The eyes of the boxing world will be focused on Manny Pacquiao next Saturday in his quest to win the lightweight title. To some, Manny winning this fight and a piece of the lightweight crown is a foregone conclusion. Many feel that Manny is the today's best active pound for pound boxer. A win Saturday could open the door for mega fights between Manny and Ricky Hatton and maybe even a Pacquiao - De La Hoya confrontation. It seems to me that many boxing scribes and fans are putting the cart way before the horse. Manny's opponent, David Diaz of Chicago has only lost one of 36 pro fights. By the way he is also the WBC lightweight titleholder. In a nutshell, this young man can fight!

Diaz turned professional in 1996 and went undefeated in 26 fights. He suffered his first loss in 2005 when he was stopped by the immensely talented Kendal Holt in eight rounds. On his way to the Holt fight Diaz had defeated Frankie Sanchez, Jaime Rangel and the always tough Emanuel Burton. Eight months after the Holt setback, David knocked out Juan Polo Perez to win the vacant International Boxing Association lightweight title. Diaz would successfully defend that title twice. In 2006 Diaz won the Interim WBC lightweight tile by stopping Jose Armando Santa Cruz.

In 2007 David Diaz became a full fledged world champion by defeating Mexican legend Erik Morales. Now he takes on his biggest challenge to date in Pacquaio, who will bring in a 46-3-2 record and 36 knockouts. Pacquaio is an overwhelming favorite but please remember, 2008 thus far has been the year of the upset. Anything can happen and as we've seen recently, sometimes the unexpected does.

Jim Amato

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