IN terms of dissecting the style of Manny Pacquiao, no one will probably dare question the analysis of former world lightweight champion David Diaz. This is, of course, considering the difficulties Diaz went through when the American staked and lost his World Boxing Council crown to Pacquiao when they squared off two years ago in Las Vegas.
In an interview with the Manila Standard from his home in Chicago, Diaz said Pacquiao’s speed and seemingly improving power will pose huge problems for the physically bigger Margarito.
“If he tries to go with that Mexican bravado and go for broke, I think he will be surprised by Manny’s speed and power, like what I experienced,” said Diaz. “Margarito will go in there and try to knock Manny out, but Manny will get the better of him eventually.”
Diaz, however, has one advise for Margarito.
“I think Margarito needs to do a boring fight of not going after Manny. Just use his reach and hit him with the jab and keep Manny on the outside,” disclosed Diaz.
Diaz said being conscious in defense, like what the defense-conscious Joshua Clottey did last March, may open up Pacquiao to few but hurtful blows.
In that Clottey fight, Diaz noticed that the Ghanaian was able to expose Pacquiao as a bit reckless with his defense, while on the attack.
“Clottey forced Manny to move in, but what Clottey failed to do was hit back,” said Diaz.
Diaz, however, doubts if Margarito would settle to becoming a boring, defensive fighter considering what is at stake for the Mexican’s beleaguered career.
“Anybody and everybody who knows Margarito knows he’s not going to fight that way. But that’s the only way I see he’s going to win,” added Diaz.
Meantime, Pacquiao and Margarito held their final press conference yesterday at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, site of their 12-round battle for the vacant World Boxing Council super welterweight crown.
The conference turned out to be a chance for promoter Bob Arum to lambaste State commissions of Nevada and California that both denied Margarito a boxing license.
“We did not think they would convict this man because of innuendo and suspicion but for 18 months this man has gone through hell and on Saturday night, he will come up with the fight of his life,” said Arum.
Margarito was suspended indefinitely after specks of cement-like powder were discovered in his hand-wraps moments before his fight with American Shane Mosley last January 2009 in Los Angeles.
Dennis Principe, Manila Standard Today
