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WORLD
lightweight champion David Diaz is just
waiting for Manny Pacquiao to sign the dotted line.
In an
interview with dzSR’s Sports Chat Wednesday, Diaz
said he agreed to everything that were stipulated on the
contracts for his fight against Pacquiao tentatively set
on June 28 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“On my
part it is. I’m just waiting for Manny to sign the
contract,” said Diaz.
 Pacquiao’s
lawyer Jeng Gacal told the BusinessMirror he hopes to
travel to the US and check on the contract before April
15. “If the [fight] is consummated, Manny will fly to
the US immediately,” said Gacal.
The
31-year-old Diaz (34-1-1, 17 knockouts) will stake his
World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight crown which he
successfully defended once against Mexican icon Erik
Morales. He won the interim crown by stopping highly
favored Jose Armando Sta. Cruz in the 10th round in
August 2006, then cemented his claim to the regular
title by beating Morales.
“I’ve
been basically running and doing some shadow boxing and
push-ups, but there’s nothing heavy like hitting the
bag. I just stay in the gym, talking with the guys and
loosening up,” said Diaz.
A
southpaw like Pacquiao, Diaz knows that if the beats
Pacquiao, he will almost certainly get the respect he
has been longing for.
A
Mexican-American now based in Chicago, Diaz told the
radio program he has agreed for a lesser purse than
Pacquiao’s despite him being the defending champion. He
is set to make $900,000 for the 12-round encounter with
Pacquiao, who, on the other hand, will definitely
command more than $1 million.
“I
understand that he is the big draw every time he goes to
Las Vegas, people come and see him,” said Diaz “I know I
am not that much of a draw. I understand the sport and I
understand the business end of it.”
As to
what experts are saying about Pacquiao knocking him out,
Diaz said he will just do his stuff inside the ring.
“Everybody has their own opinion but from my standpoint,
I also have two hands and I know how to throw them as
well because I’ve been in this sport for a long time,”
said Diaz. “I give myself a very good chance. Others are
saying I’m tailor-made for Manny Pacquiao but I believe,
too, that he is tailor-made for myself. Nobody will go
home disappointed after watching this fight.”
Pacquiao
won the WBC super-featherweight belt via a razor-thin
split verdict over another Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez
last month in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In May
2004, Marquez, in defending his World Boxing Association
and International Boxing Federation featherweight belts,
settled for a split draw against Pacquiao.
Marquez
flew into town last weekend to watch the “Invasion”
boxing card top where Filipino world bantamweight
champion Gerry Peñalosa defended his crown against Thai
Ratanachai Sor Vorapin via an eighth-round TKO at the
Araneta Coliseum.
“I think
the guy is desperately looking for the rematch because
he lost his title and I can comprehend on one hand, but
on the other, I mean, for him to do that really doesn’t
bother me,” said Diaz “At first, watching it there, it
looked like a close fight. But when I watched the tape,
Manny won. Honestly, Manny won that fight.”
Marquez
also took advantage of the trip by personally
challenging Pacquiao to a third face-off.
“I want
Manny, not money. He is fighting for his people, I am
fighting for my people. Let’s not make this an issue
about money. Let’s prove who is the better fighter,”
said Marquez in an interview with the BusinessMirror on
Tuesday.
After
their rematch, Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) executive
Richard Schaeffer offered Pacquiao $6 million for the
third brawl but Arum said Pacquiao deserves $8 million
to 10 million.
Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said the Filipino icon
earned $5.5 million. But a source from the Nevada State
Athletic Commission told the BusinessMirror that
Pacquiao got $3 million for the Marquez bout based on
the contract submitted to the agency. |
