RSSJuan Diaz
Monday, February 11, 2008
Maskaev vs Peter in Cancun, March 8
CANCUN, Mexico - The first world heavyweight championship ever staged in Mexico will take place in Cancun’s Plaza de Torros on Saturday, March 8 when World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev makes the second defense of his title against WBC interim heavyweight champion Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter to determine the sole WBC heavyweight champion.
The two had been scheduled to meet in New York’s Madison Square Garden on Oct. 6, but a back injury forced Maskaev to pull out of the fight on Sept. 21.
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Sunday, October 14, 2007
Diaz vs Diaz Post-Fight Ring Quotes
Juan Diaz (33-0, 17 KOs) “I thought Julio was going to box me more but he came to fight. That surprised me. I was able to lure him into my kind of fight, a toe to toe action fight. Julio had decent power which also surprised me.
It’s great if Pacquiao moves up to the lightweight limit of 135 pounds. I’d like to show my talents against a fighter of his skills. Pacquiao just fought an older Mexican warrior. Now he ought to fight a young Mexican warrior like me.
“Joel Casamayor wants to fight everybody. He’s an older fighter. I’d rather fight the best young fighters out there.”
Julio Diaz (34-4, 25 KOs) “I couldn’t get started tonight. Juan has a lot of energy. I tightened up when I tried to overpower him. Juan’s a hyper kid with a lot of heart.
“My brother Joel in my corner thought I was getting to hit too much, so he stopped the fight after the eighth round. It was Juan’s night tonight.”
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Monday, October 08, 2007
HBO to Replay Pacquiao-Barrera
It’s a special edition of HBO Boxing After Dark when HBO Sports presents the exclusive replay of the super featherweight showdown Manny Pacquiao vs Marco Antonio Barrera II Saturday, October 13th, 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO. The HBO Sports team, which was ringside for the live event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, calls all the action.
The fight, which took place Oct. 6 and was carried live on HBO Pay-Per-View, featured the highly anticipated rematch. Pacquiao scored a unanimous decision victory.
Following the Pacquiao-Barrera II replay, HBO will present the previously announced HBO Boxing After Dark lightweight unification title matchup between Juan Diaz and Julio Diaz from Chicago.
HBO2 playdates for both fights: Oct. 14 (9:00 a.m., 4:45 p.m.) and 16 (11:00 p.m.). Times are ET/PT.
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Friday, September 14, 2007
King, Diaz Press Conference Quotes
One of the most exciting prizefighters in boxing, undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Lightweight Champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz, and Sycuan Ringside Promotions’ reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) Lightweight Champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz will meet in a compelling lightweight world-title unification match at Chicagoland’s new Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Saturday, Oct. 13.
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Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Juan and Julio Diaz Press Conference Quotes
Don King hosted a press conference today in Chicago attended by Juan Diaz and Julio Diaz formally announcing their lightweight world championship unification match (WBA, WBO, IBF) at Sears Centre in nearby Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Oct. 13.
Both proud Mexicans were respectful of one another, but said and reiterated the fight is of tremedous personal importance to each of them.
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Friday, June 08, 2007
Johnston Calls Out Juan and Julio Diaz
LAS VEGAS - Four-time world lightweight champion and reigning IBA title-holder Stevie “Lil’ But Bad” Johnson has issued challenges to two of the three Diaz world lightweight champs - (WBA/WBO) Juan, and (IBF) Julio - as well as leading contender Joel Casmayor for a proposed title fight August 11 at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
Johnston’s promoter, Silverhawk Championship Boxing, recently sent substantial purse offers to representatives of the aforementioned lightweights with the understanding that a potential television deal would considerably increase the offer. None have yet to accept the challenge to fight Johnston.
David Diaz (32-1-1, 17 KOs) isn’t available because he’s scheduled to defend his WBC title August 4 against Erik Morales, while Juan (32-0. 16 KOs) reportedly has to fight his mandatory next.
Johnston (41-4-1, 18 KOs), 34, ruled the lightweight division between 1997 and 2000, capturing the WBC lightweight championship twice between 1997 and 2000, and he had seven successful title defenses. Stevie has beaten five major world champions—Sharmba Mitchell, Jean Baptiste Mendy, Cesar Bazan, James Page, and Alejandro Gonzalez - as well as more than a dozen other major world title challengers.
“Their managers need to go to Home Depot to get some plungers so they can un-pucker their fighters’ butts,” Johnson said. “I’m a real fighter. I worked my way back into position to fight any of those guys. I’m ready to go. It doesn’t matter which one, I just want to fight the best, and eventually unify all of the lightweight titles.”
Silverhawk’s initial offer to Julio Diaz’ people was countered, which was immediately accepted by Silverhawk, and both sides are still talking. “Stevie came up when the lightweight division had fighters like Floyd Mayweather, Shane Mosley, Jose Luis Castillo, Diego Corrales, Angel Manfredy and so many other great fighters,” Rider added. “He’s ready to take on any of today’s top lightweights right now.”
Rider noted that Johnson has nearly as many world title fight wins (12, 9 WBC, 2 IBA & 1 IBO) as the three Diaz champions combined (14 - David 1 WBC, 2 IBA; Juan 7 WBA, 1 WBO; Julio 3 IBF).
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Juan Diaz Becomes Unified Lightweight Champion
MASHANTUCKET, Conn.—World Boxing Association lightweight champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz added the World Boxing Organization championship to his list of accomplishments tonight after Acelino “Popo” Freitas’s trainer Oscar Suarez threw in the towel during the one-minute break between the eighth and ninth rounds at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
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Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Can Acelino Outbox The Bull?
This Saturday at The Foxwoods in Connecticut there will be a lightweight unification fight between WBO title holder Acelino Freitas and WBA kingpin Juan Diaz. Freitas of Brazil was a long time WBO Super Featherweight champion. He failed to win the WBO lightweight title in his first attempt when he was halted by the dangerous Diego Corrales in 2004. The now 31 year old Freitas claimed the vacated WBO crown in 2006 with a split decision over the slick Zahir Raheem.
The 23 year old Juan Diaz was born in Mexico but fights out of Houston, Texas. He is undefeated in thirty one fights and he has held the WBA version of the title since beating Lavka Kim in 2004. He has made five successful defenses. Between the two fighters their combined record is 69-1!
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Thursday, March 08, 2007
Freitas-Diaz Bout to Occur at Foxwoods
Promoters Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions and Don King/Don King Productions will present a sensational world title unification fight on Saturday, April 28, 2007, at Foxwoods Resort Casino, located at 39 Norwich Westerly Road in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The main event will be televised live on HBO.
WBO lightweight world champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas, 38-1 with 32 knockouts, of Salvador, Brazil, will face WBA lightweight world champion Juan “El Torito” Diaz, 31-0 with 15 knockouts, of Houston, Texas, in the main event scheduled for 12 rounds for the unified WBO-WBA lightweight championship of the world.
Both fighters are tremendous competitors with exciting styles. Freitas, now 31 years old, is more experienced at the championship level and is known for his one-punch knockout power. He is 13-1 with 9 knockouts in world championship fights and looking to win his fifth world title. He won the WBO jr. lightweight title in August, 1999, and made six successful title defenses before adding the WBA super featherweight world title in January, 2002. Freitas won the WBO lightweight title for the first time in January, 2004, and regained it in his last fight in April, 2006.
Just 23 years old, Diaz brings relentless pressure and nonstop punching to every fight. In spite of his youth, he is already 6-0 with 2 knockouts in world championship fights. Juan won the WBA world title at the age of 20 in July, 2004, and has made five successful title defenses.
An exciting undercard of supporting bouts will be announced. All bouts subject to change without notice.
Monday, January 15, 2007
EEC: January 15, 2007
As you probably noticed by the lack of posts yesterday, it was a pretty slow day in the boxing world. Even so, I still think I found some interesting tidbits to share with everyone…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Floyd Mayweather Sr. told the Grand Rapids Press this past weekend that there still isn’t a deal in place for him to train Oscar De La Hoya for the May 5th mega-fight against his son, Floyd Jr.
What’s the most amazing thing about all of this? Mayweather Sr. hasn’t signed a deal to train Oscar yet not because his is unsure whether or not he wants to train De La Hoya against his own son, but rather because he wants $2 Million because the figh purse is so high. Remarkable…
- This weekend is highlighted by three big fights, one of which isn’t being televised. It’s a heavyweight title bout of all things. I realize that Nikolai Valuev and Jameel McCline might not put on that great of a fight, but the ramifications are still huge for the division and boxing itself.
- Joel Casamayor’s next opponent is said to be down to two canidates: Juan Diaz and Acelino Freitas
- Jermain Taylor’s next title defense may happen on the weekend of April 21 in Atlantic City to coincide with the annual Boxing Writers Association of America dinner which always has a big boxing match take place the day after. So far no possible opponents have been thrown out there…
- Rising Star Delvin Rodriguez has signed with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing according to ESPN. Rodriguez’s manager says the contract is a three-year deal with has multiple extension options based on Rodriguez’s performance in the ring. Rodriguez became a free agent last week after voiding his contract with Northeast Promotions. Don King and Golden Boy Promotions also made offers but were turned down surprisingly.
Some Good Reads:
Some pimpage is in order for The Sweet Science and their daily This Day in History post which has become a daily routine for me.
So what did happen today in history?
On this day in 1983, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) declared that boxing should be banned in all civilized countries.
The notion of banning boxing was discussed even during the sport’s golden age. However, this was the first occasion that the American Medical Association (AMA) had made such a statement. George D. Lundberg, the editor of JAMA, cited the high prevalence of brain damage in professional boxers who have had a substantial number of fights as part of the basis of the AMA’s position.
Since then, other medical organizations have supported this position and the AMA and Lundberg have revisited this issue several times since 1983. An argument could be made that the initial report helped lead to some boxing reforms, such as shorter fights and quicker referee stoppages.
However, it is highly unlikely that boxing will ever be banned in the United States.
Some other nice articles for you…
Doghouse Boxing: A View from the Galaxy: The Road Back for Antonio Tarver
Maxboxing: No More in 2007
Boxing Scene: Jose Luis Castillo: Such Is Life
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