Pacquiao vs Diaz Interview: Video & Transcript HBO Version
Jun 29, 2008 by blog
Here's the post-fight interview following Pacquiao's win over Diaz. The Top Rank version is also available for those who wants an alternative.
HBO Version: Pacquiao & David Diaz Interview Video
HBO Version: Pacquiao & David Diaz Interview Transcript
Jim Lampley: And joining us now on the ringside, the new lightweight champion of the world. Manny, congratulations on a brilliant show in your first appearance at 135 lbs.
Manny Pacquiao: Thank you very much, and to all the people who's here tonight. Thank you very much to all of you.
Jim Lampley: A question coming into the fight was: Would moving up five pounds in weight, in some way, diminish your speed? Could you keep your power? By our lights, it appear you were faster than ever, and stronger than ever, is that the way you felt?
Manny Pacquiao: Yeah, that's why what we trained in this fight, is uh, speed and power. And I feel very comfortable at 135 lbs., I feel strong.
Jim Lampley: You cut him on the nose in the second round, he got a cut above the eye about a round or two after that, from that forth forward, it was a bloody show. How difficult is it, for you to keep throwing and trashing an obviously outclassed opponent, when you can see how badly hurt he is?
Manny Pacquiao: Well, Diaz, I think he is the toughest opponent that I had before, and I'm very surprised that he catch a lot of punches and he didn't knockdown in the early rounds.
Jim Lampley: We got a video tape of the knockdown, would you like to admire your work a little bit. Let's take a look at the knockout, and you can take a look at the perfect combination... tell us what you're doing here.
Manny Pacquiao: ...
Jim Lampley: ... Right jab, left hand.
Manny Pacquiao: Yeah, yeah, that's what our plan for this fight. The left hand, you know, and then also the right hand so, I'm lucky tonight, because I win by knockout so thanks God for giving me the strength.
Jim Lampley: It's been a long time, since you fought another southpaw, and it looks to be that you used your brilliant right hand, that hook and the uppercut, than even conventional fighters, did you know that would be the case?
Manny Pacquiao: Well, uh, to tell you the truth, you know, it's hard to fight a southpaw, and that's why I'm not very confident in this fight, you know, I just add my defense, you know, jab, jab a lot. And I'm surprised in the 9th round that I knock him out.
Jim Lampley: So Manny, there's been a possible third fight against Juan Manuel Marquez, there's been discussion by your trainor Freddie Roach, standing right behind you, of maybe going up another 5 pounds, and fighting Ricky Hatton. Which fight do you like?
Manny Pacquiao: Well, sir, my job is to uh, I'm just a fighter, my job is to prepare in the ring and to fight. That's the promoter's job, you know, I'm just a fighter in the ring.
Jim Lampley: You want to fight in November, or do you think it will be past at the end of the year?
Manny Pacquiao: Well, I can fight on November, so I'm getting prepared for that.
Jim Lampley: All right, and are you now, the #1 pound for pound fighter in the world?
Manny Pacquiao: Well, uh, thank you, and thanks God for all the blessing. And to all the people who love boxing, to support me, without you guys, I'm not here. So thank you, thank you.
Jim Lampley: All right, thank you Manny and congratulations on a great start in a new weight class. Let's turn now to the extremely brave young man, who Manny vanquished here tonight.
David Diaz (to Manny): (Manny shakes his hand) Great fight, great fight...
Jim Lampley: ... a moment of great sportmanship here. David there was a moment between rounds that you said to your trainor Jim Strickland: "I can handle his punches, he's just too fast." Was that basically the story of the fight?
David Diaz: Yeah, he was too fast. The fucker was too fast.
Jim Lampley: Did you have any idea coming here that he would be that way?
David Diaz: No, I actually saw him on tape and I was like "Yeah, I could deal with that speed," you know. The power was the one I was worried about. But he was too fucking too fast man. Fast, fast, fast.
Jim Lampley: Amazingly fast.
David Diaz: Fast. I thought Freddie was in there hitting me too.
Jim Lampley: Hahaha...
David Diaz: Well, you go to the fight, you go in and you risk it. Well, with a guy like this Manny, shit, at least I can say that I fought a good fighter man. And that's all I want. I want to fight. That's it.
Jim Lampley: You got cut in the nose, I think, in the first round. By the 2nd or 3rd round, a cut above your eye appeared. Obviously, Jimmy was trying to do everything to stop, but the blood kept coming. How much did that bother you during the fight?
David Diaz: No, it didn't bother me at all. I thought, he has a knife with him though. I thought he was cutting me a blade. 'Cause he was fast, he was faster than what I expected. I could deal with the power, but it was the speed was more than I thought it was. And I got tricked by his speed.
Jim Lampley: All right, Floyd Mayweather has retired, the argument is who's the best pound for pound fighter in the world now? Is it Pacquiao, is it Joe Calzaghe, is it maybe rising superstar Miguel Cotto. After what you saw tonight, is there really an argument?
David Diaz: Well, yeah, I'm not going to say he's not, he just beat me man. He's good, he's fucking good, my hats go off to him, we went in there, I fought and I gave it my all, and his speed is just a fucking, that thing that sealed it for me. His speed is too uncontrollable. My hats off to him, he's a good fighter and you know, what else can I say? We lost today, tommorow we'll win.
Jim Lampley: Aside from rooting for the Cubs to win for the World Series, and all of Chicago's other big possibilities right now, what's in your future?
David Diaz: Well, we're gonna go back, relax, give in to the hush hours, and then we'll take it from there to see what happens. I'm gonna take a nice little break, and just come back it man. I mean, I'm 32 years old, I'm getting up there, but I started about 8. I mean to go up there and go with a guy like Manny Pacquiao, shit, I think I'm doing pretty good.
Jim Lampley: You heard them chanting "Manny, Manny, Manny," do you think you go the respect of the crowd tonight?
David Diaz: I hope I did. You know what only time will tell. If they like the way I fight, then that's just it. If they don't like the way I fight, then they don't like the way I fight.
Jim Lampley: It was a brave show. Thank you very much David.
David Diaz: Manny Pacquiao is an awesome, awesome person.
Jim Lampley: Allright. Emmanuel Steward, we heard from both fighters, you saw what you saw on the ring, your final thoughts.
Emmanuel Steward: Well, I though Manny Pacquiao fought a tremendous fight. I predicted that he would incorporate head movement tonight because of the style of Diaz. But I don't think he would be moving and punching and doing such a variety of thing. It was a spectacular performance.
Jim Lampley: And a spectacular debut in the lightweight class for Manny Pacquiao, who now has a title in a fourth weight class in his amazing career.
Probably the greatest of all Asian fighter in the history of the sport.
He makes his statement a powerfully compelling one for the status of #1 pound for pound and looks ahead toward a possible rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez, or even the possible fight with Ricky Hatton, or any of the half dozen potential big fights for the man who would be the departure of Mayweather, and the potential departure of De la Hoya looms as the economic bell cow of boxing. The fighter who anyone near his weight class is going to want to fight, because of the response of crowds like this.
