When Floyd Mayweather Jr. abruptly retired three weeks ago, he left a vacancy atop an imaginary list. From sports bars around the globe to the Internet's innumerable boxing crevices, fight fans love to argue about their hypothetical rankings of the world's best boxers. With Mayweather out of the picture, many believe Manny Pacquiao is the man to assume that top spot. After all, the Philippines' national icon has the title belts and the career longevity to deserve that invisible crown, and the sometime movie action hero creates an excitement that can't be matched with his frenetic, violent grace. Pacquiao will go after David Diaz's WBC lightweight title at the Mandalay Bay casino on Saturday night, hoping to set an impressive career milestone with a major championship in his fourth weight class. Few fighters have ever succeeded in such physical growth, and Pacquiao is all the more remarkable after starting out at light flyweight. Yet after everything he has accomplished in a career that's risen faster and higher than anybody expected, Pacquiao won't promote himself for that best kilo-for-kilo crown. Diaz gives him more than enough to worry about this week. “I would just say thank you to people for believing in me,” Pacquiao said. “All I'm trying to do is make people satisfied with my performance, not only in the ring, but as a champion outside the ring. That's what I want to do the most.” Most indulgers in these hypothetical ramblings suggest the fighters' overall record, title belts, entertainment value and general reputation, to name a few criteria. Promoter Bob Arum believes such a formula is far too complicated and subjective to come up with a concrete answer. Still, Pacquiao's next fight could provide another remarkable line on his loaded list of credentials. Diaz is a former US Olympian and a well-liked champion, but he's lightly regarded by many fight-watchers who don't think his skills are on the same level as top lightweights Nate Campbell, Juan Diaz and Joel Casamayor. If Pacquiao wins, he'll be a world champion at his fourth weight class. He took Juan Manuel Marquez's super featherweight belt in his last fight in March, winning a razor-thin split decision in what's sure to be one of the year's most exciting bouts. Pacquiao has fought nearly all of the top challengers in every weight class, and he still hasn't lost his trademark speed while growing in size. If Pacquiao loses to Diaz, or if he even struggles against the lightweight champion, the Filipino star will slip down those mythical rankings. Pacquiao simply doesn't care – and he's thinking much more about the victims of the typhoon that capsized a ferry in his native land and killed hundreds last Saturday. “I'm dedicating the fight to them,” Pacquiao said. “I feel sad because of what happened, but I have to focus on training. If I have a chance, I'm going to help when I get back.” – AP __
