By Michael Marley

The old saying is to the victor go the spoils. I do not think anyone was thinking about rotten goat meat when they conjured up the phrase.

Which reminds me that canny promoter Bob Arum did miss one cute trick when it came to the smartest member of the David Diaz camp, Billy The Goat. Years ago, the National Lampoon had a cover photo of a cute puppy. The cover line was something “if you don’t buy this magazine, we will kill the dog.”

Talk about an attention grabber. But back to the WBC lightweight champion’s pet cabrito or, as we say in Tagalog, “kambing.”

Yes, the Mandalay Bay is not kid-ding. Yes, the hotel-casino granted the nagging Billy a Team Diaz credential.

But the question I am debating with our imbedded Team Pacquiao correspondent Hermie “Chiz” Rivera is what is the fate of the tin can eater if, as we all expect, Megamanny Pacquiao dethrones Billy’s bossman.

It seems as though once Pacman slaughers Diaz, Billy gets slaughtered. I’d hate to be the one who has to relate this tragic news to Billy’s nanny!

Surely, there will be budget cuts for Team Diaz. I don’t want to get anyone’s goat but I bet Billy will be let loose so to speak when that happens.

Rivera said he has already discussed Billy’s dim future with Manny.

“We will immediately grab Billy by that beard of his, right at ringside,” Rivera said. “Then the only question is whether Billy is boiled, broiled, baked or steamed. His next destination is the nearest fiery pot. He will not return to Chitown unless he is frozen or burning on a skewer.

“Goat meat and a San Miguel beer is a typical Pacman treat when he is not in training,” Rivera said. “We put goat into our calderata and marinate it for kilawen. I’ve told Manny, ‘We must slaughter the goat for our victory party, for our celebration after you KO or stop David.”

Rivera, who reports that Manny will exit the lightweight class and move up to 140 for a Ricky Hatton fight next, said Billy only has one supporter on Team Pacquiao.

“It’s your Boston boy, Coach Freddie Roach,” Rivera said. “Freddie is an animal lover and wants to send Billy to a petting zoo for the kiddies. Freddie is opposed to our eating Billy in any form.

“Freddie told me, ‘Hey, Hermie, the goat is a Chicago Cubs baseball fan. Hasn’t he suffered enough?”

By Hermie Rivera
(Photos by Levi Gutierrez)

June 28 is when the Philippines boxing phenom Manny Pacquiao authors an ambitious bid for a fourth title when he takes on David Diaz for the lightweight championship of the world.

The Mandalay Bay resort/casino in Las Vegas is is where the Filipino idol will accost the Mexican-American champ in a slugfest boxing purists are betting won't go the assigned distance of twelve rounds.

Indeed, such pairing of game finishers in a toe-to-toe outing ends usually early or will wind-up being stopped in the late rounds.

Now, Manny who's on leave as a junior lightweight boss is looking at a November meeting with the Manchester cyclone Ricky Hatton while David wants such plan himself due to previous wins as an Olympic silver medalist (139 lbs. Atlanta), and as a pro campaigner in the 140 pound class.

The privilege of competing with the new pound for pound king is where Diaz is looking at right now.

Unaccustomed to fighting in the 135 pound limit, the Pinoy hotshot is assuring his followers as well as doubting devotees that he is not straying out of his comfort zone in facing the aggressive, combat-ready Diaz.

Diaz beats Pacquiao and sky's the limit for the Chicago native. Besides, the Windy City Mex-Am is obsessed. David's fixation in retaining his WBC belt is legend. If he had his druthers, Chicago's pride wants Manny's scalp real bad.

What makes this fight appealing is the limitless bonanza the winner pockets.

So much is at stake with both warriors pledging a furious start which could only translate into an intensely violent ring battle in sustained velocity.

Oh yes, the winner comes out triumphantly pleased (but of course) with the loser a ruined wreck.

This happens when a crowd-pleasing puncher like Manny is matched with a relentless belter like David.

"I'm ready for David in case he tries to pull a fast one in our Mandalay party. I can't let my fans down who are rooting for a smooth acquisition of Diaz' belt," Pacquiao assured.

Pacquiao completed 137 rounds of sparring Thursday (June 29), the last of his torrid sessions with his preferred sparmates and will break camp for Vegas after Monday's presser at the Sta.Monica piers.

A marked improvement in ticket sales and PPV orders have been noted by the antsy promoters as the lightweight toasts starts easing-off from their back-breaking grind.

Now what?

Somewhere in the boardrooms of the world's leading promoters are stacks of proposal for a megabuck year-ending thriller featuring England's Ricky Hatton & the Philippines' Manny Pacman Pacquiao.

Keep tuned.

By Hermie Rivera
Photos by Noel Rivera

Berkeley, CA– Manny Pacquiao, coming off a hard-earned win over Juan Manuel Marquez clashes with a heavier David Diaz in a face-off that’s certain to generate absolute thrill among fight fans.

The intriguing lightweight scrap at Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Casino is Pacquiao’s ticket for a fourth world title—one he longingly hankers due to the failure of his compatriots in garnering such masterstroke.

When the celebrated Carlos Ortiz ended the blue-ribbon reign of Joe Brown—no Filipino—to include the remarkably-clever Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde succeeded in becoming a 135 lbs. ace.

Odds favor the Pinoy challenger over the Mex-Am titleholder. Not unlike the time Pacquiao succeeded in grabbing Marquez’s junior lightweight belt in a war that continues to torment followers of both camps claiming victory for their man.

No one is saying it loud but there are bettors who believe David Diaz can scratch out a win over the Philippines’ reigning idol.

And why not if one is tempted to ask? David was only beaten once enroute to his lightweight throne. He foiled challenges with his unquestioned ability topped by a go-for-broke style of brash boxing.

Listening to David’s endless claptrap of retaining his WBC crown, there just is’nt a way or so it seems for Manny to wiggle out from a trap Diaz is set to impose in their June 28th showdown. Or is there an exit really for our man from this planned jam?

Freddie Roach, Pacman’s resolute coach says David is in a situation that entails grave difficulty—neutralizing Pacman’s lethal combination of speed and power..

Manny’s threat of a fast start that can end the brawl early is a reality that’s not easy for David to master.

Pacquiao repeated his intimidating plan even as Roach paraded him in a well-attended public workout at Berkeley’s Westwind School, showcasing Manny’s rythmic cadence with the mitts and the bags.

“David Diaz is in for a rough evening in this meeting of vaunted sluggers and my Manny will send him to dreamland only to awaken when gas prices goes interminably down” adding “the end will come in the late rounds.” Roach concluded.

What started off as a balanced pairing of brave lefties is shaping up as one heck of a donnybrook involving worldbeaters with violent fistic traits.

This awaited free-for-all usually fires up salivating fans to the delight of the promoters who are making it a reality.

And when Pacman’s timely roll of the dice shows crap for Diaz, England’s Ricky Hatton must gear up fast for a humongous payday with arguably the planet’s hottest draw—Manny Pacquiao of General Santos, Cotabato.

By Hermie Rivera

Los Angeles, CA– He’s had 13 years in his harsh calling and Manny Pacquiao finally gets the chance to add a fourth title when he challenges World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion David Diaz at the Mandalay Bay resort/casino in Las Vegas Nevada.

Pacquiao attempts to be the first Filipino champion in the 135-pound division. Others, notably Hall of Famer Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde failed twice against the redoubtable Puerto Rican Carlos Ortiz.

“Malaki ito at sisikapin kung maagaw yung korona ni Diaz (It’s the big one definitely and we’ll let it all hang out to grab the crown.),” the Filipino superstar declared at a well-attended presser at the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown L.A.

In Diaz, the Pacman will be unleashing his ghastly blows against a fighter who also wields his own brand of power shots.

“First round pa lang talagang upakan na, bakbakan at maganda ito para grabe ang action sa ring (an all out war starts in the early going so the fans will lap it up),” enthused the Filipino ring idol. “Yan ang gusto natin ‘todo buhos’. Importante makuha natin ang belt (We have to win the belt),” he added.

“It’s going to be a lovely brawl (magarang palitan ito),” assured the GenSan mauler who’s not wanting in humility in projecting a decisive ending of his June 28 ring date.

Undefeated since his loss to Erik Morales, the new WBC junior lightweight champion’s last win was against Juan Manuel Marquez who remains steadfast in having another shot at the Pinoy idol. “But that won’t happen,” says promoter Bob Arum who ruled out a rubber bout between the bitter jr. lightweight rivals.

Manny’s inability to take out Marquez in their March duel has fueled the Mexican’s obssessive drive for a third match despite Pacman’s effective punching throughout their hard-fought thriller.

“We’ve put that fight behind us,” Pacquiao shrugged as he braced for a slugfest with Diaz.

Diaz himself vowed not to let Pacquiao breathe all throughout the 12 round war since, by his own reckoning is in top shape.

“It’s all go,” boasted the defending champion as he let go with a yell of gratitude to Manny and Bob Arum for making the fight happen.

Quite a mean feat really if the Chicago Mex-Am can accomplish what no Mexican has ever done— stop Manny dead with heart-pounding respiratory tract barrage.

Fact is, a lot depends on how fresh the contending warriors will be feeling as they reach the final two rounds— if ever the fight goes that far.

Methinks it will not.

What’s your take?