Pacquiao makes history, wins fourth world title

JOT DOWN Manny Pacquiao's name in the pages of boxing's history book.

The Filipino ring icon, effectively controlling the match with his right jab, ended David Diaz's reign with a crisp left shot to win the WBC lightweight belt via an astounding knockout at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao snapped Diaz's head with a mean right jab, moved in closer to his opponent and unleashed a 1-2 capped by his powerful left that sent the mexican-American down.

Referee Vic Drakulich waved the fight off at the 2:24 mark of the tound.

Leading on the scorecards by a mile (Inquirer had the new champion up, 78-64, entering the ninth), Pacquiao decided to put the pressure on Diaz, who surprised the Filipino with a granite chin that took a lot of beating.

"I gave a lot of power shots and he's still standing," an amazed Pacquiao told a television interviewer. "I (was) very surprised that Diaz was so tough. He's the toughest opponent [I've faced]."

Even more amazed was Diaz, who was hoping to stretch the match into the late rounds, where he is more comfortable fighting.

"I was saying 'he doesn't hit that hard' and all of a sudden i was on the floor and what the heck," a gracious Diaz said.

"He was f****ng fast," Diaz said. "I didn't see [the left hand] coming."

But the left hand was just part of the whole package. In a brilliant show of boxing skills all night, controlled the match effectively with solid, head-snapping right jabs that kept Diaz at bay.

Pacquiao got the surprise of his life after the match when the NBA champions Boston Celtics visited him at the dug-out. Pacquiao had predicted the Celtics to win in six games and the world champions repaid that faith by watching the match and cheering for him.

"I'm his No. 1 fan," Kevin Garnett, standing beside Pacquiao, said.

With Garnett were Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, the two members of the Big three, and the likes of Rajon Rondo and Sam Cassell.

Pacquiao went to work early, controlling the first three rounds behind the jab before the left started to find its mark starting the fifth.

Diaz was in trouble in the eighth as Pacquiao twice had him reeling against the ropes. The Chicago-raised boxer kept bleeding out of his right eyebrow, but said the cut never bothered him.

"I kept telling the doctors that I could see perfectly," Diaz said. "At the end of the day, he caught me with a good shot and you just have to say that he was the better man."

Pacquiao's lightweight conquest comes after wresting the WBC super featherweight crown from Juan Manuel Marquez last March.

Posted by : Francis Ochoa

It's official! Pacquiao is new lightweight champion

THE Mandalay Bay Events Center erupts in cheers as Michael Buffer announces the new lightweight champion--Manny Pacquiao.

Supporters rush the ring as television interviewers seek out Pacquiao, the first Asian to win four world titles in four different weight categories.

In the end, Pacquiao's left does the job, set up perfectly by a pair of crunching rights that has Diaz lost on defense. The Mexican American never saw the killer left coming.

Vic Drakulich waved off the fight after checking on Diaz, who Pacquiao approaches even while the ex-champ lay on the floor.

Posted by : Francis Ochoa

PACQUIAO WINS BY KNOCKOUT!

AFTER working with the right jab effectively, Manny Pacquiao calls on an old favorite to finally end the match.

Snapping David Diaz's head with a right jab, Pacquiao unleashes a right jab before uncorking his pet left hand that sends Diaz crashing at the 2:24 mark of the ninth round.

Posted by : Francis Ochoa

Pacquiao reestablishes control

Whatever momentum David Diaz built up in the seventh round, Manny Pacquiao deflates with a brilliant show of boxing skills in the eighth.

Twice, Pacquiao had Diaz reeling against the ropes, forcing the lightweight champ to slug his way out of trouble. Diaz managed to tag Pacquiao on the kisser, but Pacquiao's combination is taking a lot of punishment in this round.

Pacquiao reestablishes his dominance entering the final three rounds of the championship bout.

Pacquiao's defense also coming to fore here, showing he can seide-step out of trouble every time Diaz tries to launch and attack, Pacquiao's right hand really showing the way for the Filipino ring icon.

Posted by : Francis Ochoa

Diaz scores

DAVID Diaz starts landing the right, confident that he can take on Manny Pacquiao's punches. He starts moving in, engaging the Filipino in a phone-booth slugging.

Pacquiao moves out of trouble several times and uncorks a late charge, but Diaz opens up the second half of the bout in a much better way than he did in Round 1.

Round seven is a round Diaz can confidently call as his.

Posted by : Francis Ochoa

Diaz gets active, Pacquiao still at it

DAVID Diaz starts to connect on a few combinations, one solid midway through this round.

But the combos seem to awaken Pacquiao, who was content early on to move side-to-side in the round. After getting tagged with a vicious 1-2, Pacquiao strikes back, unleashing a flurry that rocks David Diaz.

Again, though, Diaz stands up even as Vic Drakulich has ringside personnel check on Diaz's cut again.

Pacquiao's right jab continues to do a good job setting up his left, which is on target as it continues to find Diaz's cut on the right eye.

Posted by : Francis Ochoa

Fifth round: Pet left goes to work

AFTER methodically working the right hand, Manny Pacquiao's pet left starts to find its mark.

Pacquiao's left straight widens David Diaz's cut. His radar-guided right continues to keep Diaz at bay, but now, it is doing a good job of setting up his dangerous left straight.

Diaz, though, continues to roll with the punches and proving he can take Pacquiao's best combinations.

Posted by : Francis Ochoa

Pacquiao staggers Diaz

THE right hand is doing wonders for Manny Pacquiao, bloodying Diaz even more. A cut opens on Diaz's left eye and at one point, referee Vic Drakulich had physicians check the wounds.

Pacquiao unleashes punches from both hands and it is the right that staggers Diaz.

But the Mexican American shows he can take the punches. He can't launch an attack, though, as the right jab is effectively keeping him at bay.

Posted by : Francis Ochoa

Diaz comes alive, but Pacquiao in control still

CUT notwithstanding, David Diaz seems to get confident that he can take Manny Pacquiao's punching power.

Pacquiao continues to pressure Diaz, who continues to leave himself open. But Diaz uncorks several combinations as he seems to settle down in the match.

Both fighters unleash flurries as the round comes to an end, but Pacquiao seems to be still in control, unleashing combinations that would have floored a less durable opponent.

Pacquiao's right jab seems to be effectively holding off Diaz's barrage.

Posted by : Francis Ochoa

Diaz bleeding in second round

Manny Pacquiao continues dominating David Diaz, opening up a cut on the champion's right eye and wobbling the Mexican American with a variety of punches.

Pacquiao, using the right jab effectively, is putting his right uppercuts to work.

Diaz looks as if he is conserving himself but Pacquiao is making him look overmatched.

Posted by : Francis Ochoa