Boxing News Boxing News
In a blistering display of skill and power, Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao won a world title in his fourth weight class by belting out WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz in the ninth round of a one-sided mismatch last night at the Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas, NV.
It was clear from the start that Pacquiao was by far the better equipped fighter as the 29 year old living legend bombarded his fellow southpaw Diaz with a two handed assault that hardly wavered during the course of the bout.
Diaz began the contest by backing up Pacquiao, targeting the body of “Pac Man” but as the challenger began to find range with right hook and straight left counters, the WBC champion’s resolve began to crumble.
When Diaz stopped moving forward, it became target practice for Paquiao, who landed at will against his much slower rival, zapping in a variety of shots and scoring with crushing uppercuts, hooks and crosses.
As the rounds wore on, numerous cuts developed on the face of Diaz including a nasty laceration over the right eye from an unintentional clash of heads. The cause looked lost for the champion as early as the fourth round but Diaz simply would not quit.
The overwhelming firepower of Pacquiao continued to take it’s toll and although Diaz would bang Pacquiao with the occasional hard shot as the Filipino rushed in, it appeared to be only a matter of time before the massive heart of the champion could no longer will the body onward.
That moment came in the ninth round as Diaz tried to throw a right hand but the quicker Pacquiao came down with a chopping left hand that the exhausted champion never saw heading toward his jaw.
Diaz was out before he fell directly on his face and the bout was immediately called off at 2:24 of the ninth.
Pacquiao improves to 47-3-2 (36) and adds the WBC Lightweight title to a collection that also includes the WBC Super Feather, IBF Super Bantam and WBC Flyweight belts. The multi-weight champion could be heading into a massive bout with IBO Light Welter Champion Ricky Hatton in the fall.
Diaz drops to 34-2-1 (17) as his five bout win streak is snapped during his first title defense.
The main undercard bout featured a shocking finish as Humberto Soto, 44-7-2 (28), was disqualified for hitting opponent Francisco Lorenzo, 33-4 (14), after Lorenzo took a knee at 2:43 in the fourth round.
Soto had been administering a thorough beating to Lorenzo, who was down earlier in the fourth, and the WBC decided to remove the Interim Title status of the bout after the surprise ending.
WBO Featherweight Champ Steven Luevano, 35-1-1 (15), had his hands full with Puerto Rican prospect Mario Santiago, 19-1-1 (14), and both southpaws hit the canvas in the second. After a back and forth battle that went all twelve rounds, Luevano kept his title by a draw on the scorecards. A rematch could be in the works in the near future.
Former world title challenger Monte Barrett, 34-6 (20), put a brutal end to the Cinderella story of heavyweight Tye Fields, 41-2 (37), rubbing out the towering former college basketball player with a first round KO despite giving up five inches in height and 45 pounds.
Lightweight Dennis Laurente, 29-3-5 (15), forced a referee stoppage after four rounds against Steve Quinones, 31-13-1 (10), and super bantam prospect Jesus Rojas, 12-0 (10), stopped veteran Alex Baba, 26-13-1 (19), in the sixth frame of an eight rounder.
