Diaz bares fight night strategy for Pacquiao vs. Diaz Lethal Combination

By Nick Giongco
Eleven days before his date with destiny, David Diaz provided fight fans a peek into the style that he will bring to the ring on June 28 against Filipino fireball Manny Pacquiao.

"I am not afraid of Manny Pacquiao. There is no fear in my heart," Diaz said during a teleconference call in a lull in his training at the JABB Gym in Chicago. "He (Pacquiao) stops once in a while from going forward and when he’s resting that’s when we can attack."

Still, Diaz is not going to wait for a mistake in Pacquiao’s approach so he can dish out his own brand of firepower.

"I don’t concern myself with what other people do. I just have to care of what I’m supposed to do," said Diaz, who will be making the second defense of the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight crown at Mandalay Bay.

Aware that he is the heavy underdog, Diaz shrugged it off, saying "the Lord gave me two hands as well, so we’re going to be in the middle ring fighting each other."

"We have to keep thinking positive, that we will come out with the victory in this fight. I believe we will be faster and stronger than Pacquiao. Our mentality is always the same: Moving forward and never giving up."

Fame and fortune and the allure of the good things in life for him and his family are reasons why Diaz has gone all-out in his preparation for Pacquiao, widely regarded today as the best fighter in the world regardless of weight.

Diaz’s biggest paycheck so far was $ 350,000 when he faced and beat Erik Morales in August last year.

Against Pacquiao, he is guaranteed 0,000 although that amount pales in comparison with what Pacquiao is getting. Published reports say Top Rank is paying Pacquiao $ 3 million plus a share in the pay-per-view revenue and the boxer is also cashing in the sale of the broadcast rights that Solar Sports bought.

"I enjoy being champion, but I don’t have the money that should come along with it yet. I still drive a ‘91 Honda with no air conditioning, so hopefully after this victory I can afford something better!"

Jim Strickland, who is Diaz’s trainer, manager and cutman, told a local radio program yesterday that the 32-year-old Mexican-American "can compete and beat any fighter."

"David has the same amount of confidence," Strickland said, noting that Diaz has lots in common with former undisputed world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. Strickland many times worked the corner of Holyfield.

Pacquiao enters the ring armed with a 46-3-2 win-loss-draw record with 34 knockouts, while Diaz totes a 34-1-1 card with 17 knockouts.

The 29-year-old Pacquiao is making his debut at 135 lbs after terrorizing the super-feather (130 lbs) division and winning world titles as well in the fly (112 lbs) and super-bantam (122 lbs) ranks.

Pacquiao is also scheduled to have his own teleconference call Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) with trainer Freddie Roach and Arum joining him.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao and Diaz will be welcomed in Las Vegas formally on Tuesday (June 24) although both boxers will set foot in Sin City the night before. After the arrival rites, Pacquiao and Diaz will hold separate media workouts inside the Mandalay Bay.

On Wednesday, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum will host a luncheon press conference, while the official weigh-in will be held Friday.