Pacquiao and Diaz Make a Splash in the Windy City
By Joe Harrison
On Wednesday, WBC super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao and WBC lightweight champion David Diaz attended the press conference in Chicago to promote their showdown set for June 28th at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The atmosphere was filled with excitement as Pacquiao and Diaz signed autographs for their fans while other special guests made appearances such as former heavyweight challenger, Fres Oquendo, and the coach for the Chicago Blackhawks, Denis Savard. Eventually, the room went silent as Bob Arum introduced the boxers and their trainers.
“It’s great to be here in Chicago,” said Arum. “It’s really appropriate that we come here to the champion’s hometown. This fight has captured everybody’s imagination because one thing about boxing that’s always important is the fact that fighters represent different ethnic groups.”
“David was member of the U.S. Olympic team, a proud American of Mexican heritage. Mexican fans, American fans, all of Chicago, all of this country will be pulling for him on June 28th. Pacquiao is the biggest icon in his country. He is the most famous athlete ever in the Philippines. There are not just Filipinos in the Philippines, but they are around the world. Every one of those people will be pulling for Manny.”
“It will be a great fight because of the styles of these fighters. David is a determined warrior who you can never count him out of a fight. He refuses to ‘pack it in. He was losing the fight for the championship up against Santa Cruz, but he hung in there and he knocked out Santa Cruz to win the championship. That was a gutty performance. His performance here last Summer against Erik Morales, another gutty performance to pull out a victory.”
“Manny Pacquiao, what can I say. Manny Pacquiao is a Mexican name, he gets ready for action. He has beaten all the Mexican warriors such as Morales, Barrera, and Marquez. Any fighter that we put in front of Manny, he’s taken care of them. He is a professional, a great fighter.”
“On June 28th, in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay, we have a sensational undercard. We have a featherweight championship between SL of California and Mario Santiago of Puerto Rico. We have a heavyweight bout with Monte Barrett, a top heavyweight, will fight the secret weapon from Las Vegas, a guy who’s 6’8, a former basketball player, his name is Tye Fields. The Barrett-Fields fight should be teriffic. Finally, Humberto Soto, one of the top 130-pound fighters, will be fighting Francisco Lorenzo for the top spot in the 130-pound division. It’s a really good good card.”
“Manny’s trainer, Freddie Roach, has established himself as one of the leading trainer’s in the world. Some may remember Freddie when he was one of the top fighters on ESPN. He was a regular Thursday night fighter. Freddie probably fought on ESPN more than any other fighter for that period of time. He always gave a tremendous performance. As a trainer fighters are lucky to have him because he knows the sport of boxing. He has done a tremendous job with Manny Pacquiao.”
Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, was given the opportunity to speak. He started out by thanking Chicago and proceeded to talk about the match-up involving Pacquiao and Diaz.
“A lot of people know that you don’t get an easy fight with David Diaz. He was an Olympian, he is a world champion. Those things don’t happen by accident. We know we’ll have a great fighter in there. Pacquiao is going to be in great shape for this one. We’ll make the necessary adjustments in order to deal with the southpaw style. On that night, we’ll be there, so good luck to Diaz, you might need it.”
The trainer for Diaz, Jim Strickland, took some time to thank his team for assisting him in developing Diaz as one of the world’s top boxers. Then he shared his thoughts on the upcoming battle between Diaz and Pacquiao.
“This is going to be one terrific fight because both guys have the same style. In-your-face style of fighting, not backing up, and trying to hit as hard as they can. They’re not the kind of fighter like a Roy Jones or a (Floyd) Mayweather or some of those great, naturally-gifted boxers. They (Diaz and Pacquiao) can adapt, and change their styles a little bit, but first and foremost, they’ll just be trying to knock the other one out. Manny is a terrific fighter and he may exceed us in numbers of punches thrown. But what we’re training for is if he hits us with a three-punch combo, we’re coming back with a four-punch combo. If he hits us hard, we’re gonna hit him harder. That’s our style and that’s our goal. So I thank Manny, I thank all the people of Chicago, and although they can’t all be in Vegas, you will be watching HBO PPV. Thank you.”
Trying to become the first Asian boxer (and therefore, the first Filipino fighter) to have won four world championships in four different divisions, Pacquiao gave thanks to Top Rank Promotions and God. He also mentioned that he was happy to visit Chicago and that it was his first time in the Windy City. He also showed much respect toward Diaz. “It’s going to be a great fight. He will do his best, and I will do my best. Our styles are similar; we will both come in and come in, and keep on punching. That is our style, so it will be a great fight. I’m very happy to be here in Chicago. It is my first time. I am happy that there are other Filipinos here, and that they recognize me. I promise you that it will be a great fight, and thank you to David Diaz for giving me the opportunity.”
When Diaz was given his chance to speak, he showed that he is both determined and very confident of victory. “I’d like to thank God for blessing me. June 28th is going to be an all out war between Manny and myself. Manny is a straight-forward fighter as I am. The only thing that is going to happen is that I’m going to win the fight. We’re going to bring the belt back to Chicago. Hopefully some of the Fillipino people out there can forgive me for that, but I can’t allow him to beat me. I’ve been in this situation before, it’s not strange territory to me. I’ve been the underdog and I’ve somehow managed to come out with a victory. I don’t see why I can’t do it on June 28th. He’s a human being just like I am. He’s got two arms and I got two arms. We’re just going to go at it, and may the best man win. I believe that man’s going to be me.”