Juan Diaz goes in and makes good fighters quit and exhibit the I’m completely licked look, just as Erik Morales displayed in his second loss to Manny Pacquiao. It’s the look of a warrior who is comfortable conceding that on that night the other fellow is better. It’s so sad and strange to see such proud pugs who have shown they will keep pushing to win until their bodies no longer respond, admit to the world continuing is useless, their warrior spirit exorcised if only for one night. It’s as if they are lifted a huge burden, a calm and relaxed state, knowing they did their best (in most cases). They get the fight beat out of them.
Some would argue that Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz were a bit out of it when they faced Juan Diaz. Freitas was faded and had already surrendered once, while Diaz appeared lifeless.
But a better argument is it’s the chubby champs fast hands, aggressive style, conditioning, solid chin and especially his accurate combination punching that had everything to do with it.
He is a stubborn pressure fighter who what he lacks in power, he makes up for with fast and fluid combinations. It almost works to lure the other fellow to think, oh that shot was nothing and I don’t even feel those while trying to land his own stuff, then finds himself in a corner where they are debating whether or not they should send him out.
Diaz is only twenty-four and is blessed with the above-mentioned qualities that he preserves by living clean and training hard. He still lives with his parents, the ultimate in always on your ass. He will only get better and so will his competition (hopefully). He called out Manny Pacquiao, another pressure phenom, with a “He’s been beating old Mexican warriors, now he can face a young Mexican warrior” line that would make any promoter’s pants throb.
Pacquiao would be facing a bigger version of himself whose shots will mean more, as he would be testing the lightweight waters. It would make a hell of fight and I would pick Diaz. At that weight, in my opinion, the deficiencies in Pacquiao’s game would no longer be shrouded by his physical advantages.
A good game to liven up any Lennox Lewis analyzed card is to have a shot every time he says “definitely” or “absolutely”. Is it good times? Definitely! Will you be lit? Absolutely!
I absolutely (pretty clever) agree with Winky Wright that a fight with Oscar De La Hoya definitely (too much) makes sense. As he alluded to, Floyd Mayweather will beat Ricky Hatton. Wright has two wins over the fellow that beat him twice, Shane Mosley, and a near shutout over the Felix Trinidad, who won a controversial decision over De La Hoya. De La Hoya knocked out Fernando Vargas, who won a controversial decision over Wright. And they both lost to badass Bernard Hopkins, De La Hoya by knockout and Wright by controversial decision (to some).
They could act like Kanye with all the money they would make, being De La Hoya can sell a pay-per-view fighting a traffic violation and Wright is one of the more recognizable and visible current fighters.
They should really start looking into a senior circuit for boxing, why not leg the geezers go at it with dignity. Their drawing power could help up and comers get their name out on the undercards. Take advantage of the all the hard work and time invested in the old timers (exploitation?). I know the alphabet soup of straps would love having a senior champ distinction to lap up sanctioning fees. If you’re reading this Jose Suliaman, my e-mail address is at the bottom of the page, holla.
Fernando Vargas had the weight pushed up to 168 for his bout against Ricardo Mayorga (a senior circuit candidate, hmm). “Menos tortilla,” (less tortilla) as my momma would say. I can only imagine what the line BoDog will put on the over/under for Vargas’ weight. Being it’s his last fight (or one of many, considering the nature of the business) the smart money will be on the over.
Stan “The Man” Martniouk (22) out of Antelope (near Sacramento, my hometown) and originally from Estonia (near Russia) is finally set to make his pro debut after a distinguished amateur career tonight in Oroville on the Feather Falls Casino Fight Night.
Finally because he was set to fight in on the now infamous Joey Gilbert testing positive for steroids card until his foe backed out after hearing of the 2007 California Golden Glove champ and 2007 National Golden Glove bronze medal winner’s accolades, this after already flying in to Reno, Nevada from San Jacinto, California. The tall for lightweight (5’10) was once described to me by his trainer, Seifudeen Mateen, of Matten Boxing Gym in Sacramento, as fast fighter with a pro style. Let’s hope “The Man” can finally get some work.
The card will be vying for the dollars of Sacramento’s boxing community against a ShoeBox event also tonight. The Oroville (just outside of Sacramento) card is indoors while the ShoeBox event will take place in Raley Field, home to the Sacramento triple A baseball squad the Rivercat’s. They brilliantly scheduled at a time of year when it’s usually rainy and freezing inside the riverside park and tonight looks be same. However, the weather is a moody trollop here, for boxings sake, I hope she’s in a good one tomorrow.
M
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