Diaz-Malignaggi set, is Pacquiao paying attention?

I'm not too excited about it either, but this fight does have some legitimacy. Diaz, with his U of H diploma in hand and life lessons learned from his defeat by Juan Manual Marquez in February, is still a major player in the lightweight and junior welterweight divisions.

The particulars: The Toyota Center in Houston is the site. It's on HBO Boxing After Dark on Saturday August 22. The weight limit is 138.5 lbs. which seems to favor the hometown Diaz.

Diaz is still a very viable opponent for anyone between 135 lbs. and 140 lbs. And yes coming off of big win after disposing of Malignaggi he could be a logical opponent for Manny Pacquiao say 12 months from now.

I mean, let's assume Mayweather, JM Marquez and Mosley are out of the way by then. Who's left?

Diaz certainly has the credentials in the ring. Being Hispanic, he brings a lot of fight fans to a Pacquiao promotion. He speaks well, he's bilingual and could certainly handle himself well in and out of the ring in a pressure - packed mega fight.

Malignaggi, a veteran, knows he's the glorified "opponent." A loss could make this fight his last big payday unless he wants to work his way back up the food chain.

I don't think anybody could have gotten any more out of Malignaggi than his promoter Lou DiBella. His only losses are to Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton.

Houston fighter Rocky Juarez is not on the card, although he sells lots of tickets in Houston and has the same promoter in Golden Boy.

It seems Juarez is positioning himself for another title shot that was taken away when champion Chris John had to pull out with a blood disorder a couple of weeks ago, The budget for this fight just didn't have a Juarez fight in the cards.

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