By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Sampson Lewkowicz, the respected international matchmaker who convinced promoter Murad Muhammad to sign up Manny Pacquiao when nobody gave him a second look, predicts that Pacquiao will knock out WBC lightweight champion David Diaz should they clash in a title fight in either June or July this year.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Lewkowiczwho had predicted that if the Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez rematch went the distance it would be close.
Lewkowicz said that “with my knowledge in the next fight against David Diaz he (Pacquiao) will knock out Diaz” He said Pacquiao will then have to make a decision on whether to retain the lightweight title or keep the WBC super featherweight crown because he cannot have both of them.He has to give up one or the other.” Meantime, the manager of WBO bantamweight champion Billy Keane told Viva Sports/Manila Standard that there’s no need for Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao to fight Juan Manuel Marquez once again because he has nothing to prove.
Keane said the smart thing to do would be for Pacquiao to take on Britain’s Ricky “Hitman” Hatton in a big money fight and then consider a clash with Oscar De La Hoya at 147 pounds.
Keane said he believes Pacquiao may not have an easy time against Diaz but can beat him as well as Hatton and that although De La Hoya is much bigger than Pacquiao he doesn’t hit that hard and Pacquiao could give him problems especially if the Golden Boy” has to reduce to make the 147 pound limit.
Keane also appealed to Filipino boxing fans to show up at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday morning and support Penalosa who he said is one of the greatest Filipino fighters of all-time and someone who deserves their support because of what he had given to the sport and the honor he has brought to the Philippines.
