Contrary to what other pundits think, Top Rank big boss Bob Arum firmly believes that there will be no knockout when WBC super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao challenges WBC lightweight titlist David Diaz in a showdown of champions on June 28 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
“I don’t think David has the power to knock Manny out and I don’t think Manny, fighting a bigger stronger guy with a rock-solid chin, can knock David out,” said Arum in a report by chicagosports.com.
“Each of them wins by overwhelming his opponent. David throws a voluminous amount of punches and he seems to have a tremendous reservoir of energy. In Manny, he’s fighting a guy who never stops throwing punches and is fast as the devil,” added Arum.
In the end, Arum feels the outcome of the match hinges on which of the two great warriors has stronger will to win and carries extra amount of energy in the ring.
“Speed usually wins, [but Pacquiao is] fighting a naturally bigger and stronger kid. That’s a big advantage for David. Manny appears to have more punching power, but that was against lighter weight guys. So, will his power punching be effective against a bigger guy?” said Arum. “It’s going to be a battle of attrition.... The guy who loses the energy first is going to lose the fight.”
Meanwhile, Diaz’s manager Jim Strickland said they’re prepared for whatever Pacquiao brings on the table.
“Manny is a tremendous fighter with fast hands. What we’re training for is if he hits us with a three-punch combination, we’re going to hit him back with a four-punch combination. If he hits us hard, we’re going to hit him harder,” said Strickland.
Although he admitted that his ward needs to be extra cautious, Strickland said that Diaz is more athletic than Pacquiao and that would be an essential element to his victory.
“David has a little better reflexes and coordination. He might be able to adjust to a different style a little better than Manny,” said Strickland. “The problem is that when the bell rings they just want to go out and throw punches. David has to be fighting under control.”
Diaz, for his part, expressed confidence of conquering Pacman. “I will beat Manny at his own game—power for power,” forewarned the Mexican champ.
But Pacquiao won’t let that happen as the General Santos City fighter is hell bent on etching his name in history books.
“This will be my hardest-fought battle—it has been three years since I have changed weight divisions and I will be doing it against the lightweight world champion,” Pacman said. “I am fighting for history—five world titles in five different weight classes—and I am fighting for my people of the Philippines.”