Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao sparred twelve rounds for the last time yesterday before beginning to taper off for his "Lethal Combination" showdown with World Boxing Council lightweight champion David Diaz at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on June 28.
Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz said he was told that Pacquiao "did very well and looked sharper today than he did in the last couple of sparring sessions." Pacquiao went up against veteran southpaw Steve Quinonez who fights Dennis Laurente on the Pacquiao-Diaz undercard, Carlos Tangaro and a 35 year old Gamboa whose first name he couldn?t recall.
Koncz said Gamboa had made Pacquiao work the best because "he coaxes Manny in the ring saying come on champ, is that all you?ve got?." Koncz said Gamboa "kind of gets under Manny?s skin which is good. He?s making Manny work and the guy is a good fighter."
Koncz said Pacquiao is relaxed but is "concerned about the fight. He knows that Diaz is going to be there to fight." He said there is no doubt that Pacquiao has "more speed, maybe he?s got more power but Diaz is not going to lay down either.." even as he hinted at the possibility of the fight going the distance.
Diaz?s trainer Jim Strickland told a media conference call that his fighter "feels he can beat anybody he gets into the ring with. He is not intimidated whoever it is."
Diaz, for his part said "we have to keep thinking positive and looking forward that we?re going to come out with a victory and that we are going to be faster and stronger than our opponent."
The lightweight champion said he was fighting "one of the most dangerous guys in boxing and the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter and its great. I want this challenge."
At the same time both Diaz and his trainer spoke of the possibility that the fight would go the distance which would seem to benefit the champion who has trained for some two weeks longer than Pacquiao. Diaz said "I want to be in great condition so I can go the distance because that?s where I feel this fight?s going to end up."
Asked whether he expected Pacquiao to come at him like crazy or more of the technical fighter he?s become under trainer Freddie Roach the past couple of years Diaz replied " I?ve been watching his last fight with (Juan Manuel) Marquez and the first one with (Erik) Morales and we?ve seen a couple of things there that we can expose. We will just go and try it and see what happens and if he does come out crazy then I?ll be there to meet him too, because I can get a little crazy myself."
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