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IF David
Diaz will be his opponent next March, Manny Pacquiao is
expected to encounter big problems. Literally.
For one,
it will be the first time Pacquiao will fight in the
lightweight division, historically a bane of a division
for even the best junior-lightweight champions to come
out of the Philippines.
 The
most notable among them, the renowned Gabriel “Flash”
Elorde Jr., who had two unsuccessful attempts at the
world lightweight crown.
Elorde
was stopped by world lightweight champion Carlos Ortiz
of Puerto Rico, both meetings ending in the 14th round,
this despite Elorde’s legendary seven-year reign as
world junior lightweight king.
Rene
Barrientos, another former world junior lightweight,
said that even though the weight difference is a mere 5
lb, every pound is crucial for boxers.
“There
will be problems, for sure,” Barrientos said,
“especially if [your opponents is] a regular junior
lightweight.”
The
second problem Pacquiao is likely to run into is the use
of 10-ounce gloves.
On
November 18 the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC)
began to require fighters from 135 to 137 lb to use
thicker 10-ounce gloves, a ruling carried out by the
strict NSAC as a way of tightening measures for fighters
within the lightweight to welterweight divisions.
Previously, bouts staged from the welterweight division
(147 lb) and above were the ones required to use the
heavy mitts.
The
issue on gloves may well be considered a significant
matter for Pacquiao, who is used to wearing the lighter
8-ounce gloves for almost the entirety of his eminent
12-year career.
The
right pair of gloves was a concern Pacquiao raised after
he lost to Erik Morales in their first encounter in
March 2005. In that match, Pacquiao claimed he was not
allowed to use his favored gloves Cleto Reyes, a factor
he said contributed to his loss.
Pacquiao’s American promoter at that time, Murad
Muhammad, signed the fight contract that stipulates the
use of Winning gloves, a pair preferred by Morales.
Freddie
Roach insisted that the use of Winning gloves, which he
said are like pillows, favored Morales, as it had more
padding, a factor the American mentor added lessened the
impact of Pacquiao’s punches.
David
Diaz is one of two fighters mentioned by fight promoter
Bob Arum as a possible opponent of Pacquiao for their
March 2008 playdate with giant cable network HBO.
Diaz is
the reigning World Boxing Council lightweight champion
and is promoted by Arum.
Marquez: ‘I’ll destroy Manny’
THE
other fighter being considered to fight Manny Pacquiao
is Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico, the current WBC
super-featherweight champion who drew Pacquiao the last
time they fought.
Marquez,
promoted by Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), is widely
considered as the most logical foe for Pacquiao as he
bravely came back from three first-round knockdowns to
salvage a draw in their only encounter three years ago,
also in Las Vegas.
Yesterday Marquez came out with a statement through
popular boxing web site www.fightnews.com telling
Pacquiao to just face him in a rematch and settle their
unfinished business.
“He’s
coming up with many excuses for not wanting to fight
me,” said an upset Marquez. “First of all, he complains
about the weight class and I compromise to face him as
high as the lightweight division, then he comments that
the money was an issue, and I responded that wasn’t a
problem.”
“I’m
willing to take a pay cut to please the fans. Pacquiao
also commented that he’d rather challenge for the
lightweight title. All this is an indication that he’s
really scared and doesn’t want any part of me. He knows
I’m the only man who can beat him. I’ll destroy him,”
the Mexican added. |
