Javier Fortuna surprised that JoJo Diaz agreed to meet him

Javier Fortuna was shocked when he realized that JoJo Diaz had accepted a suggestion to struggle him.

The 2 will collide in an all-southpaw important occasion on July 9 for a tertiary light-weight title in a scheduled 12-rounder at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles. DAZN will present the battle.

Fortuna (36-2-1, 25 KOs), a Dominican Republic native primarily based in Braintree, Massachusetts, was initially slated to tackle contender Ryan Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs). Nevertheless, two weeks after their bout was introduced, the 21-year-old social media sensation abruptly withdrew to deal with his psychological well being. Days later, Garcia was seen in Hawaii and was again to coaching roughly two weeks after, teasing a doable ring return for September.

Fortuna rapidly touched on the Garcia struggle falling by the cracks.

“I do know there’s a God above, and he sees all the pieces,” he advised The Ring. “I checked with God after it occurred, and I wanted him the most effective and stated that he might take his time. Then I noticed that Ryan Garcia was coaching after I introduced my struggle [with Diaz], and I noticed him in Hawaii together with his spouse. He regarded fairly completely satisfied to me. I used to be fairly upset when that occurred.”

However the former 130-pound titlist in Diaz (30-1, 15 KOs) stepped as much as the batter’s field.

He misplaced his IBF title on the scales and fought Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov to a majority draw on February 21 in California. The 28-year-old Diaz was craving to place that embarrassing episode previously. And the one method for him to try this from his vantage level was to take a danger.

It’s “Joseph” extra typically than “JoJo” now, indicating a need to purpose for an upgraded stage of maturity, diligence and efficiency.

“I began considering and plotting on learn how to get proper again into the ring and learn how to get my identify a family identify as soon as once more, and on that pedestal and on that high of the leads once more. I have to be there once more,” Diaz stated. “And I actually need to go on the market and showcase to all people that that wasn’t me that evening, and I’m an elite fighter, and I’m a star so I began praying to God, man, issues simply ended up taking place my method, man.”

Fortuna was impressed by Diaz’s fortitude however is hopeful that he comes able to struggle. “I by no means thought he would settle for the struggle with me. I used to be uncertain at first as a result of he was at 130 kilos. However as days went on, I heard that he had formally accepted [the offer] to struggle me,” Fortuna stated. “Now, I simply hope he doesn’t have any excuses on the day of the struggle.

“I don’t need him to have excuses [if things don’t go his way]. As a result of some fighters after they lose say, ‘I misplaced due to this purpose or that purpose.’ I hope we placed on an excellent struggle for the boxing followers.”

Fortuna was purported to face former three-division world champion Jorge Linares final August, however Golden Boy canceled your complete card after Linares examined constructive for COVID-19.

Three months later, Fortuna scored a sixth-round knockout of Antonio Lozada Torres in a scheduled 10-round headliner in Los Angeles.

The 32-year-old held the WBA tremendous feather title in 2015—he beat Bryan Velasquez for a vacant belt, defended in opposition to Carlos Ivan Velasquez, after which dropped it to Jason Sosa.

Fortuna obtained a title shot versus IBF light-weight titlist Robert Easter in 2018, however came in overweight, and misplaced through break up determination.

A victory over Diaz would put Fortuna in place for an additional title shot try.