Felix Diaz Ready For Edgar Llanes, Maps Out Future Plans

By Jake Donovan

With the bulk of the training done and an opponent secured, all that’s left for Felix Diaz to do this week is show up ready to fight.

The unbeaten Dominican prospect returns to the ring Saturday evening, as he faces Edgar Llanes in a pay-per-view preliminary bout live from Carolina, Puerto Rico. Headlining the independent PPV card (Saturday, 9PM ET) is a flyweight bout between unbeaten Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez and former two-division champ Giovani Segura.

Diaz (13-0, 7KO) has laid low and remained hard at work for Saturday’s showcase bout, a welterweight affair scheduled for 10 rounds.

"We are very close to the weight; we believe by the day of the weigh-in we will easily be at welterweight,” Diaz stated Tuesday from the Iron Mike Boxing Gym in Deerfield Beach, Florida. “We are ready to face Llanes and remain unbeaten, then search for a big fight before the end of 2013.”

High hopes surrounded Diaz’ career following his Olympic Gold medal run for the Dominican Republic during the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. Ring activity has been the only downfall thus far, largely due to an inability to secure proper opposition. The 29-year old appears to be hitting his stride in that regard, coming off of a 3rd round knockout this past June and returning to the ring 10 weeks later.

By years end, at least one more ring appearance can be expected. With former heavyweight king-turned-promoter Mike Tyson in his corner and ambitious to hit the ground running, the chances on making that happen and then some are suddenly heavily in his favor.

“Our plans for Felix Diaz include possibly two more fights in 2013,” reveals Henry Rivalta, COO of Iron Mike Productions.

Tyson joined forces with Acquinity Sports to form I.M.P., which makes its debut as a lead promoter on August 23. The show - which takes place at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York – serves as the season finale for ESPN2 Friday Night Fights.

It’s not even close to serving as the last piece of business this year for the South Florida company, though.

“Iron Mike Productions has plans to make four more cards this year in addition to the August 23 in Verona, New York. Felix Diaz is included in those plans and will be in the ring again soon."

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and a member of Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox