Adrian Diaconu Getting Eager as Branco Bout Approaches

By Mark Vester

WBC light heavyweight champion Adrian Diaconu (25-0, 15KOs) sat ringside at the Bell Centre in Montreal, watching Lucian Bute retain his IBF title by stopping Fulgencio Zuniga in four rounds. Diaconu, a Romanian fighter like Bute, defends his title against veteran Silvio Branco in Rome on April 10.

Diaconu wishes that he was able to fight in front of the thousands of fight fans who support boxing in Montreal

"I'm disappointed because I'd like to fight here in front of these fans. I live here. People know me here. But it's not up to me. It's management. Behind the ring, in the back, there is a lot of business," Diaconu said to the Canadian Press.

Diaconu used to be with InterBox, the same promotional company that reps Bute. He parted with InterBox after a contract dispute from a year ago. He hopes to get back with a major promoter who will push his career forward.

Now he gets ready and prepares himself for a fight that most of the boxing public will not really care about. He feels Branco is way past his best. Diaconu has been out of the ring for nearly a year due to injuries. The layoff has made him very hungry to return to the ring.

"A fight with Branco is not that interesting," said Diaconu. "It could have been once, but he's old now. It's not that interesting for TV. But he has a lot of experience. He'll be fighting at home. But he has a lot of experience. He'll be fighting at home. It won't be easy, but I'm confident I'll keep my belt. I have a lot of appetite to box."

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