Manny Pacguiao & David Diaz

Mandalay Bay June 24, 2008, Arrival Quotes

Diaz arrived at Mandalay Bay at approximately 11:00 a.m. today followed shortly thereafter by Manny Pacquiao.

David Diaz:

On why Diaz is an underdog as a champion?

“ That’s their own opinion and I have my own opinion of myself and that’s all that matters. I pay no mind to what other people say and they are going to say what they want.”

“This fight means a lot to me. It means I will be able to put my kids through college and they will be all right. I was the youngest of nine children and that was something that my dad was unable to do for me. And if I win this fight? That will put me in a whole new tax bracket.”

“I am a Chicago guy through and through and I like all the teams, not only the Cubs. I grew up two blocks away from Wrigley so they are definitely my baseball team.”

“In ’97 I left the sport for two years. I was going to the gym but not really working so I decided to hang them up. When I met my girlfriend, who is now my wife, she could tell that I was missing it a little bit. She said I should go back to the gym. When I went back I started working for three hours at a time, so I came back. I didn’t want to be 50 years old and think ‘what if?’

“If this fight has to go one round, I will go one round. If it has to go 12-rounds, I will go 12-rounds. This has been my best camp and I feel great. And I know Manny’s going to be at his best also. He’s got his nation on his shoulders and history in front of him. I don’t make any excuses and I know he doesn’t either. This is going to be an old-fashioned fight.

“This is my chance to knock down the wall. Manny is the wall and I’ve got to go knock it down.”

Manny Pacquiao:

“I liked the goat. Goat is my favorite food.”

“I didn’t stop training after the last fight and there has been no problem. I am a fighter, so it is OK to come back in three months and fight again. I recovered after my last fight in two weeks and I was ready to go again.”

“I am very comfortable at 135. The power is no concern - I feel stronger at 135. What we have been working on is to maintain my speed. Because of moving up there is a chance to get slower, but fighting bigger guys is definitely not a problem for me.”

“I am looking forward to fighting David Diaz. He has the same style as me…move in and fight. It’s going to be a good fight.”

When two explosive world champions at the top of their game mix it up for the world title, it’s a “Lethal Combination!” Newly-crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion MANNY PACQUIAO and WBC lightweight champion DAVID DIAZ will battle in a 12-round rumble with Diaz’s title at stake. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Pacquiao vs. Diaz will take place Saturday, June 28, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. PDT.

The Pacquiao vs. Diaz pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Pacquiao vs. Diaz fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.