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Diaz says he saw four Pacquiaos in ring
By Joaquin Henson
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Dethroned WBC lightweight champion David Diaz said the other day Manny Pacquiao must be protected by some kind of amulet because he leads a charmed life.
Diaz told Jeff de Guzman, a Filipino medical technician living in Los Angeles, that during their recent fight in Las Vegas, it seemed like he was up against four Pacquiaos in the ring.
De Guzman said Diaz’ former girlfriend, a Filipina, opened his eyes to Filipino folk heroes protected by amulets or “anting-anting.”
“When Diaz was with his Filipina girlfriend, they watched an old Filipino movie about a folk hero who couldn’t be harmed because of his amulet,” said de Guzman. “Diaz was reminded of the movie when he fought Manny.”
Diaz said whenever Pacquiao hit him, it was like he was being stabbed by a knife.
“I took a lot of shots,” said Diaz. “As the fight went on, I knew my only chance was to score a late knockout. I tried to get close to Pacquiao so I could throw one big punch. But it backfired. He set me up with a right then got me with a left on the chin. I blacked out. When I regained my senses, I was down on the floor. Although I lost, I’m not ashamed of the experience. I lost to a great champion and it was the greatest fight of my life.”
Diaz, 32, said he hopes to visit Manila on sportsman Hermie Esguerra’s invitation, possibly July 18. He plans to bring along his wife Tanya and manager Jim Strickland.
“I spoke to Manny on the phone before he left for Manila and asked if I could visit him,” said Diaz, quoted by de Guzman. “Manny told me he’ll take me around and be my host. I’m bringing a framed photo of me fighting Manny, which I’ll ask him to autograph. I want to display it in my house as a remembrance that I fought the world’s greatest fighter.”
Diaz joked that because of his showing against Pacquiao, he could get a job with the Chicago Cubs baseball team as a catcher. “Yeah, I caught all his punches,” said Diaz good-naturedly.
Diaz said he’d like to personally thank Pacquiao for the opportunity to earn his biggest paycheck – $850,000.
“With the money, I’ll be able to pay for a college plan for my two boys,” he said. “I still have a long way to go to secure the future of my family but Manny got me past the first step.”
Diaz said the cuts he suffered in the fight should be healed by the time he visits Manila. The wound over his right eye was sewn up with six stitches, two inside and four outside. The cut on the bridge of his nose is also on the mend.
“I’m taking two months off before going back to the gym,” said Diaz. “Top Rank wants me to fight again, perhaps early next year.”
De Guzman said a fight between Diaz and Oriental champion Randy Suico of Mandaue would be a box office hit because both are flat-footed heavy hitters who love to slug.
“Diaz is a sincere, down-to-earth guy,” said de Guzman. “I opened up the possibility of doing TV commercials in the Philippines and Diaz never talked money. He just mentioned it would help pay off the mortgage in his house.”
De Guzman said another Pacquiao victim Marco Antonio Barrera is eager to visit Manila , too.
“Barrera is promoting a boxing show in Mexico City on July 19 and is inviting Manny to be his guest,” said de Guzman. “Barrera wants to visit Manila and raise Manny’s arm to signify he’s the real champion. Barrera is thinking of making a comeback against (Juan Manuel) Marquez assuming he beats Joel Casamayor on Sept. 13. Barrera isn’t interested in Casamayor, only Marquez because he thinks he was robbed in their first fight.”
As for Marquez, de Guzman said it was the Mexican’s manager Jaime Quintana who bungled the chance to film a TV commercial here for Tanduay last April.
“Tanduay offered $100,000 for Marquez to do a commercial but Quintana wanted $120,000,” said de Guzman. “Then, Marquez did some trash-talking against Manny on what I suspect were Quintana’s instructions. You don’t bad-mouth a national hero in his home country. Tanduay didn’t like Marquez’ attitude and brought down the offer to $80,000. Things got messy and the deal was off.”
De Guzman said he is proposing for Marquez to make amends by filming a video apologizing to Pacquiao and congratulating him for becoming the first Asian to win four world titles in different divisions.
“Manny wants to help Diaz because he’s a good guy,” said de Guzman. “Manny told me he won’t have a problem working with Diaz in a TV commercial. Diaz is not the typical Mexican fighter. He’s soft-spoken and very humble. Manny likes him. I think Diaz will be a bigger attraction in Manila than Oscar Larios.”
By Joaquin Henson
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Dethroned WBC lightweight champion David Diaz said the other day Manny Pacquiao must be protected by some kind of amulet because he leads a charmed life.
Diaz told Jeff de Guzman, a Filipino medical technician living in Los Angeles, that during their recent fight in Las Vegas, it seemed like he was up against four Pacquiaos in the ring.
De Guzman said Diaz’ former girlfriend, a Filipina, opened his eyes to Filipino folk heroes protected by amulets or “anting-anting.”
“When Diaz was with his Filipina girlfriend, they watched an old Filipino movie about a folk hero who couldn’t be harmed because of his amulet,” said de Guzman. “Diaz was reminded of the movie when he fought Manny.”
Diaz said whenever Pacquiao hit him, it was like he was being stabbed by a knife.
“I took a lot of shots,” said Diaz. “As the fight went on, I knew my only chance was to score a late knockout. I tried to get close to Pacquiao so I could throw one big punch. But it backfired. He set me up with a right then got me with a left on the chin. I blacked out. When I regained my senses, I was down on the floor. Although I lost, I’m not ashamed of the experience. I lost to a great champion and it was the greatest fight of my life.”
Diaz, 32, said he hopes to visit Manila on sportsman Hermie Esguerra’s invitation, possibly July 18. He plans to bring along his wife Tanya and manager Jim Strickland.
“I spoke to Manny on the phone before he left for Manila and asked if I could visit him,” said Diaz, quoted by de Guzman. “Manny told me he’ll take me around and be my host. I’m bringing a framed photo of me fighting Manny, which I’ll ask him to autograph. I want to display it in my house as a remembrance that I fought the world’s greatest fighter.”
Diaz joked that because of his showing against Pacquiao, he could get a job with the Chicago Cubs baseball team as a catcher. “Yeah, I caught all his punches,” said Diaz good-naturedly.
Diaz said he’d like to personally thank Pacquiao for the opportunity to earn his biggest paycheck – $850,000.
“With the money, I’ll be able to pay for a college plan for my two boys,” he said. “I still have a long way to go to secure the future of my family but Manny got me past the first step.”
Diaz said the cuts he suffered in the fight should be healed by the time he visits Manila. The wound over his right eye was sewn up with six stitches, two inside and four outside. The cut on the bridge of his nose is also on the mend.
“I’m taking two months off before going back to the gym,” said Diaz. “Top Rank wants me to fight again, perhaps early next year.”
De Guzman said a fight between Diaz and Oriental champion Randy Suico of Mandaue would be a box office hit because both are flat-footed heavy hitters who love to slug.
“Diaz is a sincere, down-to-earth guy,” said de Guzman. “I opened up the possibility of doing TV commercials in the Philippines and Diaz never talked money. He just mentioned it would help pay off the mortgage in his house.”
De Guzman said another Pacquiao victim Marco Antonio Barrera is eager to visit Manila , too.
“Barrera is promoting a boxing show in Mexico City on July 19 and is inviting Manny to be his guest,” said de Guzman. “Barrera wants to visit Manila and raise Manny’s arm to signify he’s the real champion. Barrera is thinking of making a comeback against (Juan Manuel) Marquez assuming he beats Joel Casamayor on Sept. 13. Barrera isn’t interested in Casamayor, only Marquez because he thinks he was robbed in their first fight.”
As for Marquez, de Guzman said it was the Mexican’s manager Jaime Quintana who bungled the chance to film a TV commercial here for Tanduay last April.
“Tanduay offered $100,000 for Marquez to do a commercial but Quintana wanted $120,000,” said de Guzman. “Then, Marquez did some trash-talking against Manny on what I suspect were Quintana’s instructions. You don’t bad-mouth a national hero in his home country. Tanduay didn’t like Marquez’ attitude and brought down the offer to $80,000. Things got messy and the deal was off.”
De Guzman said he is proposing for Marquez to make amends by filming a video apologizing to Pacquiao and congratulating him for becoming the first Asian to win four world titles in different divisions.
“Manny wants to help Diaz because he’s a good guy,” said de Guzman. “Manny told me he won’t have a problem working with Diaz in a TV commercial. Diaz is not the typical Mexican fighter. He’s soft-spoken and very humble. Manny likes him. I think Diaz will be a bigger attraction in Manila than Oscar Larios.”