Diaz wants title fight with Pacquiao to be a "war"

By Kieran Mulvaney

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Holder David Diaz wants Saturday's World Boxing Council lightweight title fight against super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao to be a "war."

"I want it to be a great fight," Diaz told reporters at the Mandalay Bay Resort venue. "I want it to be a war.

"I want it to go down as one of the great fights of the year, if not the decade," added the American, who goes into the bout as the underdog.

Pacquiao, who has won 46 of his 51 fights and recorded 34 knockout victories, is looking to add the lightweight crown to the flyweight, super bantamweight and super featherweight titles he has already claimed in his career.

The Filipino, however, is not taking Diaz for granted.

"He can punch, he's not careless. He has a chance to win," said Pacquiao.

"He likes to come forward and I like to fight a guy like that. I can't take him lightly."

Diaz, who has won 34 of his 36 fights and gained 17 knockout victories, agreed with his opponent.