With the win, Pacquiao took Diaz's WBC lightweight title. Pacquiao's advantage in speed showed itself from the opening bell, but it was his superior footwork, superior, even, to anything he had produced in the past, that ultimately made the difference. After running off his combinations, Pacquiao deftly pivoted to the side, preventing the slower-footed Diaz from capitalizing on any offensive opportunities.
When Suite 101 asked Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, about his fighter's footwork, roach smiled and nodded, "We worked on that (Pacquiao's use of angles) in the gym every day. We knew that Diaz was strong and that he would come forward, we just had to make sure that after Manny got his punches off ,he stepped to the side and didn't take any unnecessary punches."
Not that Diaz didn't land, of course he did, even snapping Pacquiao's head back on occasion, but he just couldn't lock and load enough ammo to have any lasting affect on Pacquiao.
Cuts on the nose and over the right eye of Diaz were mounting evidence the beating he took, and seemed to take in stride, "Today we lost, tomorrow we'll win," he repeated to anyone who would listen. "His power was good, but that isn't what bothered me. His speed was so much better that I thought it would be."
Steven Luevano vs Mario Santiago
On an entertaining undercard, Steven Luevano retained his WBO featherweight belt by banging with Mario Santiago for twelve rounds to earn a draw. Both fighters planted one another's butts on the canvas in round two and the bombs kept dropping for the remainder of the fight.
Luevano, once roundly jeered for being a safety-first stylist in the ring (read, boring) has become a face first brawler in recent fights. His popularity should soar as a result, though his career will almost certainly be shortened.
Humberto Soto vs Fransisco Lorenzo
Humberto Soto beat down Fransisco Lorenzo for the better part of four rounds when the confusion began. Referee Joe Cortez stepped between the fighters as if he were about to save Lorenzo from further punishment, then backed off and allowed the carnage to continue. A split second after Lorenzo finally went down to a knee, a right from Soto grazed the back of Lorenzo's head, prompting Lorenzo to complain about being hit after he was down and Cortez to call time.
After several minutes, the Nevada commission chose to disqualify Soto and award victory to Lorenzo, whom the crowd booed vociferously, thinking that he wasn't actually hurt and was looking for a way out of the fight.
At the post-fight press conference, Top Rank's Bob Arum told reporters that the WBC had chosen not to honor the Nevada Commission's decision to award the super featherweight title to Lorenzo and instead will call for a rematch.
Tye Fields vs Monte Barrett
Monte Barrett knocked out 6'7" 275 pound Tye Fields with a well timed counter right hand at 57 seconds of the first round. Just because you are big...
