Pacquiao, ‘di dapat mag-ambisyon sa mas mataas na weight class

Hindi na dapat mag-ambisyon si Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao na umakyat sa lightweight division mula sa kanyang nilalabanang super featherweight class. 

Ito ang payo kahapon ni International  Boxing Federation  lightweight champion Julio “The Kid” Diaz sa World Boxing Council (WBC) International super featherweight titlist na si Pacquiao. 

“No doubt, he should try to stay at 130 pounds and not come up here to 135. This is where the big boys play,” wika ni Diaz kay Pacquiao. “It would be wiser for Manny to stick with the super featherweight or junior lightweight division, I think.”

 Inisip ng 28-anyos na si Pacquiao, may 44-3-2 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 35 knockouts, na umakyat sa lightweight division matapos dalawahan si dating WBC super featherweight king Marco Antonio Barrera (63-6 (42 KOs) via unanimous decision noong Oktubre 7.

 Isa lamang ang 27-anyos na Mexican na si Julio Diaz (34-3, 25 KOs) sa mga posibleng makabangga ni “Pacman” sakaling magtungo siya sa lightweight category.

 “I think Pacquiao has been sensational. The people, the fans, they love the guy. His style is so fan-friendly, so action-packed. What’s not to like with Manny? He comes right at his opponent, come in at you straight forward and that usually makes for great fights,” ani Diaz.

 Nakatakdang sagupain ni Julio Diaz ang 24-anyos na si Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz (32-0, 16 KOs), nagpabagsak kay Filipino Randy Suico sa ninth round ng World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight championship noong Hulyo 15 ng 2006, sa Linggo sa Sears Center sa Illinois, USA.

 Bago isipin ang plano ni Pacquiao, nakatutok muna si Julio Diaz sa kanilang banggaan ni Juan Diaz.

 ‘Not at all, not until you brought his name up,” ani Julio. “I am looking at only one guy and only night. That’s Saturday night against this other Diaz. I am going in there with all my blood, all my heart, and when it’s done, I’m taking all three belts back to the Coachella Valley with me.” (RCadayona)