Boxing may have found itself a new star over the weekend. An unlikely new star. Juan Diaz, the “Baby Bull” from Houston who doesn’t possess the prerequisite abs-of-steel, and who didn’t appear to be anything special upon embarking on a pro career in 2000, shattered all of the preconceived notions about him Saturday at the Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.
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He shattered them – along with what’s left of Acelino Freitas’ honor - with a typical high-energy destruction of the Brazilian icon, who quit on his stool after the eighth round.
  
For Diaz, it was the kind of performance that makes the boxing world stand up and say, “Wow.” And it sparked memories of some of Diaz’ underappreciated predecessors, who were considered good – but not that good – until a single performance sent their stock skyrocketing, enhancing their reputations forever.
   
Predecessors like Julio Cesar Chavez, who was regarded as good - but not great - before his methodical 1987 beating of Edwin Rosario. And like Aaron Pryor, who was considered good – but not great – before his back-to-back knockouts of Alexis Arguello in 1982-83.
    
Now, there’s still a way for Diaz to go before he can be mentioned alongside boxing royalty like Chavez and Pryor. But he took a mammoth leap toward that distinction Saturday.
    
As expected, Diaz attacked from the opening bell, refusing to let Freitas breathe - much less maneuver. What wasn’t expected was the success with which Diaz applied his gameplan.
    
You see, Freitas was the best fighter Diaz had ever faced, a two-time world champ who, despite his inactivity, was still recognized as an elite fighter and one of the sport’s better punchers. The kind of all-out attack that took care of Lavka wasn’t expected to work against a fighter the quality of Freitas.
     
But, it did. Proving Diaz to be more than an okay fighter.
     

These days, it is rare to find a fighter who pressures with the kind of abandon that does Diaz, a student at the University of Houston. It’s all activity, all the time, until the opponent is pooped. And such a gameplan is only possible through superb conditioning, a rock-hard chin and, perhaps most importantly, an undying belief in one self.
    
Sure, Diaz paid for it a few times – such as the second round when Freitas rocked him with a right hand.
    
But he has the intangibles – like the ability to absorb a big punch, and return fire before the sting has worn off. All the greats have that ability. Chavez had it. And Pryor had it. Diaz has it too.
   
At 32-0 (16 knockouts), he proved himself a formidable foe for anybody within three weight divisions.
   
After his ’87 win over Rosario – an upset since Chavez was rising from the 130-pound ranks to challenge the bigger champion – HBO analyst Sugar Ray Leonard said, “This man is going to be so, so difficult to beat.”
    
As it turned out, Sugar Ray’s words proved prophetic. “J.C. Superstar” wasn’t beaten for another seven years. You get the feeling that Diaz will be difficult to beat as well. Call it that Rocky Marciano quality of being more effective than it appears. And better than anyone imagined.
    
Like Marciano, Chavez and Pryor, Diaz is hard to deter.
    
Freitas, meanwhile, suffered serious damage to his reputation, and his legacy.
It was the second quit job of his career – the first being 2004 when he lost to Diego Corrales – and his boxing life is good as over. He retired for a few weeks last year, before returning and announcing his fight with Diaz.
     
But it’s obvious now that Freitas doesn’t want it anymore. He should just get out, and stop ripping off the public.
     
As for Diaz, the future is brighter than anyone could have imagined seven years ago. There’s an exciting lightweight division to contend with – including recognized champ Joel Casamayor and his namesakes in Julio and David Diaz. But the Baby Bull – who does kind of resemble another Texas “Torito,” San Antonio’s Tony Ayala Jr. – seems destined for greater things.
     
Like perhaps a showdown with Manny Pacquiao, a matchup that HBO analyst Max Kellerman alluded to Saturday. Diaz is the kind of big lightweight that may be able to gain “Pac-Man’s” attention. And, given the whirlwind nature of their respective attacks, Diaz-Pacquiao could be one of boxing’s best fights.
      
Besides that, Diaz would like to pay Pacquaio back for destroying his Mexican brothers – namely, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez (though it was a draw) and Erik Morales. It’s a great fight. And a natural progression for Diaz after the quality he showed Saturday.
      
Let’s hope it happens.

M

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