DIAZ AGAINST PROMOTIONAL TOURS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 23 May 2008
World Boxing Council lightweight champion David Diaz is against the promotional tours that he and Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao have to go through but concedes that they are necessary.
Diaz made the comment to Viva Sports correspondent Romy Sajer where he and Pacquiao met with the media and then staged a well-attended Pep Rally at the Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago.
Diaz said ? I don?t like this. I mean I could train all day, it will be better for me. But we have to do this because we want the people to see the fight. We?ve got to do it.
Diaz had previously done solo ?meet and greet? tour stops in San Antonio, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona after Pacquiao delayed his departure for the U.S.
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach said that the series of press conferences and promotional tours will not be a factor in Pacquiao?s training and performance. At the same time Roach said ?it was never planned for Manny to train in Chicago? although that was what Rex ?Wakee? Salud had indicated pointing out that the flight to Chicago aboard a private jet hired by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum would cut into Pacquiao?s training schedule.
Roach disclosed that besides focusing on speed, power and stamina, Pacquiao?s training was also concentrating on footwork since both he and Diaz are southpaws.
Roach said that most of Pacquiao?s sparring partners are southpaws but indications are former world featherweight champion Freddie Norwood may have to beg off after suffering a seventh round knockout at the hands of Johnnie Edwards in Jacksonville, North Carolina the same day Pacquiao was in Chicago.
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