[ad_1]
By Max Schramm: Newly topped WBC interim light-weight champion Joseph ‘Jo Jo Diaz Jr (32-1-1, 15 KOs) needs to combat Ryan Garcia or WBC 135-lb champion Devin Haney after defeating Javier Fortuna (36-3-1, 25 KOs) by a 12 spherical unanimous resolution for the vacant interim WBC 135lb strap final Friday evening on the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
This was the 28-year-old Diaz’s first official combat at light-weight after failing to make weight for his final combat in opposition to Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in a bid to seize the vacant IBF 130-lb title earlier this yr in February. That combat was dominated a 12 spherical draw, though many boxing followers felt that ‘Jo Jo’ Diaz Jr had executed sufficient to win.
This was Diaz’s first combat at 135; he regarded good, outworking the 32-year-old former WBA tremendous featherweight champion Fortuna over 12 rounds to get the ‘W’ in opposition to.
Diaz Jr confirmed flaws in his recreation
There have been clearly some issues to not like about Diaz’s efficiency in opposition to Fortuna. His punching energy wasn’t nearly as good because it’ll must be for him to contend in opposition to guys like Vasily Lomachenko, Ryan Garcia, Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, or Teofimo Lopez.
Additionally, how Diaz Jr fought in spurts in opposition to Fortuna that won’t get the job executed in opposition to the elite lightweights within the division, it labored in opposition to Fortuna, however he’s a man on the draw back of his profession and never the fighter he was once a few years in the past.
The scores for Diaz Jr vs. Fortuna combat have been as follows:
This author agrees with the 115-112 rating. Diaz Jr did sufficient to win, however there have been many shut rounds by which Fortuna outworked and out-landed him.
The shortage of energy for Diaz Jr was noticeable all through. Though he landed some selection pictures sometimes, he wasn’t capable of join with energy steadily.
When Diaz Jr did sit down on his right-hand punches, he bought the eye of Fortuna, however there wasn’t sufficient of them. A fighter like Ryan Garcia would seemingly have taken Fortuna out within the first three rounds together with his highly effective left hook.
These two have been purported to combat final Friday evening, however Ryan pulled out for private causes in his life. It’s clearly too late for Ryan to combat Fortuna now, however it could have been attention-grabbing to have seen what he might have executed with him final evening.
Jo Jo overcame obstacles
Diaz Jr was lower early over his proper eye from a conflict of heads, and he needed to combat with the blood leaking from the third spherical.
There was some rabbit punching from each guys that ultimately price Diaz Jr some extent within the fourth. He got here storming again after the penalization to get the higher of Fortuna within the spherical, which evened issues out.
That’s a wise factor that fighters are taught after being docked factors. They’re instructed to assault onerous, and Diaz Jr was sensible to verify he didn’t lose the spherical.
Diaz Jr damage Fortuna within the tenth spherical with a large proper hand to the top throughout an alternate of pictures. That was the one time within the combat when each guys flurried, and Fortuna bought the worst of it.
What was attention-grabbing was how Diaz Jr did not capitalize on Fortuna being damage. Diaz Jr took it simple within the subsequent spherical, utilizing the three minutes to relaxation moderately than persevering with the place he’d left off within the tenth.
Was it a mistake on Diaz’s half? The highest guys like Ryan Garcia, Lomachenko, Tank, and Teofimo would have tried to complete the job in the event that they have been in Diaz’s footwear.
Joseph Diaz Jr needs Ryan Garcia or Haney
“I can combat all the highest guys at 135 kilos,” stated Diaz after the combat. “I need Ryan Garcia or Devin Haney. Let’s make this s— occur.
“I’ve been sparring 160 pounders. I’ve all the time labored with greater guys my complete life,” stated Diaz.
With Diaz Jr combating now at 135, he reminds this author plenty of the stocky Vinny Pazienza, an excellent puncher within the decrease weight courses however not practically as highly effective when he moved up in weight to chase paydays in opposition to bigger fighters.
Diaz Jr isn’t an enormous puncher for the 135-lb division, and he noticed that final evening him needing to go the gap with Fortuna. Within the light-weight division, Diaz Jr can be compelled to win fights by 12 spherical choices moderately than rely on knocking out his opposition.
What meaning is that Diaz Jr will get plenty of put on & tear in his fights, and he’ll be stopped ultimately when he faces an enormous puncher like Tank or Ryan Garcia.
The best way that Diaz Jr fought and spurts that won’t work for him in opposition to the higher fighters. Clearly, Diaz Jr doesn’t have the stamina wanted to combat onerous for a full three-minute spherical with out combating in spurts.
“JoJo as soon as once more confirmed plenty of guts, plenty of braveness, and an enormous coronary heart,” Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya stated. “His first combat at 135 was not too shabby. I believe he did an excellent job in opposition to a man who’s been prevented for years.”
It wasn’t a shabby efficiency by Jo Jo Diaz Jr, nevertheless it wasn’t the kind of efficiency that provides one confidence that he can defeat the highest canines at light-weight. When you put Diaz Jr in with Vasily Lomachenko, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Teofimo, or Tank Davis, he loses to all of them.
Haney a greater choice for Joseph
Diaz Jr is best at 130, nevertheless it’s too troublesome for him to make weight for the tremendous featherweight division at this level in his profession. Therefore, he’s now campaigning at 135, and he appears to be like like a #5 or #6 man within the division.
When you’re Ryan Garcia, this could be a wonderful combat for him in opposition to Diaz Jr down the highway. With the lower that Diaz Jr sustained final evening, he received’t combat Ryan Garcia or Haney till 2022. That lower goes to want time to heal.
Haney is the higher choice for Diaz Jr as a result of he wouldn’t have to fret about getting hit by something large like he would if he fought Ryan.
Associated:
Learn: Dillian Whyte wants WBC to strip Tyson Fury of title
NEXT: WBA will not reinstate Manny Pacquiao as 147-lb Super Champion
Extra Boxing Information:
Source link
