Lost in the hype over Manny Pacquiao’s dominating performance over Diaz is David Diaz himself. From the articles I read about him in Pacland, and Philboxing.Com, David seemed to be a fighter with a really good personality. No harsh words were ever exchanged from both camps before the fight. In media interviews, Diaz never said anything harsh to Manny and just stuck with talking about his plans for the fight. He’s a real class act. He reminds me of Rocky Balboa–someone who may not be talented, but fights with his heart on his sleeve. In victory and in defeat, you could not help but respect the guy.

I think David will be invited here in the Philippines to endorse some products, like Erik Morales. The same could not be said about Manuel “Crybaby” Marquez.

Here’s a story from The Chicago Tribune about what happened after the fight…

Boxer David Diaz Keeps His Head Up In Defeat
Best qualities show even in brutal defeat

By Melissa Isaacson | Tribune staff reporter
8:36 PM CDT, June 29, 2008

LAS VEGAS - The ambulance was waiting, but David Diaz wasn’t quite ready to get in. Most of the blood had been rinsed off, and he was back in his jeans and T-shirt. But the damage was graphic and even more shocking 45 minutes after it had been inflicted.

The question was what damage had been done to his psyche.

“I’m OK,” he said, reacting to the pained expression of someone studying him, the deep gashes just below his right eyebrow and bridge of his nose that were still oozing, the eyes already blackened and half-closed, the sliced and swollen lips, his entire face a map of gore and pain.

Amazingly, the smile was still intact.

Diaz had called Saturday night’s fight against Manny Pacquiao the biggest of his career, and there was little doubt of that. They were already anointing Pacquiao the best fighter on the planet, possessed of skills that already had won him championship belts in three other weight classes.

Even though Diaz was the defending world lightweight champion with a gaudy record, the criticism was that the Chicagoan hadn’t fought anyone, that he was a plodder getting by on heart.

They were right about that last part.

Diaz had walked away from the sport eight years ago because he had lost that element so crucial to his boxing. He couldn’t focus on training when he was mourning his older brother, who had died of AIDS, and worrying about his mother, Basilica, in desperate need of a new kidney.

But two years away was enough, and with his mother stronger after a transplant and the encouragement of his family and his future wife, he went back to the gym and re-emerged a new man and a new fighter.

It was not his fault that he had made his mark and found success with inspiring durability and toughness, that he had found support and popularity within the sport and the Mexican community because of his spirit and kindness, that he had continued winning without a lethal knockout punch. And he was not apologizing.

So there he was Saturday night, a 4-1 underdog, seemingly half the population of the Philippines filling the Mandalay Bay Events Center to cheer countryman Pacquiao, a pay-per-view audience looking on.

Jogging toward the ring, Diaz rested his gloves on the shoulders of the diminutive Anselmo Diaz, his father and the man he called his hero.

Diaz had pointed out his dad at a news conference Wednesday. “I love you, Papi,” he told him.

Diaz climbed into the ring looking proud and defiant. But before long, even his opponent was worried for him as blow after blow landed — and landed hard, opening cuts on his face that eventually stained both boxers’ trunks pink. Gamely, Diaz hung in, even tried to mount his own offensive in the second round. But indeed, this was a truly gifted fighter, and as the crowd screamed, “Manny, Manny,” their hero demonstrated his mesmerizing speed and vicious force.

Diaz had no chance. So why wasn’t the referee stopping the fight? Why wasn’t the ring doctor or his own corner?

“I thought they could have stopped the fight sooner,” the dignified Pacquiao said. “I asked the referee, and he told me, ‘Go ahead and continue.’ ”

The pro-Pacquiao postfight crowd, with its typical collection of handlers and fans and assorted hangers-on, roared with laughter.

In fact, Diaz stayed on his feet into the ninth round before a left cross to the jaw finally knocked him flat, because for better or worse, this is his gift. And whether consciously or not, he was demonstrating to those watching Saturday and those who will tune in for the replay Thursday night on HBO precisely why he was the defending title-holder.

It was not lost on his opponent, who tried to pull him to his feet after the TKO was official.

“I was surprised he didn’t go down before that,” Pacquiao said. “He was the toughest opponent I’ve had.”

Standing next to the ambulance, Diaz grinned at the suggestion that there ever had been a point at which he knew the fight was over.

“I always think I have a chance,” he said. “I always think I can pull it out. Sometimes I think I can do it to the point where I can almost see the shoreline. And then I went under.”

This was not a man in denial. Rather, he was in a place only those at the highest echelon of athletic competition can truly understand, the feeling of satisfaction amid the pain and disappointment, when you know you have given everything you have and simply lost to someone better.

“The beauty of this sport is that you have to go through all of it, even some of it that will kill you,” Diaz said. “I trained really hard, but you have to learn how to win and how to lose.”

He turned to get into the ambulance, laughing that he’d much rather be hanging out with his family and friends.

“They still love me,” he said. “They’re just glad I’m still alive. Everyone thought I was going to die.”