By Ronnie Nathanielsz

MANILA—Former WBC world lightweight champion David Diaz believes he can beat Mexico’s Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez should their planned July fight in Mexico City  push through. BoxingScene.com reported several days ago that there are financial issues with getting the fight done. The two sides are reportedly far apart on the money.

Diaz told the Inquirer in an overseas telephone conversation that although no contract has been signed, “it’s a fight that I want and I really do hope it happens.”

At the same time, the southpaw who was battered by pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao into submission in a 9th round TKO in 2008 said “I’ve been in the gym, doing my roadwork and a little bit of shadow boxing so just in case they do want me, I’ll be ready for them.”

Diaz said “everybody knows the way I fight and its going to be one of those fights where I go to him. I’m not going to be running away from him but I’ll have to be smart about it and I think we have the tools to beat him.”

The 34-year-old Diaz has a record of 36-3-1 with 17 knockouts.

In his last fight early this year, the Chicago native beat Robert Frankel by a majority ten-round decision. Diaz earlier dropped a unanimous twelve-round decision to Humberto Soto for the vacant WBC lightweight title on last year.

Marquez, the reigning WBA and WBO champion, has a record of 52-5-1 with 38 knockouts.