By Steve Kim
BoxingScene.com first reported last week that former world champion Juan 'Baby Bull' Diaz (42-4, 21KOs), who was scheduled to face Ray Beltran (31-7-1, 19KOs) on December 10th in Omaha, Nebraska, had pulled out of the fight with an injury.
Beltran-Diaz was supposed to be the HBO televised co-feature Terence Crawford's bout against John Molina at the CenturyLink Center.
Top Rank and HBO were looking at alternatives to fill this slot and BoxingScene has been advised that they found one on Monday.
Hard puncher Mason Menard (32-1, 24KOs) has stepped up to the task, in what will be his third ring appearance of the year.
Menard was in action back in April, when he knocked out previously undefeated Eudy Bernardo in three rounds. He then returned to the ring in August and knocked out Bahodir Mamadjonov in nine rounds for the vacant NABO lightweight belt.
His sole defeat came in May of 2008 when he was stopped in the first round of his third pro fight, by Mario Lacey. He had his revenge four fights later, when he knocked out Lacey in the first.
Beltran also fought twice in 2016, with a quick stoppage of Ivan Najera in May and then a five round drilling of Miguel Mendoza in September.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.
