TODAY will be an added opportunity for Manny Pacquiao and David Diaz to fan more interest to their 12-round fight in Las Vegas.

An international media conference call is scheduled early this morning (Manila time) with scores of media practitioners from different parts of the world expected to participate in the multi-calling dialogue with the protagonists.

The 31-year-old Diaz will stake his World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight crown against Pacquiao, holder of the WBC 130-lb belt, on June 28, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Based on his recent actions, Diaz looked more focused on the fight after he begged off twice from their countrywide promotional tour arranged by promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank Inc. In both instances, only Pacquiao showed up in the scheduled promo in San Francisco and San Diego.

“In a big fight like this, especially against a fighter as popular as Manny, there have been numerous media requests and this week I will be busy with conference calls, interviews and other requests for time. As long as I’m able to train properly, it’s not a problem,” said Diaz in his latest blog entry with the Chicago Sun-Times.

In the same blog Diaz declared his readiness to slug it out with Pacquiao, Asia’s first and only three-division world champion.

“Training has been excellent, I truly feel like I’m peaking at the right time and will be prepared for the best of Manny on June 28. I’ve never had a problem making weight and this will be no different,” Diaz said.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, has been sounding off a future marquee bout with British superstar Ricky Hatton, a rarity for the Filipino champion who has been consistently talking about an upcoming bout without mentioning any plans beyond it.

“After Diaz, I want to fight Ricky Hatton. That will be a good fight,” Pacquiao recently told Ring magazine. “I’m 150 lb right now. My sparring partners are always 140 to 150 lb. It’s not a problem for me. And I’m not getting any younger. So why not?”

The matchup was first revealed by revered American trainer Freddie Roach to the BusinessMirror in December.

Pacquiao last week was proclaimed the new pound-for-pound king by default after the latest ruler Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced his retirement. Pacquiao is expected to cement his claim to the throne should he beat Diaz.

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