Juan Diaz staged another sensational performance Saturday in Chicago, systematically destroying Julio Diaz to unify the WBA, IBF and WBO lightweight titles.
Now – after forcing his second consecutive opponent to quit on his stool following the eighth round – the University of Houston student who someday wants to be a lawyer is targeting boxing’s graduate school.
More specifically, Manny Pacquiao.
“
He just beat a legendary Mexican fighter,” Juan told HBO’s Larry Merchant, referring to Pacquiao’s decision victory over Marco Antonio Barrera last week in Las Vegas. “Now I think it’s time for him to step in with a young Mexican warrior.”
Juan Diaz vs. Pacquiao is suddenly one of the best fights in boxing after the “Baby Bull’s” stunning 2007 campaign that included an April destruction of former world champion Acelino Freitas, and Saturday’s demolition of Julio Diaz.
Both fights were eerily similar: Juan DiazÂ’s opponent tries to slug with him; Juan DiazÂ’s opponent realizes he canÂ’t slug with him; Juan DiazÂ’s opponent gives up.
Even Merchant himself remarked that he has never quite seen a fighter like Juan Diaz, who uses a spectacular blend of hand speed, volume punching and sheer aggressiveness to overwhelm his opponents.
“
I feel like I’m on top of the world right now,” Juan said after improving to 33-0 (17 knockouts). “I feel like I’m King Kong.”
More “Tazmanian Devil” than King Kong.
From the outset Saturday, Juan Diaz was firmly in control. He attacked with us usual ferocity and, early on, Julio Diaz engaged him – and an entertaining fight ensued.
But it was obvious that it was a fight that Coachella, CaliforniaÂ’s Julio Diaz was going to lose.
With the longer arms and the leaner body, Julio Diaz would have been wise to use his jab and legs to dance, in an attempt to frustrate his short, squat opponent.
And though he tried the strategy in spots, he seemed more interested in slugging it out and proving a point.
And the point he proved was that he canÂ’t beat Juan Diaz at his own game. Maybe nobody can.
By the end of the first round, Julio DiazÂ’s good-looking face was already marked up and cut.
That face also wore a surprised expression – similar to the one worn by Freitas six months ago. It’s as though opponents are shocked at Julio Diaz’s workrate.
Saturday, it was more impressive than ever.
Six, seven, eight, even nine-punch combinations were caroming off of Julio DiazÂ’s head and body. Vicious hooks to the liver. Torpedo-like uppercuts to the chin.
By the end of the second round, Julio Diaz was good as done. Juan DiazÂ’s faster hands told the story.
Julio Diaz, 34-4 (25 KOs), tried various avenues in a vain attempt to hang in there. He turned southpaw. He tried to use feints. He tried to move from side to side.
But, with his energy already zapped from the dynamo in front of him, nothing worked. And by the seventh round, his face was showing serious abuse, and his cornermen were threatening to stop the fight.
Two rounds later, the fight was indeed stopped – though it wasn’t clear whether the cornermen surrendered or Julio Diaz simply stopped fighting. The official time was one second into the ninth round.
It didnÂ’t really matter. Boxing is the real winner now that the Texan Juan Diaz is at the top of the lightweight division.
Purists would like to see him against the recognized “Ring” Magazine 135-pound champ, Joel Casamayor. Others might want to see him against Chicago-based WBC champ David Diaz, the recent Erik Morales conqueror who was an interested observer at ringside Saturday.
Both would be interesting matchups.
But Juan Diaz’s performance may have put him at the forefront of the Manny Pacquiao sweepstakes. After “Pac-Man’s” second victory over Barrera last week, the Filipino superstar indicated that he might soon jump from his perch at 130 pounds to the 135 pound division.
Given both fightersÂ’ aggressive styles and durability, youÂ’d have to think that thatÂ’s the fight most people want to see.
Meanwhile, Juan Diaz savored victory Saturday in Chicago.
“
I don’t know if it was easy,” Juan Diaz told Merchant. “(Julio) was a tough fighter. He surprised me tonight. He stayed right in front of me. I thought he would box more. But he was in there trading with me. Julio can punch. I’ll give him that. He’s a very tough warrior.”
Juan Diaz landed 339 of 774 punches for a connect percentage of 44 percent. Julio Diaz landed 185 of 885 punches for a connect percentage of 21 percent.
Juan Diaz landed 47 percent of his power punches; Julio Diaz 23 percent.
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