LETHAL COMBINATION - PART II:
DDD’s BUBBLE BUSTED;
PACMAN IN RUNAWAY TRIUMPH
Doods A. Amora, PEE
June 30,2008
Some 24 hours ago, the phenom in a Filipino Fireball named Manny Pacquiao rendezvoused with history in an amazing fashion.
In a spectacle beamed to millions around the world, Pacquiao found his fourth world title – in the process annexing one more championship belt spread within the range of seven weight divisions. Stuffing fresh five pounds of additional firepower in his frame, Pacquiao in a masterpiece performance encapsulated the WBC 135-pound title belt (Sunday morning, Philippine Time), stopping and dethroning the erstwhile champion at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Truly indeed, the fight saw both gladiators living up to their billings as ‘never-say-die’ brawlers. Both parties were industrious and relentless. And as work-rates constantly pumping into aggressive collisions, awesome blasts were heard in every tick of the fight - but alas, in a lopsided one!
Pacquiao did it with his revived signatures: blinding speed and power! At last, the world has witnessed the successful showcase of the long-overdue ‘Marco Bolo’ now performed to perfection inside the ring through countless gym rehearsals. And as envisioned, his opponent's chin did not last long. TKO in the ninth round! Referee Drakulich did not bother to count - as there will be no debate about it!
Pacquiao ended the carnage in the ninth round with a short - but devastating left that caught the durable champion on the chin sending him to the canvas in a loud thud, face down – ‘like sugarcane mowed down by an oversized sword’.
THE DANGEROUS DAVID DIAZ
The vanquished…? DDD – the “Dangerous David Diaz”!
DDD (now 34-2-1, 17 KO’s), in the aftermath of the bloody bout saw himself in deep cuts below his right eyebrow, his bridge of the nose oozing with coagulating fluids, eyes blackened & half-closed, lips swollen, in an entire facade of tormentous anguish.
Gracious however in defeat, the good-natured Diaz said: "Manny’s punches are just too fast. It was all his speed. He boxed much more than I thought he would."
"The cut didn't bother me," Diaz added. "But I thought he seemed to have a knife. It's like he was hitting me with a blade. What can I say? I lost today, I'll win tomorrow. To go like that with a guy like Manny Pacquiao, I think I'm doing pretty good."
Diaz had called the Sunday morning’s fight the biggest in his career. At $ 850,000, he was to receive the biggest paycheck so far in his lifetime. And winning this one would have been a big one. It would send him to the dreamland of the mega-bucked paradise. To David, Manny is his stepping stone, yet the Pacman could also be his stumbling block. A loss would be: quo vadis…, tu hombre?
But why not..? Ballooning with 29 pounds more cargo towards north, Pacquiao (now 47-3-2, 36 KO’s) started his pro career very light at 106 lbs as a lowly flyweight. On the other hand, Diaz launched his line of business heavy at light-welterweight and went south to lightweight where he found his championship.
Like Ortiz against Elorde, that supposedly meant he would be able to take Manny’s punches.
David’s an inside fighter – we all knew it.
His style is to crowd his opponent and the fight plan as I assumed, would be to rough up & bulldoze Pacman to the ropes and gain mental & physical advantage. Because he is physically bigger, I would like to think, ‘never mind two or three blows from the Pacman but a single blow of his own would be enough for Pacman to think twice’. Comes the ending rounds, as Pacman begins to lose steam…, that would be it – and it should be David’s sweet time! But alas … sorry, it did not come…
Truth to tell, my circle of friends after three rounds watching the fight, joked about that David Diaz must have planned as his defense to block Manny’s fists with his own face. It turned out that David himself did really make such a joke. In an internet article today, it says about David’s ‘strategy’ in combating Manny’s best weapon: “I think the best thing I can do is to meet his left hand with my face”, David as quoted. Of course it was a joke, but the ‘strategy’ was only half anticipated – because not only the left hands were coming in but also the blinding rights that made his swelling left cheek purple.
But then again, why not...? He had been successful before with title contender, Armando Sta. Cruz when far behind on points, he stopped Sta. Cruz in the ending rounds? It made him the Champion, wasn’t it? With Erik Morales, wasn’t his heart & industriousness in a full 12 round span did it? Stamina and work rate - aren’t they his best trademarks?
But then, with the Pacman as opponent, the 'bubble of durability' in David Diaz quickly burst right there & then at the very opening round!
THE FLAWLESS EXECUTION
Trainer Freddie Roach was noticeably pleased of the outcome. "He boxed better than he ever has. It was beautiful! We told him not to stand and trade in front of this guy, because David’s too dangerous”.
“We knew David Diaz was a strong guy. If we landed the combinations with Manny’s speed we knew we would out-speed him, but if we stood there and traded with him we would give him a chance to win the fight. The thing was not to step straight back but to step off to the side and then to turn him into another combination. And, it worked. We worked really hard in the gym and I am so proud of Manny’s right hand tonight. Diaz was looking for the left hand and the right hand was there all night long.”
Roach’s game plan worked perfectly as Pacquiao landed somewhat a one-sided ratio of 2.6 punches to 1. CompuBox statistics show Pacquiao's 230 stingers landing its mark out of 788 punches thrown, 180 of which were power punches. On the other hand, the confused Diaz only landed a dismal 90 out of only 463 throws. This translates into Pacman hitting Diaz 8.77 blows per minute in contrast to David’s 3.43 punches per minute.
Compare that to Pacman-Marquez II, in full 12 rounds, Pacman threw 619 blows while Marquez at 511. Pacman connected 157 punches (4.36 per minute) while Marquez at 172 (4.78 per minute). From the looks of it, "The Unfinished Business" was totally a different texture of a fight!
This time with Diaz, the Pacman circled around, jabbed and displayed an incredible arsenal of punches – a new manifestation of his being a complete fighter.
Unscathed, the Pacman hopped in and dished out three- and four-punch lethal combinations at a time, before quickly stepping out to recycle a recurring hurricane. Now a two-fisted warrior, Manny dominated Diaz with his right hand - throwing accurate & blinding jabs at will, the uppercuts, and the counter right hooks that couldn’t seem to miss its target in the whole 8-¾ round episode. After a few rounds, it then became clear that David Diaz was the perfect fighter for Manny to test the waters in his lightweight debut. As the fight progressed, Diaz launched punches with increasing frustration - frequently missing his eely opponent.
In his supremacy, Pacquiao won every canto on all three scorecards (by the way, mine included), with the scores at the end of the 8th reading 80-71 by two judges and 80-72 by one judge in his favor. Two judges must have scored a round with a 10-8. To compare, mine was a conservative 80-72.
A FOOTNOTE IN HISTORY
Before the June 29 date, the Pacman who started his pro career in 1995 as a 106 pounder had officially to his credit annexed three alphabet world titles. First was the WBC Flyweight (112 lbs), Manny then bypassed the Superfly and Bantamweight divisions to claim his second world title, the IBF Super Bantamweight Belt (122 lbs). Just last March 2008, Pacquiao grabbed the WBC Junior Lightweight Title (130 lbs) when he outpointed Juan Manuel Marquez.
It could have been four titles (and now should have been his fifth), if the featherweight (126 lbs) Ring Magazine’s Peoples’ Champion has to be included, when he knocked out then lineal champion Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003.
To recall, Pacquiao’s lightweight debut was filled with eyebrow–raising doubts. In my last article, I asked, “Can the Pacman withstand the blows of a lightweight/welterweight? On the other hand, can the power of a super-featherweight jolt a much-bigger opponent? Or, moving up in weight - an advantage or disadvantage?”
But all questions & apprehensions by critics including me have now been proven wrong and thus erased to naught. Pacquiao was too superior, too quick for Diaz. Using his newly mastered boxing skills, Manny dominated the much-bigger American in his own territory.
But to me, David's loss to Manny is something not to be ashamed of. He has just shown the gallantry and serious fighting attitude only found in few boxers, these days.
CLOSURE
DDD, “Dangerous David Diaz” after all, as Bro Noel’s Brod Cesar said, DDD actually means now as, “Dangerous Dili Diay”… at least if Manny is the opponent.
To “Big Bro” Noel Fernandez of EAUC, “Brother Ely” of PEPSCOR, Jun, the “Erik Morales” Leyteno (este, not Latino) copycat, Cesar, (by the way, not the Fil-Jap mestizo) but the brother of Noel, to Loyde & Francis and to all others sharing with me in the live coverage; we all agreed that Pacquiao definitely is now a compleat skilled fighter. With his legendary speed, power, heart and stamina and now a new-found mastery of defense, we would like to think that Manny is invincible in his new found home at 135 lbs.
Valero? Campbell, Casamayor? Without doubt, I would root 150% for the Pacman – whatever happens!
But with Juan Manuel Marquez, it remains to be seen. I have the feeling just as I’m afraid; JMM is Pacman’s kryptonite. But if Pacman trains seriously at 135, there’s no way that Marquez can overpower Pacquiao.
Hatton? Ah, later… he can wait! That to me is retirement time with 20 million green bucks hanging on the line, just as Mayweather did!
Doods
June 30, 2008
Truly indeed, the fight saw both gladiators living up to their billings as ‘never-say-die’ brawlers. Both parties were industrious and relentless. And as work-rates constantly pumping into aggressive collisions, awesome blasts were heard in every tick of the fight - but alas, in a lopsided one!
Pacquiao did it with his revived signatures: blinding speed and power! At last, the world has witnessed the successful showcase of the long-overdue ‘Marco Bolo’ now performed to perfection inside the ring through countless gym rehearsals. And as envisioned, his opponent's chin did not last long. TKO in the ninth round! Referee Drakulich did not bother to count - as there will be no debate about it!
Pacquiao ended the carnage in the ninth round with a short - but devastating left that caught the durable champion on the chin sending him to the canvas in a loud thud, face down – ‘like sugarcane mowed down by an oversized sword’.
THE DANGEROUS DAVID DIAZ
The vanquished…? DDD – the “Dangerous David Diaz”!
DDD (now 34-2-1, 17 KO’s), in the aftermath of the bloody bout saw himself in deep cuts below his right eyebrow, his bridge of the nose oozing with coagulating fluids, eyes blackened & half-closed, lips swollen, in an entire facade of tormentous anguish.
Gracious however in defeat, the good-natured Diaz said: "Manny’s punches are just too fast. It was all his speed. He boxed much more than I thought he would."
"The cut didn't bother me," Diaz added. "But I thought he seemed to have a knife. It's like he was hitting me with a blade. What can I say? I lost today, I'll win tomorrow. To go like that with a guy like Manny Pacquiao, I think I'm doing pretty good."
Diaz had called the Sunday morning’s fight the biggest in his career. At $ 850,000, he was to receive the biggest paycheck so far in his lifetime. And winning this one would have been a big one. It would send him to the dreamland of the mega-bucked paradise. To David, Manny is his stepping stone, yet the Pacman could also be his stumbling block. A loss would be: quo vadis…, tu hombre?
But why not..? Ballooning with 29 pounds more cargo towards north, Pacquiao (now 47-3-2, 36 KO’s) started his pro career very light at 106 lbs as a lowly flyweight. On the other hand, Diaz launched his line of business heavy at light-welterweight and went south to lightweight where he found his championship.
Like Ortiz against Elorde, that supposedly meant he would be able to take Manny’s punches.
David’s an inside fighter – we all knew it.
His style is to crowd his opponent and the fight plan as I assumed, would be to rough up & bulldoze Pacman to the ropes and gain mental & physical advantage. Because he is physically bigger, I would like to think, ‘never mind two or three blows from the Pacman but a single blow of his own would be enough for Pacman to think twice’. Comes the ending rounds, as Pacman begins to lose steam…, that would be it – and it should be David’s sweet time! But alas … sorry, it did not come…
Truth to tell, my circle of friends after three rounds watching the fight, joked about that David Diaz must have planned as his defense to block Manny’s fists with his own face. It turned out that David himself did really make such a joke. In an internet article today, it says about David’s ‘strategy’ in combating Manny’s best weapon: “I think the best thing I can do is to meet his left hand with my face”, David as quoted. Of course it was a joke, but the ‘strategy’ was only half anticipated – because not only the left hands were coming in but also the blinding rights that made his swelling left cheek purple.
But then again, why not...? He had been successful before with title contender, Armando Sta. Cruz when far behind on points, he stopped Sta. Cruz in the ending rounds? It made him the Champion, wasn’t it? With Erik Morales, wasn’t his heart & industriousness in a full 12 round span did it? Stamina and work rate - aren’t they his best trademarks?
But then, with the Pacman as opponent, the 'bubble of durability' in David Diaz quickly burst right there & then at the very opening round!
THE FLAWLESS EXECUTION
Trainer Freddie Roach was noticeably pleased of the outcome. "He boxed better than he ever has. It was beautiful! We told him not to stand and trade in front of this guy, because David’s too dangerous”.
“We knew David Diaz was a strong guy. If we landed the combinations with Manny’s speed we knew we would out-speed him, but if we stood there and traded with him we would give him a chance to win the fight. The thing was not to step straight back but to step off to the side and then to turn him into another combination. And, it worked. We worked really hard in the gym and I am so proud of Manny’s right hand tonight. Diaz was looking for the left hand and the right hand was there all night long.”
Roach’s game plan worked perfectly as Pacquiao landed somewhat a one-sided ratio of 2.6 punches to 1. CompuBox statistics show Pacquiao's 230 stingers landing its mark out of 788 punches thrown, 180 of which were power punches. On the other hand, the confused Diaz only landed a dismal 90 out of only 463 throws. This translates into Pacman hitting Diaz 8.77 blows per minute in contrast to David’s 3.43 punches per minute.
Compare that to Pacman-Marquez II, in full 12 rounds, Pacman threw 619 blows while Marquez at 511. Pacman connected 157 punches (4.36 per minute) while Marquez at 172 (4.78 per minute). From the looks of it, "The Unfinished Business" was totally a different texture of a fight!
This time with Diaz, the Pacman circled around, jabbed and displayed an incredible arsenal of punches – a new manifestation of his being a complete fighter.
Unscathed, the Pacman hopped in and dished out three- and four-punch lethal combinations at a time, before quickly stepping out to recycle a recurring hurricane. Now a two-fisted warrior, Manny dominated Diaz with his right hand - throwing accurate & blinding jabs at will, the uppercuts, and the counter right hooks that couldn’t seem to miss its target in the whole 8-¾ round episode. After a few rounds, it then became clear that David Diaz was the perfect fighter for Manny to test the waters in his lightweight debut. As the fight progressed, Diaz launched punches with increasing frustration - frequently missing his eely opponent.
In his supremacy, Pacquiao won every canto on all three scorecards (by the way, mine included), with the scores at the end of the 8th reading 80-71 by two judges and 80-72 by one judge in his favor. Two judges must have scored a round with a 10-8. To compare, mine was a conservative 80-72.
A FOOTNOTE IN HISTORY
Before the June 29 date, the Pacman who started his pro career in 1995 as a 106 pounder had officially to his credit annexed three alphabet world titles. First was the WBC Flyweight (112 lbs), Manny then bypassed the Superfly and Bantamweight divisions to claim his second world title, the IBF Super Bantamweight Belt (122 lbs). Just last March 2008, Pacquiao grabbed the WBC Junior Lightweight Title (130 lbs) when he outpointed Juan Manuel Marquez.
It could have been four titles (and now should have been his fifth), if the featherweight (126 lbs) Ring Magazine’s Peoples’ Champion has to be included, when he knocked out then lineal champion Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003.
To recall, Pacquiao’s lightweight debut was filled with eyebrow–raising doubts. In my last article, I asked, “Can the Pacman withstand the blows of a lightweight/welterweight? On the other hand, can the power of a super-featherweight jolt a much-bigger opponent? Or, moving up in weight - an advantage or disadvantage?”
But all questions & apprehensions by critics including me have now been proven wrong and thus erased to naught. Pacquiao was too superior, too quick for Diaz. Using his newly mastered boxing skills, Manny dominated the much-bigger American in his own territory.
But to me, David's loss to Manny is something not to be ashamed of. He has just shown the gallantry and serious fighting attitude only found in few boxers, these days.CLOSURE
DDD, “Dangerous David Diaz” after all, as Bro Noel’s Brod Cesar said, DDD actually means now as, “Dangerous Dili Diay”… at least if Manny is the opponent.
To “Big Bro” Noel Fernandez of EAUC, “Brother Ely” of PEPSCOR, Jun, the “Erik Morales” Leyteno (este, not Latino) copycat, Cesar, (by the way, not the Fil-Jap mestizo) but the brother of Noel, to Loyde & Francis and to all others sharing with me in the live coverage; we all agreed that Pacquiao definitely is now a compleat skilled fighter. With his legendary speed, power, heart and stamina and now a new-found mastery of defense, we would like to think that Manny is invincible in his new found home at 135 lbs.
Valero? Campbell, Casamayor? Without doubt, I would root 150% for the Pacman – whatever happens!
But with Juan Manuel Marquez, it remains to be seen. I have the feeling just as I’m afraid; JMM is Pacman’s kryptonite. But if Pacman trains seriously at 135, there’s no way that Marquez can overpower Pacquiao.
Hatton? Ah, later… he can wait! That to me is retirement time with 20 million green bucks hanging on the line, just as Mayweather did!
Doods
June 30, 2008
