BERT SUGAR'S PRE-FIGHT ANALYSIS

by Bert Randolph Sugar with Steve Small

STRENGTHS OF BOTH FIGHTERS

MANNY PACQUIAO - 46-7-2 (35 KO's)

- Experience. Four-time champion (WBC flyweight, IBF super bantam, world featherweight and world junior lightweight) Pacquiao has fought better opponents in every weight class--beating Marco Antonio Barrera twice, Eric Morales two out of three and Manuel Marquez--than Diaz, who has only a win over a faded Morales to show for his credentials.

- Style. "The Pac-Man" possesses a buzzsaw style complete with a heat-seeking straight left thrown from his southpaw stance and a potent right hook delivered from a variety of angles.

- Knockout ability. A sharp puncher with fast hands, faster than Diaz,, Pacquiao can hurt any opponent, as witnessed by his 35 knockouts in 51 fights, (a 69% slugging average), and is "finisher" when he has his opponent hurt.

DAVID DIAZ - 34-1-1 (17 KO's)
- Style. A short squat brawler (think muscular fire plug), Diaz always comes forward, in a mauling manner, pushing opponents back, all the better to get inside where he puts his head into his opponent's chest and digs to the body.

- Ability. A brawler who throws punches non-stop, mostly on the inside, tending to weary and wear down opponents..

- Conditioning. Gets busier and stronger as the fight wears on and could wear down Pacquiao if the fight goes beyond seven or eight rounds.

WEAKNESSES OF BOTH FIGHTERS

PACQUIAO

- History of cutting. In his fight against Marquez needed 16 stitches to close cut under right eye and question remains whether he remains susceptible to cuts again.

- Defense. His devil-may-care attitude, believing that the best defense is a good offense, leaves him open and vulnerable, especially when he charges in, as is his habit--although he does slip punches more than block them.

- Weight. Pacquiao, who started his career as a 105-lb. flyweight, is now fighting at 135 pounds, which raises the question as to whether he can carry his firepower north with him.

DIAZ

- Speed. Slower of hand and foot than Pacquiao, Diaz needs to get inside to minimize Pac-Man's advantages.

- Experience. How will Diaz handle being on center stage? His last fight, against Ramon Montano, was on the undercard of Pacquiao-Marquez fight making this his first appearance in the big-time glare.

- Power. Doesn't have one-punch power, as attested to by his only having knocked out 17 of his 39 opponents and cannot afford to get into a slugging match with the more powerful Pacquiao.

- Defense. Diaz has several deficiencies in his defense. He loops his punches in wide shots, tends to lunge forward with his chin up, and employs little head movement. All very dangerous tendencies against a sharp-shooter like Pacquiao.