BLOODY MASTERPIECE
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 30 Jun 2008
Manny Pacquiao grabbed his second world title belt in a four month span in devastating fashion. The big difference was speed. David Diaz was like an ill-prepared student trying to find answers in his finals exam. The Pacman circled, jabbed and displayed an arsenal of punches.
Circled? Yes, Pacquiao has lateral movement and he is quite good at it. Freddie Roach?s efforts at transforming Pacquiao into an all around fighter was in full bloom. Pacquiao?s speed and power has not diminished. Incredible for a boxer who started his career at 107 lbs. and won his first world title at flyweight almost ten years ago.
Diaz was never known for his speed. But the difference was so obvious, he made Pacquiao look like the second coming of Sugar Ray Leonard. The question at the start of the fight was whether Pacquiao could sustain his blistering pace for the full twelve rounds or whether Diaz can catch up to him when he slowed down in the later rounds.
When Diaz suffered a cut on the right eyelid and a smaller cut on the bridge of the nose in the fourth round it signaled that the end was near. Pacquiao?s lightning bolt left mercifully ended the carnage in the ninth. The punch was so fast it still looked fast in the slow motion replay. Diaz went out before he hit the canvas.
The ex-champ was gallant and gracious in defeat. He still had his sense of humor during the post-fight interview. Pacquiao becomes the first Filipino to win two world titles in two different weights in one year and he may go for another one against Ricky Hatton. Three world titles simultaneously held in a year would be an achievement in the Henry Armstrong category already. Incredible if it can be done, even in today?s era of fractured titles.
Flash Elorde is smiling somewhere up there right now. The world lightweight belt is finally in the hands of a Filipino.
Top photo: Referee Vic Drakulich motions for a ringside doctor after Manny Pacquiao (R) of the Philippines knocked out WBC lightweight champion David Diaz of the U.S. in the ninth round of their title fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 28, 2008. REUTERS/Steve Marcus (UNITED STATES)
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