By Jake Donovan

Throughout most of 2007, the hot topic surrounding the lightweight division was not just who was its best fighter, but also its best Diaz. Most offered the same answer to both questions - Juan Diaz. Some argued Juan was the best Diaz, but Casamayor was the division’s leader. Some even pitched an outside case for Julio Diaz.

Very few took up the cause for David Diaz (33-1-1, 17KO), often regarded as the least threatening among the three lightweight Diaz titlists. Slowly but surely, the same critics who dismissed David’s ability to shine in a talent-rich lightweight division would be forced to eat their words.

It began in August, when Diaz overcame a 1st round knockdown to bravely turn back the challenge of faded future Hall of Famer Erik Morales in one of the year’s best fights. Two months later, removed from the fold was Julio Diaz, who took an eight round beating at the hands of Juan Diaz before electing to remain on his stool at the start of the ninth.

Four weeks later, Joel Casamayor showed the full effects of his advanced age and 13 months on the sidelines, escaping by the skin of his teeth with a highly controversial split decision over Jose Armando Santa Cruz, the same cat David knocked out a year prior.

Just when the boxing world was ready to embrace Juan Diaz as its lightweight savior, Nate Campbell reshuffled the deck with a turn-back-the-clock performance, scoring a major upset last weekend in Mexico.

Suddenly, David was the last Diaz standing.

Of course, all of that can change this weekend, when he faces Ramon Montano (14-3, 0KO) in the televised opener to the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez rematch on pay-per-view (Saturday, HBO PPV 9PM ET/6PM PT). David is well aware that anything short of a spectacular performance can result in a lightweight Dia de no Diaz.

“Saturday will be my time to shine, and I’m up for the fight,” said David, who knows better than to take Montano lightly. “From what I’ve studied of him. Montano is a tough fighter, especially on the inside. He’s a busy fighter; so am I. Our styles should result in a very entertaining fight.”

The fight also represents an audition of sorts. David Diaz’ name has often surfaced as a future opponent of choice for Manny Pacquiao. It goes without saying that the intention for Top Rank, Inc., promoter to both fighters, is to showcase Diaz on a Pacquiao card with the hopes that both emerge victorious, thus building momentum toward a potential summer showdown.

Naturally, a win is first and foremost, but Diaz is well aware of what’s at stake, and that the future is dependent upon far more than just registering career win number 34.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m prepared to go 12 hard rounds with Montano,” insists Diaz. “But at the same time, a lot of eyes will be on this PPV telecast. It doesn’t bother me; if anything, it adds motivation.

“I want to show everyone what I have to offer. I’m 100% focused on Montano, and am not worrying about a future fight with Pacquiao. But I know I have to win; I plan to do so while entertaining the crowd.”

Pleasing the viewing public shouldn’t be an issue to Diaz, whose fights are often met with standing ovations. That’s when the public stands up and takes notice, which has only been the case in recent years.

Diaz hasn’t enjoyed the success that often comes with fighters boasting Olympic pedigrees. A member of the 1996 US Olympic squad, it took nearly ten years for Diaz’ career to get going. By then, Zab Judah, the man David twice defeated to earn a spot on the Olympic roster, had already won and lost titles in two weight classes. Teammates Fernando Vargas and David Reid also saw titles reigns come and go and their careers flash before their very eyes, while Floyd Mayweather Jr. emerged as – and still remains – the best fighter in the world.

Even his success with met with roadblocks. His introduction to the lightweight picture required overcoming a massive deficit on the scorecards to rally back and knockout Santa Cruz in the summer of 2006. A year would go by before Diaz could land a fight, and it took for Erik Morales to prolong his retirement in order to make that happen.

Seven months will have passed by between fights by the time Diaz enters the ring this weekend. No stranger to inactivity, the Chicago-based southpaw found ways to keep himself entertained. Backed by local publicity whiz Bernie Bahrmasel, Diaz was introduced to every major franchise in Windy City, even reaching audiences the sport had previously never considered exploring – hockey.

“It was something else,” said Diaz of his unofficial tryout with the NHL franchise Chicago Black Hawks. “Here I am, a boxer, attempting to shoot a hockey puck through a small hole. Hockey crowds aren’t like boxing crowds – they don’t respect the effort, just the achievement. I missed on my first two tries, which came with loud boos from the crowd. But I was able to win them over after connecting on my third try.”

Despite the foreign environment, Diaz still felt at home, and hoped that his actions could jump start a brand new trend.

“Without question, the sport should branch out to other markets, rather than trying to find new fans in the same old places. The only way for boxing to grow is to expand its horizons.

“One thing about hockey fans, they can relate to boxing. A lot of fans get more excited about the fights that break out during games than the game itself. So why not interact in their world, let them know that we’re around so they can see what we have to offer?”

What Diaz has to offer is plenty of will, and a desire to emerge from the rest of the lightweight pack, as well as fending off the potential invasion of junior lightweights on the move.

“There are plenty of lightweights that I can see myself creating plenty of explosiveness. But if the Pacquiao’s and Marquez’ want to move up, I don’t mind the extra company. I don’t have any opponent preference, nor do I choose my fights. I ask my promoter to line up the best possible fight, and then I show up and do my job as expected.”

All Diaz asks is that more fights are lined up.

“I’m glad to fight this early in the year, it increases my chances of fighting more than once this year. I’m hoping for three fights this year. A total unification against newly crowned Nate Campbell would be nice. So would a Pacquiao fight. But like I said, I just show up and fight whoever’s in the other corner. On Saturday, that will be Ramon Montano.

“Whatever else happens, I have to win this weekend.”

It’s the only way for David to remain the last Diaz standing.

(For more on David Diaz, feel free to visit his website, at http://www.DiazBoxing.com)

Jake Donovan is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Tennessee Boxing Advisory Board. Comments/questions can be submitted to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.