LINK: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3292237 LAS VEGAS -- Macau can wait for Manny Pacquiao. If Pacquiao defeats junior lightweight titlist Juan Manuel Marquez in their much-anticipated rematch Saturday night (HBO PPV, 9 ET) at Mandalay Bay, Pacquiao will be right back at the resort's arena June 28 on HBO PPV to challenge David Diaz for a lightweight title, promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.com on Thursday. Arum has long wanted to bring Pacquiao, of the Philippines, to Macau, the Chinese territory that has emerged as Asia's top gambling resort area. But because of Top Rank's heavy summer schedule, Arum said it was impossible logistically to do a fight in China in June and that he would wait to bring Pacquiao there in the fall. "We still want to bring Manny there very much but the timing just isn't going to work for this summer," Arum said. "The fall will be a lot better. And Mandalay Bay really would like to have Manny back. He brings in a lot of the Filipino customers." Diaz (33-1-1, 17 KOs), who is on the undercard of Saturday's fight, faces unheralded Ramon Montano (15-4-2, 1 KO) in a non-title fight, so even if he loses he would still have his 135-pound belt to defend against Pacquiao. Should Marquez defeat Pacquiao, June 28 could be a third match between them. They fought to an action-packed draw in 2004. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who promotes Marquez (48-3-1, 35 KOs), said Pacquiao (45-3-2, 34 KOs) has a rematch clause in his contract and that the third bout could take place June 28 at Mandalay Bay. If Pacquiao can defeat Marquez and Diaz this summer, Arum said that the fight in Macau that he would like to do is Pacquiao against Nate Campbell, who upset Juan Diaz to win three belts last Saturday night in Cancun, Mexico. Arum said he called Don King, Campbell's co-promoter, this week to congratulate him on Campbell's victory and to talk to him about the fight. "I know it's a tough fight for Manny and there a lot of bridges to cross before then, but if Manny wins and Don and I can make that fight it would be unbelievable. Sure, it's a tough fight for Manny, but so what? When you're fighting for all those belts, it's supposed to be a tough fight." Arum said he and King didn't get into much detail but that King was very receptive to the idea. "Don and I would love to work together again on a big fight," Arum said of his longtime rival. "We've been looking to get together again to do a fight because we always have a good time when we promote together even if we are the dinosaurs." Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
So If Pacquiao wins against Diaz, Arum might push Pacquiao to take the belts from Campbell. Sometimes Arum may be so forceful and stupid, But sometimes he plays smarts. Campbell and Diaz are no bums, they have class. Pacquiao is already fighting high stake opponents in his first entry at lightweight. A half-bad decision and half-great decision. Jeez give the kid a break will ya? Sooner or later he'll be battered.
wrong. Every fighter needs an easy fight once in a while or they won't be able to put on their best performance when the big fights come. For pac, David Diaz is that easy fight, which really says a ton about Pacquiao
If Pacquiao beats Diaz, he wins the WBC belt. That means a Pacquiao-Campbell fight would be for ALL the belts...except ironically, the Ring and linear belt, which goes to tonight's winner of Casamayor-Katsidis.