By Jake Donovan
Felix Diaz didn’t waste any time following his career-best win over Sammy Vasquez Jr. – a fight he accepted on short notice, no less - in calling out the sport’s top fighters in and around his weight class.
A dual contender at super lightweight and welterweight, the 2008 Olympic Gold medalist from Dominican Republic angled for a showdown with Terence Crawford, Danny Garcia and Adrien Broner – all of whom were angling for one more fight in 2016 and each in search of an opponent.
He will return to the ring on December 10 – just not in the same ring as Crawford, but instead on a local club show in his native Dominican Republic.
Each of the aforementioned stars now have fight dates scheduled, with Garcia and Broner having secured less-than-inspiring opposition and Crawford on the verge of following suit. The undefeated World super lightweight king has been granted a December 10 slot on HBO, likely to take place versus fringe contender John Molina Jr. in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.
The politics of the sport continue to frustrate Diaz, who has struggled with activity throughout his career and whom remains high-risk, low-reward despite those in his corner. The 32-year old southpaw has been managed by Jose Nunez since turning pro in 2008, and in recent years has aligned with adviser Al Haymon and – this past summer – promoter Lou DiBella.
Like most in the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) circuit, Diaz was forced to watch his pro career come to a screeching halt while awaiting the series’ 2017 rollout. DiBella did his part in attempting to land Diaz one more fight in 2016, personally reaching out to Top Rank and HBO in efforts to secure a showdown with Crawford in a fight that would’ve helped salvage what has been an awful year for the industry as a whole.
Instead, it’s more of the same, as the early – and heavy - rumors of Molina Jr. landing the assignment have left boxing fans with a mere shrug of the shoulders, tired of being offered more of the same when there are better fights to be made.
“I have been calling Crawford out for months with no response,” a frustrated Diaz (18-1, 8KOs) explained to BoxingScene.com. “I understand that his managers (Cameron Dunkin and Bryan McIntyre) want to protect their investment but as a fighter, he should have the balls to demand better opposition. Crawford, Danny Garcia, Adrien Broner - they've all had the chance to fight me this year and they've all ducked me.
“I am I so sick and tired of the boxing politics! It’s bad for the sport and really gives me the urge to just retire.”
Those who will choose to defend Crawford for accepting a stay-busy fight can easily point to the fact that the December date was offered on late notice. HBO originally had the date reserved for Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez before being shifted to Gennady Golovkin, only for neither to be able to fill the void – a fitting scenario since their failure to put together the dream fight the sport awaits is at the forefront of everything that’s wrong with boxing today.
In that regard, Crawford – who soundly outpointed previously unbeaten Viktor Postol in July to become a two-division World (lineal) champion – jumped at the opportunity to squeeze in a third fight in 2016 rather than wait until the first quarter of 2017 to return to the ring.
The same cannot be said for Garcia or Broner, both of whom were in a position to name their fight dates and opponents given their star status, but instead each seeking the path of least resistance.
Garcia – who served on the Fox TV commentating team for Diaz’ win over Vasquez – had targeted an October return on Showtime, with rumors of Molina or Andre Berto landing the shot at the unbeaten welterweight titlist. Instead, the Philly-based boxer and his team – which also includes Haymon – dragged its feet long enough to stretch it out to November, where he will headline a lower-budgeted show on Spike TV versus low-rent opponent Samuel Vargas.
“Danny Garcia - another fighter I have been calling out - is now fighting Samuel Vargas who was knocked out by (unbeaten welterweight contender Errol) Spence Jr .,” Diaz notes. “This division has so many good fighters - are you going to tell me that Vargas was the best you could come up with?
“I don’t understand how these fighters call themselves champion and stay fighting bums.”
The logic behind Garcia taking on a perceived soft touch is to preserve a planned unification bout with fellow unbeaten welterweight titlist Keith Thurman next March. Given Garcia’s run over the past few years, little sympathy has been granted although the clash with Thurman is a throwback to the incredible run he enjoyed on his way to his first title at super lightweight, all the way through his career-defining 12-round handling of Lucas Matthysse in Sept. ’13.
It doesn’t, however, excuse the path that has been laid out for Broner. The oft-troubled former four-division titlist had just one fight in 2016, a stoppage win over Ashley Theophane in what became a title losing effort due to his having come in over the 140 lb. limit prior to the fight.
Talks of a Broner-Diaz clash were floated but ultimately scrapped in favor of the brash Cincinnati native being granted a Showtime-headlining slot next February. He will take on Adrian Granados, who is best known for his upset knockout victory over previously unbeaten 140 lb. contender Amir Imam last November.
Also of interest is the fact that Granados owns a loss to Diaz, having dropped a 10-round decision in their Nov. ’14 Showtime-televised battle.
“So Crawford facing Molina, who – yeah he beat (Ruslan) Provodnikov, who been losing way more than winning these days,” Diaz vents. “Then you got Cherry Garcia fighting a bum that Errol Spence knocked out. Now Broner – who got the same adviser as me, just like Cherry Garcia – gonna fight some (guy) who I beat already. It’s frustrating as hell.”
The only consolation prize in all of this is that Diaz will get one more fight in 2016. Ironically it comes on the same night as Crawford’s HBO slot, but not even on the same level – or on TV.
Meanwhile, he’s forced to sit and wait to see if 2017 delivers anything better. PBC has promised a robust delivery for the new year, with upwards of 65 shows on free network TV and regional cable outlets targeted to complement its offerings on Showtime.
A skeleton schedule has been announced, but with actual fights filling the slots yet to come. Diaz is anxious to land a plum assignment, but has learned from past experience to not hold his breath.
“I made it very clear to my promoter DiBella Entertainment and Al Haymon that I want the best,” confirms Diaz. “Danny Garcia, Terence Crawford, Keith Thurman, Errol Spence Jr, Ricky Burns, Adrien Broner, Timothy Bradley, Andre Berto, Mikey Garcia , even a rematch with Lamont Peterson (whom Diaz suffered a controversial 12-round loss last October) - give me something to keep me motivated.”
Twitter: @JakeNDaBox_v2