Steve Marcus

WBC lightweight champion David Diaz, left, and Manny Pacquiao flex their muscles for the media at the weigh-in conference Friday. Although a champion and an Olympian, Diaz is by far the lesser-known fighter.

By Jeff Haney

Sat, Jun 28, 2008 (2 a.m.)

Steve Marcus

Alyana Pastor, left, 8, and Harley Elegino, 10, of Davao City, Philippines, don "Pacman" hats and make fists Friday in support of boxer Manny Pacquiao at the official weigh-in at the Mandalay Bay Events Center for his bout today with David Diaz of Chicago. Pacquiao, fighting as a lightweight for the first time, is a national hero in the Philippines.

1. Troubled times

A national hero in his native Philippines, Manny Pacquiao has dedicated this fight to people suffering in his homeland in the aftermath of last Saturday’s typhoon. More than 1.4 million people have been forced out of their homes, and the death toll from the storm could exceed 1,300, according to Reuters. Filipino media members in Las Vegas this week said many of their countrymen were hoping power would be restored in time to watch the fight. “It is so important for me to win because I have dedicated this fight to my countrymen and it will make them happy if I win,” Pacquiao said. “After the fight I will get back there and I will do something to help them.”

2. Rich background

Although David Diaz is putting his championship belt on the line today, he is by far the lesser-known fighter. Before this fight, the biggest of his career, Diaz was best known for sending Erik Morales into retirement with a unanimous-decision victory. Diaz, a busy puncher with less-than-stellar defense, was a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic boxing team. His teammates included Fernando Vargas, Terrance Cauthen, Antonio Tarver, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Albert Guardado, Lawrence Clay-Bey, Eric Morel, Zahir Raheem, David Reid and Nate Jones. “My Olympic team was probably the most talented,” Diaz, 32, said. “There will probably never be another team like that again.”

3. Stepping up

In his 14th year as a pro at age 29, Pacquiao is fighting at lightweight for the first time after beginning his career as a 106-pounder and winning world titles in three weight classes. He is attempting to become the first Asian-born boxer to own titles in four divisions. Pacquiao routinely sparred with 145-pounders in camp under trainer Freddie Roach. “I feel better, stronger, moving up in weight,” said Pacquiao, who weighed in at 134 1/2 Friday. Diaz weighed in at 135.

4. Will he fade?

As promoter Bob Arum sees it, Diaz lacks the hand and foot speed to compete with Pacquiao when he’s in peak form. The question is whether Pacquiao will punch himself out trying to stop the durable champ, and whether Diaz can take advantage of a tired opponent in the later rounds. “Manny is going to outspeed him,” Arum said. “Diaz’s chance to win the fight is to stay in there until Manny runs down. In other words, David cannot match Manny when Manny is at full speed. But can Manny stay at full speed with a determined, tough guy like David for 12 rounds? That’s what we’re going to find out.”

5. Promotional push

The buildup to the fight included special appearances by both fighters in the San Francisco area and Southern California as well as a trip by Pacquiao to Diaz’s hometown of Chicago. It was part of a strategy designed to keep championship boxing in the public eye, Arum said. “The important thing to remember is that sports editors from around the country will not cover boxing the way they used to,” Arum said. “You’ve got to bring the event to them. Once we brought the fighters to San Francisco, every Bay Area paper covered it. We can’t sit on our (behind) anymore and expect them to come to us.”