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The big fight this weekend is without a doubt Pacquaio – Diaz. If you ask me straight up who will win – Pacquiao. Diaz is tough and comes to fight but I think Pacquiao is in a different league altogether. Diaz may not realize just how good the Filipino fight is but that’s probably a good thing. It should be a good fight because Diaz is going to bring his A game and is coming to win. Pacquiao should have no problem with the style of Diaz, in fact, their styles should compliment each other’s. Pacquiao is the sharper puncher, and the faster of the two fighters and in the end, this is what will be the downfall of Diaz.
Diaz should be able to hang tough for the first half of the fight but by the eighth round, the pressure of Pacquiao will start to have an effect. I don’t see Diaz knocking out Pacquiao – although anything is possible – so if he’s to win, he’ll have to eek out a close decision. I just don’t see that happening. Pacquiao will be too strong in the later rounds. I look for the FIlipino to hurt the rapidly deteriorating Diaz and after a barrage of punches, prompt the referee to step in to stop the fight. If Diaz is able to weather the storm, Pacquiao will have done enough to earn a lopsided unanimous decision.
Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll head to Pattaya for the Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai-Jimrex Jaca bout. I’m looking forward to the bout; Yodsanan should be too big, too strong, and too skilled for Jaca – Sor Nanthachai via KO8. Sor Nanthachai wants a title shot and I just don’t see Jaca being the guy to stand in the way of him getting it.
Apparently win or lose, Jaca’s next fight will be against Saddam Kietyongyuth. Saddam will have to get past JR Sollano but he’s in a different class than the Filipino and he should make short work of him.
Pacquiao recently took over the top spot P4P and this fight should show why. I just don’t see who can give him a run for his money at this time, other than Marquez, and he’s not going to give Marquez another shot. Marquez came all the way to the Philippines to challenge Pacquiao and it didn’t seem to do any good – Pacquiao knows he’s a dangerous fighter and he’ll also provide him with a life or death battle. No fighter needs that every single fight. Pacquiao’s shown he’s willing to fight anyone and since he’s already fought Marquez twice, he doesn’t really have much to prove by fighting Marquez again.
