DIAZ TRAINING WITHOUT LET-UP
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 16 May 2008
World Boxing Council lightweight champion David Diaz who had a two-week head-start in training for his ?Lethal Combination? showdown with Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is training without letup.
After returning to Chicago at midnight following the Wednesday (Manila Time) press conference, Diaz said he was ?up early this morning to get my running in. Now its off to the gym to work. We?re home now for a while and I?m glad to be back on my regular training schedule.?
Prior to Pacquiao?s arrival in Los Angeles for the press conference formally announcing the title fight, Diaz went on a quick meet-and-greet promotional tour to San Antonio, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona to hype the fight.
There was no word from Team Pacquiao as to whether Pacquiao began training at the Wild Card gym of Freddie Roach although he was expected to begin jogging before resuming workouts at the Wild Card.
Diaz writes a regular diary for the Chicago Sun Times while Pacquiao has a column in the Filipino tabloid Abante which is also carried by philboxing.com. In their most recent accounts on the LA press conference both fighters were polite to each other although both promised a great fight with each one predicting victory.
Even when he arrived in Los Angeles for the news conference, Diaz said that before doing some TV interviews for HBO and Direct TV ?I got my running in at about 7:00 a.m. on the streets of downtown L.A.?
Diaz noted that there was none of the trash-talking and physical confrontations that marked many similar events. He said ?Manny was very respectful towards me when he spoke as I was to him. I think our promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank said it best. ?These are two gentlemen outside of the ring and two warriors in the ring.?
Diaz praised Pacquiao as ?one of the best fighters in the world, but he?s very humble about his accomplishments. I?ve known his trainer Freddie Roach for years and he?s the same way.?
Diaz disclosed that he and Pacquiao will meet up again in Chicago, Diaz? hometown, next week.
Former Channel 4 newscaster and reporter Romy Sajer reported that the Filipino community in Chicago was eagerly awaiting the arrival of Pacquiao and planned to give the boxing idol a rousing welcome.
Prior to their departure for Los Angeles last Monday, Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez said Pacquiao would first get into good shape before beginning some tough sparring sessions in about two weeks.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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