By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com was advised by manager Willie Savannah, that former undisputed lightweight king Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz (35-4, 17KOs) has made a decision to stage one final championship run. Diaz is already in training for his ring return. The pride of Houston has been inactive since losing a twelve round decision in his rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez last July.
Diaz, 27-years-old, has gone 2-4 in his last six ring appearances. Savannah believes Diaz can have a successful run if he follows directions and trains the correct way. One fight in particular, that Savannah says they would love to secure, is a title clash with WBA champion Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios.
"I spoke with Juan Diaz [on Saturday]. He's ready to return. There are still a lot of guys that he can fight, like Brandon Rios, Urbano Antillon, Humberto Soto and all of those guys. He's training right now and ready to restart his career. He's one of the few people who can draw in his own hometown. Maybe Top Rank might be interested in putting him in with Rios or Soto. Or maybe Golden Boy will put him in with the winner of Michael Katsidis and Robert Guerrero. He's officially ready to come back." Savannah told BoxingScene.com.
On a side note, Savannah's wife, Clare, has been appointed as the head coach of USA Boxing's female squad, which leaves on Monday for a scheduled event in Warsaw, Poland. She trained and worked the corner of Juan Diaz when the "Baby Bull" was an amateur - and she also worked the corner for a few of his early pro fights.
