Yuniesky Gonzalez Set To Begin Training With Pedro Diaz

By Elisinio Castillo

Cuban trainer Pedro Diaz has added another member to his stable, with light heavyweight Yuniesky Gonzalez (16-2, 12 KO) hiring his services.

Gonzalez, who until recently was prepared by the technical Orlando Cuellar, start will train on Monday under the guidance of Diaz in Miami and he's going to leave for Russia with the whole team.

"First of all, I want to thank Orlando Cuellar for what he has meant to me, '' Gonzalez said to George Ebro." But one fighter knows when to make a change in his corner and aspire for higher goals. Pedro will help me climb in the next steps in my career. ''

With Cuellar in his corner, Gonzalez had an outstanding performance last October in Las Vegas against Jean Pascal in a fight where many observers felt he won, but the judges gave a unanimous decision to Pascal.

But two months later he showed obvious cracks in a loss against the Ukrainian Vyacheslav Shabransky, and that led to an evaluation by the team of Gonzalez, where the idea of ??going to Díaz emerged.

Although the decision was made several weeks ago, it is now going public.

"His team came and asked me to coach him, '' Diaz said." I know Yuniesky well from Cuba, he is a warrior and I think some things will be improved He will be among the best in the light heavyweight division. Of course, he will be going with me to Europe. ''

Diaz is set to work on March 5 in Grozny, Russia, in the corner of Russian heavyweight Ruslan Chagaev (34-2-1, 21 KO), who is to defend his "regular 'belt of the World Association (WBA) against Lucas Browne (23-0, 20 KO).

After that bout, Diaz and Guillermo Rigondeaux (16-0, 10 KO) will be heading to the UK where he will collide with James Dickens (21-1, 6 KO) in Liverpool.

"It's going to be a busy time, but I have it all planned and Rigo and Yuniesky not going to miss a minute of preparation,'' he said Diaz. "Rigo will come back with a crushing victory and with Yuniesky I will have a clearer idea of what I want for him."