In celebration of what’s good for us

By Bart Barry

How much fun has it been getting to know WBC lightweight champion David Diaz? For the first time in years Manny Pacquiao has had an opponent who is happy to help him carry a promotion. No language barrier, no off-putting manager, no dissembling about the importance of a rematch victory.

Pacquiao remains the favorite, of course. He is the world’s best fighter. A deservingly beloved figure who decisions hall-of-famers even on off nights. Most of us in America cheer for Pacquiao’s success as much as they do in the Philippines. But can anyone really cheer against Diaz?

He is the champion, don’t forget. When Diaz and Pacquiao swap blows at Mandalay Bay on Saturday’s pay-per-view broadcast, they’ll do so to see who wears Diaz’s green belt out of the ring. Even if Diaz isn’t sure exactly how much better being the champ has made him, he is sure he will retain his title.

Diaz is the naturally heavier guy. Yes, both men will weigh 135 pounds or less Friday afternoon. But 12 years ago Diaz fought at 142. While Pacquiao was 113. That is, while Diaz took punches from light welterweights, Pacquiao traded with flyweights. Big difference.

What Pacquiao hopes to do is historic. In his professional debut, Pacquiao weighed 106 pounds. This week he’ll fight a world titlist 27 percent larger than the men he started out facing.

Because fighters gain weight on their chins more than their fists, though, Pacquiao shouldn’t necessarily worry about Diaz’s power. While any man can fell another with an unanticipated punch, Diaz is no knockout artist. Rather, Pacquiao should concern himself with what effect his own power may not have on Diaz.

At the championship level, prizefighting is not merely about hurting your opponent -- that part is expected. When a belt is on the line, the man across from you is accustomed to calculating his way around pain. At its highest level, prizefighting is about hurting your opponent in a behavior-changing way.

Pacquiao has had that kind of power in each weight class he has visited, from light flyweight to super featherweight. But in diminishing proportions. In March, Pacquiao was able to stop Juan Manuel Marquez’s third-round onslaught with a short left hook. But the fact that a crafty counterpuncher like Marquez even attempted an onslaught testifies to the drop in relative power Pacquiao has experienced with his rise in weight.

Still, we’re talking about going from 130 to 135. What’s the big deal?

Maybe a whole lot, possibly very little. Diaz has the determination and temperament to make Pacquiao’s lightweight debut difficult. If Pacquiao is only able to sting Diaz with a straight left -- but unable to disabuse him of ever moving forward again -- Diaz might refuse to merely survive his way to a decision loss.

Diaz, after all, represents a few dreams too. Much is made of Pacquiao’s immense capacity for hoisting on his shoulders the full burden of his country’s hopes. Diaz has no such weight to bear -- his native Chicago loves him but can easily get along without him. And the Mexican fans who would pressure Diaz for a win happen to admire Pacquiao, having pretty much given up on cheering against him.

But Diaz bears an everyman burden. He is so good at being one more prizefighter, little more than a guy who looks in the mirror, sees limited gifts but believes in himself anyway, that he unwittingly touches people. Spent club fighters and guys whose careers ended with records like 4-5 quietly cheer for Diaz. He says about himself what they would have liked to say about themselves but couldn’t.

Self-deprecation helps. The profession of beating up other men is not a light one. No one would require from its practitioners any cleverly expressed doubt. But when it comes, it is charming. Its arrival sets off spontaneous good feelings.

Imagine if Floyd Mayweather had shown Diaz’s capacity for having fun at his own expense? Instead of sneering headlines, a hundred heartfelt tributes would have followed Mayweather’s recent retirement announcement. Is Mayweather’s Detroit really that far from Chicago?

Certainly it’s that far from Pacquiao’s Manila. What a joy it is to be able, once more, to tell parents and younger siblings about the world’s best prizefighter. To see obscene, unintelligible tantrums replaced by gentle smiles and graciousness. To watch Pacquiao’s gentlemanly words dangerously manifested -- instead of Mayweather’s defensive shell preceded by an assassin’s tirade.

We know Pacquiao is a national hero and a hall-of-fame fighter. But is he a lightweight? That we don’t know yet. Rumors have abounded since October that making 130 pounds was a feat for “Pacman.” But just because a guy can no longer boil his way down to 130 pounds does not mean he belongs at 135.

Diaz’s plan is simple. He will go out and impose himself as best he can. Diaz will walk forward throwing punches from a southpaw stance. He will not afford Pacquiao the minute or so of extra rest, each round, that Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Jorge Solis gave Pacquiao in his last three fights.

Will Pacquiao have power enough to change Diaz’s behavior? The fight will turn on that question. If the answer is yes, Pacquiao will find himself against a determined but slow opponent who never presents much of a threat. But if the answer is no, things will get interesting.

Pacquiao’s boxing skills have improved greatly since he began working with trainer Freddie Roach. But his jab, and right hand in general, have not completely grown into what Roach says they are. Will Pacquiao be able to jab Diaz from outside, or fight moving backwards? We may just find out.

To pick against Pacman now that Mayweather is gone would be ungrateful. So I’ll take Pacquiao: UD-12. But don’t be too surprised if Diaz determines a way to keep his belt.