JULIAN TURNER

I should probably thank TrueVisions for making sure I got a decent night's sleep last Saturday.

If they had told me, and any other potential viewers, that I would be able to watch Asian superstar Manny Pacquiao challenge WBC lightweight champion David Diaz live last Sunday morning I might have been too restless with the prospect of such an exciting fight.

As it was, I was blissfully unaware that it was going to be shown and so had a good six hours of sleep before my 19-month-old son woke me up to go outside and get breakfast as usual.

The fight wasn't advertised in the magazine and it wasn't on the website when I checked at 11.30pm on Saturday before leaving the Bangkok Post office.

Manny Pacquiao

I accepted it wasn't going to be on and so was ready to check the internet on my telephone for the result.

After my son and I finished our breakfast, we headed back inside and I quickly checked channel 67 to see what the situation was.

Instead of the annoying test signal, Thailand's Pol Gen Kovid Bhakdibhumi was sat at ringside looking at the camera.

He was the WBC supervisor for the card and it was great to see him there, especially as he sounded so enthusiastic when he told me he was going at the Veeraphol Nakornlunag v Vusi Malinga fight last month in Nonthaburi.

In the foreground, WBO featherweight Steven Luevano was having a real battle on his hands with Mario Santiago.

It was the sixth round.

What a great surprise it turned out to be, although I wonder how many potential viewers (and paying subscribers) missed out on being so lucky because of the complete lack of advance warning that this was going to be broadcast.

If you did miss it then it might be worth contacting TrueVisions to tell them that you would like to be informed what they are spending your money on.

Anyway, the whole bill turned out to be one of the best I have seen this year and contained a little bit of everything.

Luevano really had to battle to get a draw. It was good to see him pushed after widely outpointing Terdsak Jandaeng in March (although Terdsak decked him in the fourth).

Next up was a heavyweight battle between white American Tye Fields (40-1 going in) and Monte Barrett (33-6).

The Americans are so desperate to find a decent heavyweight that some pundits were seriously touting large-but-limited Fields as the next big thing.

I never agreed with that but was still shocked to see him get knocked out after just 57 seconds.

There is something special about watching a 203cm giant fall to the canvas, especially against a much smaller man.

If only someone could do the same to Wladimir Klitschko.

When MC Michael Buffer made his usual overblown declaration after the fight ... "and the winner Moonnteeeeee Baaaarrrrett", my son raised both his arms in the air to copy Barrett and also mimicked Buffer's words. That's my boy!

Next up was Humberto Soto, who somehow managed a disqualification win over Francisco Lorenzo when he looked to have been stopped.

Soto's nose was broken, his eye was gashed and he was badly hurt yet referee Joe Cortez gave him the victory.

It was a strange fight but one that contained plenty of drama.

The main event proved a great match with Pacquiao at the top of his game against an incredibly tough Diaz.

Pacquiao has to rate as the most exciting boxer in the world right now and this victory showcased his speed, accuracy and power even though he was at lightweight for the first time.

Pol Gen Kovid said before he set off for Vegas that he wants to find a Thai version of Filipino Pacquiao and I think every country in the world is on a similar search.

Perhaps Thai super-bantamweight Poonsawat Kratingdaengym will make a big impression in the States in the future because he has an all-action style that the Americans would love and he hasn't boxed there yet.

Pacquiao, though, is a one-off so it's best not to expect too much.

So, thanks must go to TrueVisions for bringing us this great card - but next time I wouldn't mind a few nerves the night before while I look forward to it.

juliant@bangkokpost.co.th