World Boxing Council lightweight champion ?Dangerous? David Diaz hired a mixed martial arts trainer to prepare him for his title defense against Manny Pacquiao on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
The Chicago Sun Times reported that Mike Garcia, the trainer of former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski, has been working the mitts feverishly with Diaz. Jim Strickland remains the chief trainer, but Garcia has been helping devise the ideal strategy against Pacquiao.
Garcia, 40, boxed during his heyday. He won four Chicago Golden Gloves titles and went undefeated in 26 professional fights before calling it quits due to chronic hand injuries.
He is currently the co-owner of Jabb Gym in Chicago.
Diaz, who is making his second defense of the lightweight plum, reveals that he used to train alongside Garcia when the latter was still a boxer. Diaz credits Garcia for teaching him how to ?throw an uppercut faster and with more leverage.?
In August 2006, Diaz won the lightweight title by flattening Jose Santa Cruz with a smashing left uppercut in the 10th round.
Diaz, 34-1-1 with 17 knockouts, has earned a reputation as a one-dimensional slugger. For the Pacquiao fight, Strickland and Garcia are trying to teach the champion how to employ a little movement and properly handle PacMan?s whirlwind offensive assaults.
?Mike teaches me how to move, block, push a guy?s hand a certain way to get more leverage,? Diaz said. ?He teaches catching and throwing, not catching and trying to step around or move away.
?He teaches little tricks he sees along the way.?
Garcia claims Diaz will show up in the best shape of his career against Pacquiao and go for a conclusive win.
?Everybody, keep your eyes on David. You?re going to see something special that night,? vowed Garcia.
