Diaz vs Pacquiao a dream match in lightweight division, says Santillan
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 28 Apr 2008
Former Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) welterweight champion Rev ?Gentle Giant? Santillan said the Manny Pacquiao-David Diaz showdown for Diaz?s World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight belt ?is a dream match in the lightweight division.?
?They are saying that Pacquiao will find it hard to deal with a natural lightweight, but I tell you that this fight is a dream match in the lightweight division because both fighters will slug it out in a non-stop action,? Santillan said in Hiligaynon dialect during the recent baptism of his four?month old daughter, Reanne, in Jaro, Iloilo City.
Santillan, who was deposed as OPBF 147-lb king by Motoki Sasaki via 6th round technical knockout (TKO) in Tokyo last February 16, described Diaz as a ?receiver? who will not run away from his Filipino challenger.
Being the receiver does not mean that Diaz will no longer connect with his own bombs, averred Santillan, who started punching mitts as a lightweight during his checkered amateur days in the 90?s.
?This time, one of them will go down,? predicted the 30-year-old Santillan (24-4, 17 KOs), who disclosed a plan to resume his sagging career with a 10-round non-title fight in July in Tokyo against a rated Japanese banger before facing Motaki in a rematch sometime in September this year.
Meanwhile, the 5 feet and 11 inches Santillan said retirement is still far from his mind saying he plans to regain the title from Motaki. He was supposed to face junior middleweight terror Julio Caesar Chavez, Jr. in Queretaro, Mexico last April 27 (Philippine time) but was scrapped from the card after a disastrous defeat to unheralded Motaki.
Chavez, Jr., son of the legendary Chavez, Sr., tortured Italian boxer Tobia Guiseppe Loriga, the man who replaced Santillan in the card, en route to a ninth round TKO to preserve his unbeaten record.
Santillan said despite Chavez?s reputation, he was unfazed with the 21-year-old Mexican?s notoriety.
If he will regain his regional belt vs Motaki, Santillan said he is ready to face Chavez ?bisan medyo taas sia diutay sa akon (even if he is taller than me).?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Traya now in Thailand for 'Battle of Bangkok' on Aug. 30
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 14 Aug 2025Nine National Masters join the Touchmove event
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 14 Aug 2025What's Three Pounds? The Collazo-Vayson Affair (Part II)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 14 Aug 2025Don King Productions Announces October 4th Showdown Featuring No. 1 WBA Heavyweight Contender Michael Hunter Facing World Champion Kubrat Pulev
Thu, 14 Aug 2025Jayson Vayson Ready to Battle Oscar Collazo for WBO/WBA World Titles (Analysis)
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 14 Aug 2025Arab American boxing pride to be on display August 31st in Detroit
Thu, 14 Aug 2025What's Three Pounds? The Collazo-Vayson Affair
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 13 Aug 2025Requinto to fight against an Indian in Davao on Aug. 31
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 13 Aug 2025NU's Yana Emilou De Vera dominates U1700 Asian Amateur Chess Championships in Hongkong
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 13 Aug 2025Llover takes on former world champ this Sunday
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 13 Aug 2025Cebuano Elmo Traya in Action in Brico Santig’s Aug 30 Show on DAZN
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 13 Aug 2025Jacamos is new PH Youth champ
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 13 Aug 2025FECOMBOX Unifies Boxing Commissions, Vows to Enhance Safety and Standards
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 13 Aug 202512-Time World Champion & Hall of Famer James Toney Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
Wed, 13 Aug 2025Maurice H. Goldner: Letting the Filipino Fist Speak for Itself
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 12 Aug 2025