BETTING ON MANNY

TALKING without bias, former world champion David Diaz sees Miguel Cotto becoming the latest marquee fighter to fall prey in Manny Pacquiao’s growing list of victims.

The 1996 U.S. Olympian noted how Pacquiao has been on a winning streak of late, a stretch that includes victories over boxing great Oscar De La Hoya and former junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton.

He doesn’t see Cotto as the rightful man to ever stop the Filipino ring icon right on his track.

“Manny is beating the best of the best,” said Diaz in his native Chicago during a press conference ushering his comeback fight following a one year absence.

Diaz had become close to the world’s pound-for-pound king eversince Pacquiao knocked him off in the ninth round of their title fight last year to wrest his World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight title.

Just after his eight-round demolition of De La Hoya last December, the 33-year old Diaz came here in the country upon Pacquiao’s invitation and attended the world champion’s birthday celebration in General Santos City.

When Pacquiao destroyed Hatton in just two rounds last summer to win the World Boxing Organization (WBO) 140-pound belt, Diaz was among the first to call the Filipino boxer, champion.

In both fights, Diaz predicted a Pacquiao win.

He’s saying it again this time opposite Cotto, the WBO welterweight king, whom the `Pacman’ is set to battle on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“He’s doing unbelievable things. He is awesome. My hat’s off to him, a great fighter, a great person.”
But with the reigning champion from Puerto Rico at his prime and the 12-round bout being fought at a catch weight of 145 pounds, Diaz believes there won’t be a knockdown this time.

“(In the end,) Manny will outbox him (Cotto) and beat him in the later rounds. (There’s going be) no KOs (though)," he predicted.

With less than three months before the biggest fight in the final quarter of the year is held, Pacquiao has emerged as a 2-1 favorite.

Bodog Sportsbook listed the Filipino a -265 favorite, meaning one had to bet $265 to win $100.

Meanwhile, a $100 bet on the Puerto Rican native will have a $205 return.

Owing to his showbiz and political commitments here, Pacquiao has yet to start training for the fight, but plans to get in shape beginning next month.

In contrast, Cotto has already reported in his training camp at the Abner `Pin’ Cotto gym in Aguas Buenas as early as the first week of August.

Joe Santiago acts as Cotto’s chief trainer.

In a related news, Diaz is set for a comeback on Sept. 26 when he takes on former two-time world champion Jesus `El Matador’ Chavez at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.

The slugfest dubbed `Warriors Collide/Windy City Fight Night 6’ will be Diaz first since his loss to Pacquiao in June last year.

Diaz sports a 34-2-1 record while Chavez, the ex-WBC super-featherweight and International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight titleholders, holds a 44-5 mark.