Adrian “The Shark” Diaconu (23-0-0, 14 KO) prepares for “the biggest test of my career”, when he faces former world title challenger Rico Hoye (20-1, 15KO), March 23 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
The bout is sanctioned as a WBC light heavyweight elimination bout, with the winner becoming the mandatory challenger for newly crowned WBC champ “Bad” Chad Dawson.
“This is the biggest test of my career. I’m training hard to be ready for this fight,” says Diaconu, who weighed 191.3 lb for the 30-day prefight weigh-in conducted earlier Wednesday by WBC officials. “I can’t wait to enter the ring and hear my fans at the Bell Center and I do not intend to let them down.”
“The Shark” has been waiting to face the best boxers in his category. He can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Hoye has the perfect style for me. I like to fight aggressive boxers. My trainers and I have worked on a good strategy to beat Rico Hoye,” added the Romanian boxer, who also insists that Dawson has been avoiding him.
The WBC ordered an elimination fight between Diaconu and Dawson last year. Team Dawson instead went straight to the champ, Tomasz Adamek.
Dawson’s strategy worked well for him, dominating Adamek and overcoming a late knockdown to win the world title.
But after March 23, he’ll have no choice but to tend to unfinished business.
“He can’t duck me twice,” states Diaconu. Rico Hoye was elated when the bout was confirmed.
“This is the first time I have ever had a training camp where I did not have to wait for anything,” said Hoye, who weighed 190.2 lb. for the 30-day pre-fight weigh-in. “My trainers have me in the best shape of my life. All I have to do now is go out and perform with my natural abilities.”