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By Cliff Rold - A generation ago, Boxing’s reach into the sports mainstream would have made 24-year old Lightweight titlist Juan Diaz (33-0, 17 KO, WBA/WBO/IBF) a lock for real stardom. His combination of buzzsaw style and wholesome story would have been a gimme’.
A native of the All-American city of Houston, Texas; a college student while he holds his titles; works with the League of Women Voters to get out the vote; an aww-shucks old-school personality; and world-class non-stop combination punching from someone who just happens to be considered by many to be the best Lightweight in the World today.
25 years ago, he’s on a Wheaties box. Without a DeLaurean, it’ll be tough to get back to 25 years ago. No, it’s 2008 and Boxing struggles regularly to attract mainstream sports attention. Sure, Diaz has a solid following amongst boxing fans but, so far, that’s it.
That’s too bad.
It may be that there just isn’t room for Diaz’s kind anymore; maybe there isn’t room for the matinee idol. That’s what Diaz would have been then. He would have fit in nicely with a fighter like Ray Mancini, someone the man of the house could respect in the ring and Mom could want to bake a pie for. Mom might even be biting her nails as he headed into the ring with the power punching Nate Campbell (31-5-1, 25 KO) if this Saturday was a different Saturday, in a different time.
Instead, Diaz will be seen by an audience largely tuning in to see a Heavyweight curiosity in the main event and the ingredients that should make him a star will fail to get their just due again. Entering his eighth year as a professional, will Diaz ever get the chance he needs or is his fate to be enjoyed by the fight audience alone? [details]
A native of the All-American city of Houston, Texas; a college student while he holds his titles; works with the League of Women Voters to get out the vote; an aww-shucks old-school personality; and world-class non-stop combination punching from someone who just happens to be considered by many to be the best Lightweight in the World today.
25 years ago, he’s on a Wheaties box. Without a DeLaurean, it’ll be tough to get back to 25 years ago. No, it’s 2008 and Boxing struggles regularly to attract mainstream sports attention. Sure, Diaz has a solid following amongst boxing fans but, so far, that’s it.
That’s too bad.
It may be that there just isn’t room for Diaz’s kind anymore; maybe there isn’t room for the matinee idol. That’s what Diaz would have been then. He would have fit in nicely with a fighter like Ray Mancini, someone the man of the house could respect in the ring and Mom could want to bake a pie for. Mom might even be biting her nails as he headed into the ring with the power punching Nate Campbell (31-5-1, 25 KO) if this Saturday was a different Saturday, in a different time.
Instead, Diaz will be seen by an audience largely tuning in to see a Heavyweight curiosity in the main event and the ingredients that should make him a star will fail to get their just due again. Entering his eighth year as a professional, will Diaz ever get the chance he needs or is his fate to be enjoyed by the fight audience alone? [details]
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