DIAZ TELLS PACQUIAO: 'I ACCEPT YOUR CHALLENGE'
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 21 Jul 2006
Following what he construed as a direct challenge from superstar Manny Pacquiao, World Boxing Association lightweight champ Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz made no bones about his desire to take on the Filipino pound for pound great after the latter was quoted as saying he could easily beat Diaz.
Diaz had beaten Filipino Randy Suico last Sunday via a ninth-round technical knockout underneath the Shane Mosley-Fernando Vargas tiff to retain his WBA lightweight crown at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.
Moments after the win, Pacquiao was quoted as saying he knows the way to beat Diaz.
"Bring it on. I accept your challenge. Now let's see what happens," Diaz told Pacquiao in his public challenge over at popular boxing website Boxingtalk.
Asked on a possible pay-per-view showdown with Pacquiao, the undefeated Diaz said: "I think it would be great and my manager told me that he wants to fight me now that I beat his (Pacquiao) countryman."
Diaz has recently been calling out linear lightweight king Diego Corrales for a much-awaited showdown, but following Pacquiao's pronouncements, he has been forced to take a look at the Filipino icon.
Pacquiao is himself gearing up for a November 18 rubbermatch with Erik Morales in Las Vegas, so if a fight with Diaz was to materialize, it could happen sometime early or middle next year.
WBC super-featherweight champ Marco Antonio Barrera is also trying to lure Pacquiao to a rematch following his eleventh-round shaming at the hands of the Filipino icon.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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