The Most Underrated Fighter in Boxing:
David Diaz
by
Julius Stecker
11/10 -
Every time I hear about a guy deserving of a title shot one name pops in my head...and it's none other than jr. welterweight David Diaz. The 28-year old, top contender has been a fighter who has done everything asked of him. And he has done everything possible to be in the right place when the time comes. It's time to put his name near the top of a short list of excellent jr. welterweights. If Diaz were a Don King or a Bob Arum promoted fighter, fans wouldn't hear the end of how good this guy could be, but that just isn't the case as he remains a free agent, and with that comes a lack of hype and big-time fights. Diaz is holding his head high and understands
his time will come, hopefully in 2005.
Nobody is talking about him and from a fans perspective, I just can't
understand why. The Chicago-native Diaz is a personable guy, who is a
former
Olympian. Along with an undefeated record, 25-0, 13 KO's, he brings an
exciting style to the ring packed with action and skill.
Here is a question for all the networks and promotional companies...
what
more do you want from a fighter than what you could get in the
140-pound
package of David Diaz? With a fight looming on the horizon against the
talented and undefeated Demtrius Hopkins this coming February at
Mohegan
Sun, TalkingBoxing.com caught up with boxing's most underrated fighter.
Diaz just recently returned from Australia, where he sparred with IBF
Jr.
Welterweight Champion Kosta Tszyu and prepared him for a complete
destruction over Sharmba Mitchell this past Saturday.
Diaz came away impressed with the world champ saying, "I was impressed
with
his work ethic, he is very smart. He knows how to make a fighter commit
and
he makes them pay for it. And his pressure is immense."
Diaz also mentioned that being a sparring partner of Tszyu had its
perks in
Australia. "I was waiting in the line at the airport and they asked
what I
was here for, and I said to spar with Kosta Tszyu, and he told he me to
go
straight to front of the line."
Diaz explained that the sparring experience with Tszyu, only proved to
him
what he already knew. That he is ready for title shot.
"I think I am ready for a world title. I have always said that patience
is a
virtue." And for Diaz that theory has held true his entire career.
In 2004, he handled Emanuel Augustus with relative ease, and his
destruction
of Ener Julio even won over some of his toughest critics. Yet even
though he
defeated two very respectable opponents, nobody seems to talk about him
or
mention him as a potential foe. Diaz is willing and able to take on all
comers from 135-140.
"I feel comfortable at 135, and feel comfortable at 140. I have a fight
on
Dec 3rd, and I plan on coming in at 136 or 137. I would need a fight
against
a tough 135 pound fighter before I would fight a champion at that
weight,"
Diaz said.
Jr. welterweight or 140-pounds is Diaz's natural weight, and he would
love
to touch gloves and tangle with the likes of Floyd Mayweather Jr.,
Miguel
Cotto, Sharmba Mitchell, Arturo Gatti or Kosta Tszyu, but his
opportunity
will have to wait until 2005.
December 3rd against a dangerous TBA, and February 18th against
Demetrius
Hopkins will go a long in showing what Diaz has to offer to the sport.
Diaz left us with some final thoughts on his future. "Dec 3rd will be a
very
exciting fight. In 2005, I will be in a title fight and not watching it
at
home!"
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