TalkingBoxing Interviews
Nothing but a Bump in the Road for Diaz
THU June 23, JULIUS STECKER - Lightweight contender and recent highly ranked jr. welterweight David Diaz, 27-1, has overcome adversity before, especially the doubters that hovered around him after the 1996 Olympics loss. Diaz recently put himself in position for a world title shot as he looks to silence the critics once again by the end of the year.
Diaz lost to highly regarded Kendall Holt this past February on a 'ShoBox' fight card in what was his first professional prime-time experience. While he gave his best, a bigger Holt just simply out gunned him that night and where other fighters may have wavered, Diaz did not.
Diaz has gone back to the drawing board after that sole loss on his record and feels better then ever.
TalkingBoxing.com caught up with Diaz for a quick update to get his take on his loss to Holt and his comeback.
“I learned from that fight," the Chicago native stated. "I learned that I have to be more patient, and I have to take my time when I am fighting a bigger taller guy. I went after him in the first round, and I didn’t listen to my corner and I got dropped. But I have to listen to my corner in the future, that is what they are there for."
Diaz came back strong in his first comeback fight recently, knocking out journeyman, Tyrone Wiggins, at the beginning of this month on June 2nd. He has plans to fight on the under-card of the Fernando Vargas, August 20th fight-card at the All State Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
“I think this fight will be at lightweight, and I have no problem making that weight. When I fought Jamie Rangel I came in at 136, so making 135 is not a problem.”
Diaz owns wins over the aforementioned Rangel, the respected Emanual Augustus, and former WBO World Champion, Ener Julio, so he knows recovering from the loss to Holt will not be a problem. “That fight against was just a bump in the road," he explained. "Those things happen, it is boxing, and things like losing happen in it.”
If he secures the August 20th fight, it will be an 8-rounder and Diaz wants to make an impression on his fans, and he is hopeful that a primetime opportunity will arise, so long as he wins.
“My fans can expect a beautiful war. I am going to give 150%, and they need to get ready for my best because this last fight was just a bump in the road,” said Diaz. And as most people know, once you get past that bump in the road, the faster you go to where you want to be.
