Tweet
Juan "Baby Bull' Diaz, 25-0-0, boxing's youngest champ at 21, makes first defense of his lightweight title vs. former two-time champ Lorcy, 56-3-2.
Fighting in his hometown of Houston this past July, Diaz won a version of the lightweight championship with a 12-round decision win over the in-your-face brawler Lakva Sim. Diaz had no trouble finding Sim, landing 350 total punches (an average of 29 landed per round, 10 more than the lightweight average), while averaging 67 thrown per round. Diaz also landed 47% of his power shots. Diaz closed the show in round 12 vs. Sim by landing 37 of 90 total punches, including 33 of 80 power shots-his high totals for the fight. Sim kept coming all night, averaging 64 punches per round-50 of which were power shots (15 more than the lightweight average)-he landed 30%.
Prior to Sim, Diaz mauled Martin O'Malley in less than 2 rounds in April. Diaz never let O'Malley, 21-2-1, in the fight, outlanding him 29-6 in round 1 before sending O'Malley home :55 into round 2. Diaz was behind on two scorecards thru eight rounds vs. the 19-2-2 Eleazar Contreras in May of 2003 before rallying to win a close, unanimous decision. (95-94; 95-94; 97-92). Diaz was down in round six. He also visited the canvas in round two of his split decision win over the 15-7-1 Ubaldo Hernandez in September of 2001. Hernandez lost a 12-round decision to Vivian Harris in July of 2002 and was ko'd in 7 by Miguel Cotto in November of 2002.
Lorcy, who made his pro debut when Diaz was 7 years old, ko'd Jean Baptiste Mendy in round 6 to win his first lightweight title in April of 1999. He lost that belt in his first defense, vs. Italian champion Stefano Zoff in a huge upset four months later via a split decision. Lorcy averaged 74 punches per round, including 32 jabs per round in a high volume fight,as they combined to throw 1902 total punches-1019 by Zoff, who swept the last 3 rounds on 2 of the 3 judges cards. It wasn't like Lorcy wasn't trying to keep his belt-he threw 99 punches in round 12, his high for the fight. He also averaged 81 punches per round over the last 7 rounds after averaging 63 per frame in 1 thru 5
The 32-year-old Lorcy then regained the lightweight title-in Japan, vs. defending champ Takanori Hatakeyama, with a 12-round decision win in July of 2001. Lorcy dominated the first 8 rounds, cutting the Japanese champ in round 2. Lorcy again lost his title in his first defense, this time a majority decision loss to Raul Balbi 3 months later. Lorcy averaged 66 punches per round, including a whopping 40 jabs per round. He outlanded Balbi 282-245, with Balbi holding a 157-112 edge in power connects. (Leonard Dorin landed 476 total punches vs. Balbi in their first fight). Lorcy again finished with a flurry, throwing 97 punches in round 12-his high for the fight.
This one's a classic matchup of boxer vs. brawler. Which figher will impose his will on his opponent? Lorcy's had 61 fights, but he's only 32 years old-and he's never been ko'd. He traveled to Japan and lifted Hatakeyama's title-he shouldn't be rattled by his visit to San Antonio. He's also got the style to give Diaz trouble, averaging 36 jabs thrown per round in his fights vs. Balbi & Zoff and 70 total punches per round. Will Diaz just 21 and a pro only 4 yrs., 5 mos., (Lorcy's been fighting for pay for 13 ½ years) feel the pressure defending his title for the first time in his home state? Look for fireworks down the stretch, as both are strong finishers. This is Diaz's toughest test to date-he'll pass, via a hard fought, close unanimous decision win.
Fighting in his hometown of Houston this past July, Diaz won a version of the lightweight championship with a 12-round decision win over the in-your-face brawler Lakva Sim. Diaz had no trouble finding Sim, landing 350 total punches (an average of 29 landed per round, 10 more than the lightweight average), while averaging 67 thrown per round. Diaz also landed 47% of his power shots. Diaz closed the show in round 12 vs. Sim by landing 37 of 90 total punches, including 33 of 80 power shots-his high totals for the fight. Sim kept coming all night, averaging 64 punches per round-50 of which were power shots (15 more than the lightweight average)-he landed 30%.
Prior to Sim, Diaz mauled Martin O'Malley in less than 2 rounds in April. Diaz never let O'Malley, 21-2-1, in the fight, outlanding him 29-6 in round 1 before sending O'Malley home :55 into round 2. Diaz was behind on two scorecards thru eight rounds vs. the 19-2-2 Eleazar Contreras in May of 2003 before rallying to win a close, unanimous decision. (95-94; 95-94; 97-92). Diaz was down in round six. He also visited the canvas in round two of his split decision win over the 15-7-1 Ubaldo Hernandez in September of 2001. Hernandez lost a 12-round decision to Vivian Harris in July of 2002 and was ko'd in 7 by Miguel Cotto in November of 2002.
Lorcy, who made his pro debut when Diaz was 7 years old, ko'd Jean Baptiste Mendy in round 6 to win his first lightweight title in April of 1999. He lost that belt in his first defense, vs. Italian champion Stefano Zoff in a huge upset four months later via a split decision. Lorcy averaged 74 punches per round, including 32 jabs per round in a high volume fight,as they combined to throw 1902 total punches-1019 by Zoff, who swept the last 3 rounds on 2 of the 3 judges cards. It wasn't like Lorcy wasn't trying to keep his belt-he threw 99 punches in round 12, his high for the fight. He also averaged 81 punches per round over the last 7 rounds after averaging 63 per frame in 1 thru 5
The 32-year-old Lorcy then regained the lightweight title-in Japan, vs. defending champ Takanori Hatakeyama, with a 12-round decision win in July of 2001. Lorcy dominated the first 8 rounds, cutting the Japanese champ in round 2. Lorcy again lost his title in his first defense, this time a majority decision loss to Raul Balbi 3 months later. Lorcy averaged 66 punches per round, including a whopping 40 jabs per round. He outlanded Balbi 282-245, with Balbi holding a 157-112 edge in power connects. (Leonard Dorin landed 476 total punches vs. Balbi in their first fight). Lorcy again finished with a flurry, throwing 97 punches in round 12-his high for the fight.
This one's a classic matchup of boxer vs. brawler. Which figher will impose his will on his opponent? Lorcy's had 61 fights, but he's only 32 years old-and he's never been ko'd. He traveled to Japan and lifted Hatakeyama's title-he shouldn't be rattled by his visit to San Antonio. He's also got the style to give Diaz trouble, averaging 36 jabs thrown per round in his fights vs. Balbi & Zoff and 70 total punches per round. Will Diaz just 21 and a pro only 4 yrs., 5 mos., (Lorcy's been fighting for pay for 13 ½ years) feel the pressure defending his title for the first time in his home state? Look for fireworks down the stretch, as both are strong finishers. This is Diaz's toughest test to date-he'll pass, via a hard fought, close unanimous decision win.
Gran Campeon
Comment