals after him, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. "He’s doing unbelievable things, He is awesome. My hat’s off to him, a great fighter, a great person."
David Diaz, left, with Jesus Chavez during a recent press conference for their Sept. 26 duel at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago. – Joseph G. Lariosa
But the 33-year-old Diaz said it won’t be totally a walk-in-the-park for the 30-year-old Pacquiao given Cotto’s “patience."
“(In the end,) Manny will outbox him (Cotto) and beat him in the later rounds. (There’s going be) no KOs (though)," he predicted.
Diaz is making a comeback after a year off following his loss to Pacquiao. On Sept. 26, Diaz is battling two-time world champion Jesus “El matador" Chavez of Mexico in the “Warriors Collide/Windy City Fight Night 6" card set at the UIC Pavilion in his native Chicago.
While Diaz (34-2-1) can predict the outcome of the Pacquiao-Cotto showdown, he declined to make a projection on his duel with Chavez (44-5-0), who previously held the WBC super featherweight and IBF lightweight belts
No comments:
Post a Comment