Juan Diaz - done at 26?

He sure has gone a long way. Collected light weight titles against Freitas, Julio Diaz and Lakva Sim at the age of 24 with not few people having him on the fringe of top 10 P4P rankings at least in the near future. The Campbell-fight was a learning experience, dealing with unknown adversities, awkward opponent and especially cuts. I don't read too much into this loss. Against Juan Manuel Marquez, he showed a tremendous effort, not much shame in losing in the end either. The first Malignaggi-fight was disappointing, although I am one of the very few who had him winning on points. The second fight I didn't even bother to watch after reading about it. Now what really bugs me are his future plans, the names that come up aren't very promising really. A fight again Edwin Valero could be a nightmare, especially at 140, I think Diaz belongs to lightweight and should go back there. The other possible opponent, Michael Katsidis, I don't see what there is to win for Juan Diaz. I think he clearly won the first fight, so it would be no surprise if he does it again and it wouldn't prove anything really. On the other hand, he seems to decline, judging from the Malignaggi-fights, so there is a huge risk to look worse than in the first Katsidis-fight. Seeing his questionable immediate future plans and having in mind his ambitions outside the ring, studying and starting a political career, the question is: is there really a promising future for Juan Diaz in boxing? I'd lean towards no, surely a shame at such a young age...

Comments (20)

GTL

Nah. Juan has alot left.. Lets NOT forget, he was BEATING MARQUEZ until the KO.. Once hes cut, hes a diff fighter.. And Paulie is a stylistic nightmare for anyone when he is focused. Hes def not shot.. He needs to stay at lightweight. He's pudgy as a lt wt and even more as a jr welter.. 135 isnt too hot right now.. it was, but every1 seems to be moving up

16y ago

Number_One

i think Juan Diaz should fight Nate again, I think that is STILL a watchable fight, any takers? **** Nate.. Nate should fight Khan so we can see him get destroyed

16y ago

JOMS

jmm did have an effect on him but lets not forget that nate cambell was the one who gave him his first loss by not letting diaz outwork him and never backing down if you watched that fight it was the first time somebody stood up to his pressure and i think that was the beginning of his decline even before he got in the ring with marquez. i think Juan Diaz should fight Nate again, I think that is STILL a watchable fight, any takers?

16y ago

JOMS

I don't think he's done ... did he lose a couple fights recently?? yes ... but i think he has plenty in the tank, he just needs to take it easy in his next fight then build up to a fight, if he takes on Valero next he might get KO'd, but i think he has a good chance I also give Juan Diaz good chance versus Valero, IMHO it will be a great action fight if ever they meet ....

16y ago

JOMS

Yeah right Pacquaio didnt fight Marquez did he? yup bro, not only once but twice! fought EM thrice, even loss the first one fought MAB twice, first time before Marco beat Eric for the second time and some people insinuate that PAC is protected ... lolz :boxing:

16y ago

ny123

Marquez damaged him..Took his ferocity from him..he went all out against marquez and was out smarted...I didnt see the same Juan Diaz against paulie that I saw in the Marquez fight.. Agree 100% with that. Marquez turned the Baby Bull into Babyfat. Very similar to what Mayweather did to Hatton. When he took his 0, he took his soul. Went from the Hitman to the man who gets Hit. jmm did have an effect on him but lets not forget that nate cambell was the one who gave him his first loss by not letting diaz outwork him and never backing down if you watched that fight it was the first time somebody stood up to his pressure and i think that was the beginning of his decline even before he got in the ring with marquez.

16y ago

Mustang

16y ago

Number_One

diaz should fight khan or hatton.... he would get beat up by both

16y ago

apokalips

One minute we want to see the best face the best with some people saying they would respect undefeated fighters more if he had lost a fight because it shows they have taken a challenge, yet I then see people saying some of these guys have bad management because they've been put in there with the best and lost! I thought losses didn't matter? Juan Diaz has been in some big fights and good on him, you win some you lose some its all part of the experience. I will not write him off after this run of fights yet. Malignaggi has experience and is very slick and I believe is just a better boxer than Baby Bull. As for the JMM fight he did extremely well but JMM knows how to dig deep and pull the victory out.

16y ago

Blue_Heffner

Diaz needs to be matched up properly. But at top level, he's done.

16y ago

Chrismart

Im a fan of Diaz, hopefully he bounces back. His fight against Campbell was a learning curve, and there is no shame losing to JJM, hes an excellent fighters , even at 135. I actually thought Diaz would beat Malignaggi, but i think those fights showed that Juan should stay at 135. Talk of his next fight being against Katsidis. As already said, could be a 'no-win' situaton really, but if it shapes up to be the brawl we thought the first fight would be than il be happy to watch it. If he stays at 135 and fights some competitive names, im sure he will add some knew skills to his game and bounce back. I hope so, iv got alot of repect for Diaz as he isnt afraid to lose the zero in his 'lost' coloum.

16y ago

Hagler9733

He has realised that he cant steam roll everyone with a million punches. He needs to learn how to adapt, its not too late. The fact he lacks punching power doesn't help either!

16y ago

El_7_Mares_V2

I wouldn't say he's "done" but he's certainly not the fighter he used to be anymore, he became a world champion young and was on a really hot streak, beat some good names but then took some really bad loses, the Campbell fight was the beginning of his downfall, Marquez really extinguished his flame and the Paulie loss sealed the deal. Maybe a fight against Katsidis can bring his confidence back if Katsidis fights the same shitty fight he did the first time, I think Katsidis will take it this time though, if Juan loses then I think we can just take him off the picture completely.

16y ago

Pollo_Boricua

I think he is done but maybe if he gets a long rest and regroups he can come back but after both Malignaggi fights (I scored the first one of Paulie) I really think he has nothing left

16y ago

LEFTYGUNZZ

Marquez damaged him..Took his ferocity from him..he went all out against marquez and was out smarted...I didnt see the same Juan Diaz against paulie that I saw in the Marquez fight.. The style match up was way different and Paulie is a decent sized 140 Juan Marquez is small at 135. BIG difference believe me. remains to be seen... w/ only few losses, and still at his prime years, it all depends on him how will he get up.. now he is down but probably aint done yet. the best thing to do right now is get back at 135, he has no place in 140. He needs to go back to 135 but I think he plans on cashing out going for big money with Valero and IF he can win a bigger money fight at 140.

16y ago

silkyjohnson

Boy needs to get some muscle mass, and work on his power shots!

16y ago

ColWallace

Bingo! Arum would protect him just like Pacquiao, he would be on the top 5 p4p without a doubt. Sorry, but this is just crap. Are you saying his path woulda been any different had he not joined GBP? A win over Katsidis, an awesome toe-to-toe war with Juan Manuel Marquez and then two fights against Paulie M? That's good management in my eyes - big fights against major players in and around his division. Shit, sometimes you just lose 'em. Plain and simple. People talk like the Marquez fight was a mistake. It wasn't a mistake. Juan made some mistakes in the fight and got KO'd. Losses like that and the one against Paulie M are overrated. Juan will be back. Let's see what he's got March 27.

16y ago

steeluv

Bingo! Arum would protect him just like Pacquiao, he would be on the top 5 p4p without a doubt. Yeah right Pacquaio didnt fight Marquez did he?

16y ago

ColWallace

Marquez damaged him..Took his ferocity from him..he went all out against marquez and was out smarted...I didnt see the same Juan Diaz against paulie that I saw in the Marquez fight.. It might take the Bull a few fights to get the confidence back after the Marquez KO. It took Barrera a long time to recover from his losses to Junior Jones, but eventually he got back on top in his wars with Morales.

16y ago

screwhead1

boxing seems to have always been a means to and end for juan...the way he talks about school...i think he just wanted to box to pay tuition...he's fought against great competition...hall of famers...he's made quite a bit of money in the sport...and his name is huge in texas...if he quit tomorrow...i'd applaud him for what he's done...so the story is not all too sad for him...he's got a few more fights under his belt...but i really don't see him improving so much to take over the light welter division...

16y ago