Dewey's Diva
07-24-2006, 01:19 PM
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4066729.html
July 23, 2006, 11:46PM
BOXING NOTEBOOK
Speed, not power, butters Diaz's bread
WBA champion wants to prove he can stand with the best of them
By WILLIAM H. STICKNEY JR.
His goal is to one day determine whether he belongs alongside some of the great world lightweight champions ever to step into the boxing ring.
Juan Diaz, the undefeated World Boxing Association champion at a law student at the University of Houston-Downtown, took a step toward reaching that goal July 15 when, in his latest title defense, he overpowered Randy Suico of the Philippines at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Maybe "overpowered" is a term with which HBO broadcaster Jim Lampley would take exception.
During his blow-by-blow work, Lampley said Diaz showed himself in nearly every aspect to be one of the finest boxers on the scene.
There was a caveat. Lampley said the only thing that separates Diaz from being boxing's signature personality is his lack of punching power.
"I'm not naturally gifted with power, so I've got to use what I am gifted with," Diaz said Sunday. "That's my stamina and my speed."
Suico didn't fall in the face of Diaz. It was nothing like the opponents who once caved in while facing Mike Tyson.
But the Filipino was a knockout victim nonetheless. A flurry of Diaz's punches-in-bunches resulted in the bout being stopped at 2:06 of the ninth round.
Half of Diaz's 30 victories have come by knockout. Still, he isn't considered to be a big puncher like former world champion Jose Luis Castillo (54-7-1, 47) or Diego Corrales (40-3, 33), the World Boxing Council's 135-pound titleist.
Like Diaz, Willie Savannah, his manager, has no qualms about the lack of punching power.
"Your hands can't go as fast if you're trying to knock somebody out with every punch," Savannah said.
Despite Lampley citing Diaz for his lack of power, he said he thought Diaz would do well in a fight with Corrales or World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Acelino Freitas if given the opportunity.
Diaz wants the chance to face one or both of them and prove himself.
"Not a lot of fighters see me as being a big threat toward becoming one of the best lightweights in history," said Diaz. "But I think that if I take it slowly and I beat all these great champions, eventually I'm going to get the recognition that's coming to me."
Change is in the air
Willie Savannah said Sunday he and the Juan Diaz camp are in negotiations to determine whether they'll remain under contract with Main Events Inc., a New Jersey promoter.
Main Events has until the end of August to decide whether to re-sign the WBA lightweight champion or allow him to test the free-agent market.
"They've got first right of refusal," Savannah said. "Hopefully, we'll be able to square all of this stuff away so Juan can go ahead and (move) on."
He said the negotiations nixed the chance for Diaz to face Diego Corrales in early October.
"'The negotiation period with Main Events is not going to be over with until August, so that's not enough time for Juan to prepare for Diego," Savannah said.
Diaz has been under contract with Main Events since he turned pro just before the 2000 Olympics.
Time for a rematch
Will the sequel be even more exciting than the original?
Boxing fans certainly seem to believe the Sept. 16 rematch between Rocky Juarez and WBC super-featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera will be.
Oscar De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions, the group that handles Barrera, reports ticket sales to the MGM Grand-Las Vegas fight card sold at a brisk rate after they hit the market July 15.
When the boxers first met on May 20 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Juarez outfought and outworked Barrera, but the bout initially ended in a draw.
Some 20 minutes after the original verdict had been announced, the decision was overturned due to a mathematical mistake in the scorecards.
Barrera ultimately was awarded the victory by a point.
Mayhem at the Meridian
On Friday night, the Meridian nightclub in downtown Houston will host a card featuring "up-and-comers" in mixed martial arts.
The eight- to 10-bout card is scheduled to start at 8 p.m.
Headlining is undefeated Renegades Tournament champion Raymond Hubbard of Houston. The four-time Dungal Champion weighs over 300 pounds.
Tickets for Mayhem at the Meridian are $20 for general admission, $50 for VIP seating and $100 for VIP ringside seats. Tickets are on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets.
Leben looks to rebound
Chris Leben will face Jorge Santiago at the Ultimate Fighting Championship event on Spike on Aug. 17.
"I don't really know a lot about him," said Leben. "He sounds like a very tough guy from (the) American Top Team. I'm just excited to get back in there and compete."
Leben is coming off a loss in June that ended a five-fight winning streak.
Fellow The Ultimate Fighter veteran Diego Sanchez will face Karo Parisyan in the main event at Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa in Las Vegas.
July 23, 2006, 11:46PM
BOXING NOTEBOOK
Speed, not power, butters Diaz's bread
WBA champion wants to prove he can stand with the best of them
By WILLIAM H. STICKNEY JR.
His goal is to one day determine whether he belongs alongside some of the great world lightweight champions ever to step into the boxing ring.
Juan Diaz, the undefeated World Boxing Association champion at a law student at the University of Houston-Downtown, took a step toward reaching that goal July 15 when, in his latest title defense, he overpowered Randy Suico of the Philippines at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Maybe "overpowered" is a term with which HBO broadcaster Jim Lampley would take exception.
During his blow-by-blow work, Lampley said Diaz showed himself in nearly every aspect to be one of the finest boxers on the scene.
There was a caveat. Lampley said the only thing that separates Diaz from being boxing's signature personality is his lack of punching power.
"I'm not naturally gifted with power, so I've got to use what I am gifted with," Diaz said Sunday. "That's my stamina and my speed."
Suico didn't fall in the face of Diaz. It was nothing like the opponents who once caved in while facing Mike Tyson.
But the Filipino was a knockout victim nonetheless. A flurry of Diaz's punches-in-bunches resulted in the bout being stopped at 2:06 of the ninth round.
Half of Diaz's 30 victories have come by knockout. Still, he isn't considered to be a big puncher like former world champion Jose Luis Castillo (54-7-1, 47) or Diego Corrales (40-3, 33), the World Boxing Council's 135-pound titleist.
Like Diaz, Willie Savannah, his manager, has no qualms about the lack of punching power.
"Your hands can't go as fast if you're trying to knock somebody out with every punch," Savannah said.
Despite Lampley citing Diaz for his lack of power, he said he thought Diaz would do well in a fight with Corrales or World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Acelino Freitas if given the opportunity.
Diaz wants the chance to face one or both of them and prove himself.
"Not a lot of fighters see me as being a big threat toward becoming one of the best lightweights in history," said Diaz. "But I think that if I take it slowly and I beat all these great champions, eventually I'm going to get the recognition that's coming to me."
Change is in the air
Willie Savannah said Sunday he and the Juan Diaz camp are in negotiations to determine whether they'll remain under contract with Main Events Inc., a New Jersey promoter.
Main Events has until the end of August to decide whether to re-sign the WBA lightweight champion or allow him to test the free-agent market.
"They've got first right of refusal," Savannah said. "Hopefully, we'll be able to square all of this stuff away so Juan can go ahead and (move) on."
He said the negotiations nixed the chance for Diaz to face Diego Corrales in early October.
"'The negotiation period with Main Events is not going to be over with until August, so that's not enough time for Juan to prepare for Diego," Savannah said.
Diaz has been under contract with Main Events since he turned pro just before the 2000 Olympics.
Time for a rematch
Will the sequel be even more exciting than the original?
Boxing fans certainly seem to believe the Sept. 16 rematch between Rocky Juarez and WBC super-featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera will be.
Oscar De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions, the group that handles Barrera, reports ticket sales to the MGM Grand-Las Vegas fight card sold at a brisk rate after they hit the market July 15.
When the boxers first met on May 20 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Juarez outfought and outworked Barrera, but the bout initially ended in a draw.
Some 20 minutes after the original verdict had been announced, the decision was overturned due to a mathematical mistake in the scorecards.
Barrera ultimately was awarded the victory by a point.
Mayhem at the Meridian
On Friday night, the Meridian nightclub in downtown Houston will host a card featuring "up-and-comers" in mixed martial arts.
The eight- to 10-bout card is scheduled to start at 8 p.m.
Headlining is undefeated Renegades Tournament champion Raymond Hubbard of Houston. The four-time Dungal Champion weighs over 300 pounds.
Tickets for Mayhem at the Meridian are $20 for general admission, $50 for VIP seating and $100 for VIP ringside seats. Tickets are on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets.
Leben looks to rebound
Chris Leben will face Jorge Santiago at the Ultimate Fighting Championship event on Spike on Aug. 17.
"I don't really know a lot about him," said Leben. "He sounds like a very tough guy from (the) American Top Team. I'm just excited to get back in there and compete."
Leben is coming off a loss in June that ended a five-fight winning streak.
Fellow The Ultimate Fighter veteran Diego Sanchez will face Karo Parisyan in the main event at Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa in Las Vegas.