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By Jake Donovan - No fears, the rest of the article is in English. Though no matter your preferred language, the anticipated action to come from this weekend's lightweight clash between Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz and Julio "The Kidd" Diaz (Saturday, HBO 10PM ET/PT from Hoffman Estates, IL) should speak for itself – as well as the present and future state of the lightweight division.
Most lightweight debates these days seem to have two sides: those who recognize Joel Casamayor as the linear (and therefore, only) champion, and those who actually prefer their leaders to surface more than once a year, and actively pursue the best.
The latter is what leads us to the first stop in deciding the best Diaz in a lightweight division loaded with 'em. Some argue that the last man standing will not just prove to be the best Diaz, but in fact the best lightweight in the world, whether or not Casamayor loses between now and then.
Both participants seem to co-sign on that theory.
"In order to be the best, you have to beat the best," contends young Juan Diaz (32-0, 16KO), who makes his second straight HBO Boxing After Dark appearance this year.
"If you ask me, a unification bout between two of the division's best is more significant than a champ who doesn't want to fight anyone," insists Julio Diaz. (Note: three alphabet titles are on the line; hence, the unification claim). "Joel Casamayor claims he's the best and that everyone's ducking him, yet he's the one turning down fights and not fighting anyone."
Casamayor is actually fighting someone – Jose Santa Cruz, on the undercard of the highly anticipated Miguel Cotto-Shane Mosley bout next month at Madison Square Garden. That would be the same Santa Cruz whose last significant bout ended with him on the canvas, and David Diaz exploding on the lightweight scene with the come-from-behind 10 th round knockout last year in Las Vegas.
It was Casamayor's unwillingness to face David Diaz for an assortment of reasons that led to lightweight turmoil, as well as three different Diaz' all claiming to be champ.
Barring a draw or any other inconclusive occurrence, the next chapter shall read "And Then There Were Two" after Saturday night. David Diaz, who edged out Erik Morales in nearby Rosemont, IL this past August to retain his alphabet strap, will be an interested ringside observer to see which "other" Diaz becomes a potential opponent in 2008.
Naturally, this is where the other two Diaz' begin to differ on opinion.
"Personally, I think a win over Julio (this weekend) should make me #1 in the division," says Juan, "but I don't mind fighting David Diaz after this. He has the other belt, so beating him will give me all 4 titles.
"But since I already beat Freitas, a win over Julio Diaz will give me two big wins after several title defenses at lightweight. If you ask me, I become the man to beat after October 13." [details]
Most lightweight debates these days seem to have two sides: those who recognize Joel Casamayor as the linear (and therefore, only) champion, and those who actually prefer their leaders to surface more than once a year, and actively pursue the best.
The latter is what leads us to the first stop in deciding the best Diaz in a lightweight division loaded with 'em. Some argue that the last man standing will not just prove to be the best Diaz, but in fact the best lightweight in the world, whether or not Casamayor loses between now and then.
Both participants seem to co-sign on that theory.
"In order to be the best, you have to beat the best," contends young Juan Diaz (32-0, 16KO), who makes his second straight HBO Boxing After Dark appearance this year.
"If you ask me, a unification bout between two of the division's best is more significant than a champ who doesn't want to fight anyone," insists Julio Diaz. (Note: three alphabet titles are on the line; hence, the unification claim). "Joel Casamayor claims he's the best and that everyone's ducking him, yet he's the one turning down fights and not fighting anyone."
Casamayor is actually fighting someone – Jose Santa Cruz, on the undercard of the highly anticipated Miguel Cotto-Shane Mosley bout next month at Madison Square Garden. That would be the same Santa Cruz whose last significant bout ended with him on the canvas, and David Diaz exploding on the lightweight scene with the come-from-behind 10 th round knockout last year in Las Vegas.
It was Casamayor's unwillingness to face David Diaz for an assortment of reasons that led to lightweight turmoil, as well as three different Diaz' all claiming to be champ.
Barring a draw or any other inconclusive occurrence, the next chapter shall read "And Then There Were Two" after Saturday night. David Diaz, who edged out Erik Morales in nearby Rosemont, IL this past August to retain his alphabet strap, will be an interested ringside observer to see which "other" Diaz becomes a potential opponent in 2008.
Naturally, this is where the other two Diaz' begin to differ on opinion.
"Personally, I think a win over Julio (this weekend) should make me #1 in the division," says Juan, "but I don't mind fighting David Diaz after this. He has the other belt, so beating him will give me all 4 titles.
"But since I already beat Freitas, a win over Julio Diaz will give me two big wins after several title defenses at lightweight. If you ask me, I become the man to beat after October 13." [details]
Gran Campeon
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