Tweet
Exclusive interview: Juan diaz
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: JUAN DIAZ
By Ryan Burton
Diaz: "Malignaggi can say what he wants. Saturday night, I am coming out with the victory!"
Juan Diaz, who will fight ex-world titlist Paulie Malignaggi this Saturday in his junior welterweight debut, spoke to mellow mood
about Malignaggi's claim that the fight is slanted in Diaz's favor. Malignaggi has said he expects the referee and judges to be biased in favor of Diaz because Diaz is Mexican and promoted by Golden Boy. You don't want to miss this mellow mood's exclusive!
Mellow Mood: How did training go for your upcoming fight with Paulie Malignaggi?
Juan Diaz: Training has been very good. It was a very successful training camp and I am just excited about getting in the ring and fighting one more time here in Houston.
MM: Did you do anything special to get ready for a slick boxer like Paulie?
JD: I just did the usual. I worked hard and we we made sure that not only do I have one gameplan but I have two gameplans. He is a slick boxer puncher type of guy and you don't know what he is going to bring to the table on that night. He could stay in and mix it up a little bit or he can move around the ring and box and beat you with his hand speed so, yeah, I prepared for both Paulie Malignaggis.
MM: What do you have to do to make sure you come out with the victory?
JD: Well what I have to concentrate on from round 1 till round 12 is not to let him take the lead. Starting from round 1 I can't let him take the lead as far as him outpunching me. He has very very fast hands and if I let him take the lead in the first round he is going to get confidence and that is how he can beat me.
MM: He made comments yesterday that everything is tilted in your favor from weight, to ring size, to the judges and referee that were recently announced. How do you respond to that?
JD: He agreed to the fight so I don't know why he is complaining now. My job is to go in there and work and get the victory. He can talk all he wants and say it is in my favor but I know when it comes down to it that can also be a strategy so that the Texas commissioner and all the judges will say it was a close round so we will give Paulie a little edge on this round. I don't worry about that. He can say whatever he wants to say. Saturday night I am going in there to work and come out with the victory.
MM: You are moving up a little bit in weight [this bout has a 138.5 pound limit, compared to the 135 Diaz previously fought at]. Are you concerned about moving up?
MM: Not at all. I think this is a very comfortable weight for me. I can still make the lightweight limit but I am testing the waters and if everything comes out good like I plan Saturday night then I am definitely going to consider staying at junior welterweight.
BT: So if you can get by Paulie are you looking at guys like Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander?
JD: Yes definitely but not only those guys. Where ever the biggest guys are I want the challenge and I want to fight for the world championship again. I want to fight the biggest fights I possibly can whether its at 135 or 140 I will fight anybody.
BT: What do you want more, a rematch with Nate Campbell or a rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez?
JD: I would definitely want a rematch with Marquez because he is the only guy that has been able to stop me. From that fight my pride was a little hurt more than anything else. As far as Campbell, I wanted a rematch in the future but not anymore since his last performance. I don't think he is the true boxing warrior that he calls himself. He just flat out quit [against Bradley] and I don't think he deserves another chance.
BT: How do you respond to the criticism that you cannot fight when your eye is cut?
JD: That is just something that I will have to show the critics and all the guys who believe it. I definitely have to prove to all my fans and all the critics that I can fight with a cut and I can win. It was just the circumstances of the two fights. I am just happy that I was able to put on a good performance and give the fans a great night of boxing (against Marquez).
BT: Do you have a message for the fans?
JD: I definitely want all the fans to tune in August 22nd this Saturday night because it is going to be a great fight between Paul Malignaggi and myself and to all the true fans don't get discouraged and I will be back stronger than ever and I will become a world champion once again
By Ryan Burton
Diaz: "Malignaggi can say what he wants. Saturday night, I am coming out with the victory!"
Juan Diaz, who will fight ex-world titlist Paulie Malignaggi this Saturday in his junior welterweight debut, spoke to mellow mood
about Malignaggi's claim that the fight is slanted in Diaz's favor. Malignaggi has said he expects the referee and judges to be biased in favor of Diaz because Diaz is Mexican and promoted by Golden Boy. You don't want to miss this mellow mood's exclusive!Mellow Mood
: How did training go for your upcoming fight with Paulie Malignaggi?Juan Diaz: Training has been very good. It was a very successful training camp and I am just excited about getting in the ring and fighting one more time here in Houston.
MM: Did you do anything special to get ready for a slick boxer like Paulie?
JD: I just did the usual. I worked hard and we we made sure that not only do I have one gameplan but I have two gameplans. He is a slick boxer puncher type of guy and you don't know what he is going to bring to the table on that night. He could stay in and mix it up a little bit or he can move around the ring and box and beat you with his hand speed so, yeah, I prepared for both Paulie Malignaggis.
MM: What do you have to do to make sure you come out with the victory?
JD: Well what I have to concentrate on from round 1 till round 12 is not to let him take the lead. Starting from round 1 I can't let him take the lead as far as him outpunching me. He has very very fast hands and if I let him take the lead in the first round he is going to get confidence and that is how he can beat me.
MM: He made comments yesterday that everything is tilted in your favor from weight, to ring size, to the judges and referee that were recently announced. How do you respond to that?
JD: He agreed to the fight so I don't know why he is complaining now. My job is to go in there and work and get the victory. He can talk all he wants and say it is in my favor but I know when it comes down to it that can also be a strategy so that the Texas commissioner and all the judges will say it was a close round so we will give Paulie a little edge on this round. I don't worry about that. He can say whatever he wants to say. Saturday night I am going in there to work and come out with the victory.
MM: You are moving up a little bit in weight [this bout has a 138.5 pound limit, compared to the 135 Diaz previously fought at]. Are you concerned about moving up?
MM: Not at all. I think this is a very comfortable weight for me. I can still make the lightweight limit but I am testing the waters and if everything comes out good like I plan Saturday night then I am definitely going to consider staying at junior welterweight.
BT: So if you can get by Paulie are you looking at guys like Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander?
JD: Yes definitely but not only those guys. Where ever the biggest guys are I want the challenge and I want to fight for the world championship again. I want to fight the biggest fights I possibly can whether its at 135 or 140 I will fight anybody.
BT: What do you want more, a rematch with Nate Campbell or a rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez?
JD: I would definitely want a rematch with Marquez because he is the only guy that has been able to stop me. From that fight my pride was a little hurt more than anything else. As far as Campbell, I wanted a rematch in the future but not anymore since his last performance. I don't think he is the true boxing warrior that he calls himself. He just flat out quit [against Bradley] and I don't think he deserves another chance.
BT: How do you respond to the criticism that you cannot fight when your eye is cut?
JD: That is just something that I will have to show the critics and all the guys who believe it. I definitely have to prove to all my fans and all the critics that I can fight with a cut and I can win. It was just the circumstances of the two fights. I am just happy that I was able to put on a good performance and give the fans a great night of boxing (against Marquez).
BT: Do you have a message for the fans?
JD: I definitely want all the fans to tune in August 22nd this Saturday night because it is going to be a great fight between Paul Malignaggi and myself and to all the true fans don't get discouraged and I will be back stronger than ever and I will become a world champion once again
Comment