DIAZ, VALERO SET TO LEAVE WITH FOND MEMORIES
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 22 Dec 2008
Former World Boxing Council lightweight champion David Diaz and WBA super featherweight champion Edwin Valero were scheduled to leave Manila Sunday night after a whirlwind tour of the country and fond memories of the welcome they received.
After being among the guests at Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao?s lavish 30th birthday bash as his personal guest, Diaz and Valero paid a courtesy call on PLDT-Smart owner Manny Pangilinan in Makati last Friday and then took a quick trip to Cebu before returning to Manila to attend the PBA games hours before their flight home.
Diaz told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports ?I had a great, great time. Its been a humbling experience. I never imagined how they would treat me here.?
In a tribute to Pacquiao, the man who was demolished in nine rounds and lost his title to Pacquiao said ? I know why the people love Manny . Its because he?s done a lot of great things for them. You take your hat off to a guy like that. And the people here are all so warm. I get treated better here than back in Chicago. I?m a rock star. It's beautiful.?
Diaz said he will hopefully fight again in March but his proposed fight against Randy Suico would probably be scuttled since Suico lost his OPBF lightweight title on Saturday in Japan.
Diaz said he had ?actually started working out two weeks before Manny called. the day after the (De La Hoya) fight me and invited me. I took a little time off to come out here and experience this.?
He praised Pacquiao for his performance against De La Hoya whom Diaz had picked to win, saying ?once I started seeing the fight after the second round I?m like forget it. Manny?s got this one in the bag. Wow. His speed was unbelievable.?
Diaz was amazed at Pacquiao?s humility recalling that when he spoke to Pacquiao he said ?you are not human, what are you? He started laughing. You beat Oscar down . He says no, no I got lucky and I replied, lucky is when you go to the casino. He won every round.?
He said he was shocked when Pacquiao invited him to his birthday celebration and asked him ? Are you sure man. He said yes, come on over.? Valero who is set to fight Antonio Pitalua in a title eliminator possibly in March said simply ?Thank you Philippines? even as he noticed that ?.the Filipinos are really enjoying themselves right now because they have a pound for pound Manny Pacquiao, who is the world champion and really great.?
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