Monday, April 28, 2008
David Diaz believes his coming showdown with Manny Pacquiao is the fight of his life.
It's bigger than when he won the World Boxing Council lightweight crown and bigger than when he bested Mexican legend Erik Morales.
"This is the kind of fight people will talk about long after you're done and gone," Diaz told Ron Borges of TheSweetScience.com. "This is the biggest fight of my life. Bigger than when I won the title. Even bigger than beating a legend like Morales."
Diaz (34-1-1, 17 KO) said this is because Pacquiao, the Filipino WBC super featherweight titlist, is in his prime.
"He's a guy who's been beating up people in different weight classes. Now I have a title he wants and he's trying to put me on the mat. It's one of those fights where you got to prove yourself to yourself," added Diaz, who has opened his training camp in Chicago for his showdown with Pacquiao on June 28 in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao is still in Gen. Santos City, getting back into shape by running in the morning and playing basketball in the afternoon.
Initially bent on touring Olympic venues in Beijing upon the invitation of the Chinese government, Pacquiao had a change of heart.
Saying he needs to fulfill numerous commitments at home, Pacquiao intends to leave for Los Angeles only on May 10 for full-blast training at Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym.
Pacquiao said seven weeks of intense preparation would be enough for him to reach peak form.
Diaz admitted that he wants to fight Pacquiao because it will also give him the biggest purse of his career.
"I'm finally getting paid what champions get paid," said Diaz. “This is a fight where I can set up my kids for college. It's about making their life better but win this one and next fight maybe I can set up David Diaz."
Diaz also rebuffed skeptics who think he doesn't stand a chance against Pacquiao after a so-so performance against Ramon Montano in the under card of the Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez rematch won by the Filipino.
