Many sports writers abroad are predicting a Manny Pacquiao win, with bettors seemingly echoing their sentiments (or is it the other way around?). As of this writing, the Pacman from
Manila is a 4-1 favorite over David Diaz. However, experts are quick to point out that this won't be a slam dunk for Manny as Diaz is a scrappy and sturdy fighter who is capable of pulling off a win if Pacquiao isn't in his best form. Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports writes, "Manny is the more gifted fighter, but there are credible rumors he hasn’t trained particularly hard for the bout. Plus, he’s moving up to 135 for the first time, where he’ll lose some of the speed that made him special. He should win the fight, but if he’s at anything but his best, he’ll run into problems." (See also Manny Pacquiao vs David Diaz: Southpaw Showdown & Pacquiao Diaz fight: Another Blockbuster)
I share Mr. Iole's observations. Don't get me wrong, I am rooting for Manny Pacquiao as always. However, Kevin Iole has raised valid points that should not be disregarded. And I hope Manny and his camp knows this as well.
Update: I have also noticed something quite significant in the run up to their Las Vegas fight. Though the bout is headlined as "Lethal Combination", the exchange of comments between the two fighters have remained far from lethal up to this point. In almost all of their interviews (at least the ones I've seen), Manny Pacquiao and David Diaz have each stressed their determination to win the upcoming slugfest but have stopped short of trading barbs, unlike in previous fights. This is a good sign. While some may read this as a lack of intensity between the two, I think this aptly demonstrates Pacquiao's respect for David Diaz, and vice versa. Boxing is a fight inside the ring and not a slugfest in the media, they seem to imply.
Sunday's match-up will be another big fight for Manny, out to establish a record as Asia's first boxer to win four world titles in four different weight divisions. And more than training and skills, we know that this fight will be about heart as well. Manny Pacquiao has a big fighting heart. The world has witnessed this in all of his previous fights, and I'm sure we'll see it again on Sunday when he beats David Diaz.
Note: This is an updated version of a post I made earlier this week. Hope to update it more as the big fight nears.
This is turning out to be a big battle not only between Manny Pacquiao and David Diaz but also between bloggers trying to outdo each other in SEO. He he. Good luck to all of us!
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