INQUIRER Sports

GRAPEVINE, Texas ? For a long time, David Diaz dreaded seeing video footages of Manny Pacquiao?s fights. The Chicago native knows that, invariably, his knockout loss to the pound-for-pound king on June 28, 2008 would be highlighted.

Despite yielding his World Boxing Council lightweight title, Diaz heaved a sigh of relief, when Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto also bowed to Pacquiao in succession and blurred memories of the ninth round stoppage by a wicked left hook.

Since attending Pacquiao?s 30th birthday party in General Santos City nearly two years ago, David has formed a friendship with his conqueror.

But he has moved on, winning his comeback fight against Jesus Chavez by majority decision on Sept. 26, 2009.

Diaz will be on the main supporting bout of The Event between Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey on Saturday when he tries to regain his lightweight title against Mexican champion Humberto Soto (50-7-2, 32Kos).

Expectedly, Diaz picked Pacquiao to win. And the key, according to Diaz (35-2-1 with 17 Kos), will be for Pacquiao to get through Clottey?s defense with his speed.

?Clottey?s a big, strong guy,? said Diaz. ?It will probably take Pacquiao five or six rounds to figure him out.?

?The end will probably came in the seventh,? said Diaz, who doesn?t feel bitter about his defeat to Pacquiao.

?I lost to Pacquiao who is probably the best fighter in our time and the greatest fighter of all time,? said Diaz. ?I fared even better than the others. I did alright."