Joel Diaz: record, next fight and profile →
Joel Diaz Video Interview - INDIO, Calif. -- Former WBO junior welterweight world champion, "The Siberian Rocky", Ruslan Provodnikov is deep in training in Indio, Calif. with his trainer Joel Diaz for his June 11 main event bout with John Molina Jr. at The Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) .
Joel Diaz, former trainer of two-division world champion Timothy Bradley, believes Manny Pacquiao has the edge in the upcoming trilogy fight on April 9th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
If Ruslan Provodnikov would have agreed to face WBO junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford instead of John Molina, he would have made a serious mistake in his career - according to his trainer Joel Diaz, who says Crawford's style of fighting would have created a big headache for the 'Siberian Rocky.'
Timothy Bradley is much more confident in his game plan for his third fight against Manny Pacquiao than he was before their first two fights. The once-beaten fighter was trained by Joel Diaz for nearly his entire career. They parted ways last September and there are conflicting stories (from both sides) on what actually led to the split.
It seems as though the partnership between trainer Joel Diaz and former welterweight belt-holder Victor Ortiz is already over. After Ortiz's last fight on December 12th in San Antonio (an eighth round stoppage of veteran journeyman, Gilberto Sanchez Leon) Diaz expected Ortiz to report back to his gym in Indio at the beginning of 2016.
On Thursday, it was officially announced that Manny Pacquiao would face WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley for a third time on April 9th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Bradley won a controversial twelve round split decision against Pacquiao in 2012. Pacquiao got revenge in 2014 with a twelve round unanimous decision.
Siberia, Russia -- After his dominant performance this past Saturday when he stopped previously undefeated Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez, former WBO junior welterweight champion, Ruslan Provodnikov is ready for a huge 2016 as he targets the best fighters at junior welterweight & welterweight. At the top of his list is WBO Welterweight champion, Timothy Bradley. Provodnikov stopped Rodriguez in 4 rounds in the main event at the 7th Edition Monte-Carlo Boxing Bonanza Night of Champions and is looking for the biggest fish to fry as he embarks on the new year.
As you watched Ruslan Provodnikov's fourth-round stoppage of Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez this past weekend in Monte Carlo, you saw something rather eye-opening: Provdonikov (25-4, 18KOs) actually avoiding a punch or two. "Hey, he slipped a lot of punches," stated Joel Diaz, his new trainer with a laugh. Diaz, who had just started training 'the Siberian Rocky' was very pleased with their maiden voyage together.
Timothy Bradley realized immediately that Teddy Atlas’ training camp was going to be much different than anything he had experienced while working with longtime trainer Joel Diaz. Bradley described a more regimented, rules-oriented camp when he was asked about those differences during a conference call Wednesday. The two-division world champion, who’ll battle Brandon Rios in a 12-round, 147-pound title fight Saturday night in Las Vegas (HBO; 9:30 p.m. ET), likened the experience to a boot camp, yet made it clear that he enjoyed it because he was learning things Bradley believes have made him a better boxer.
Monte Carlo - There was a moment, a few weeks ago, when trainer Joel Diaz knew he had made the right move in agreeing to coach former junior-welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov. The likeable Russian, who knows only a smattering of English, raised his arms in the gym and bellowed, “I am champion! I am champion!” Diaz called him over. “Ruslan, I promise I will make you champion again - if you listen.” “Coach,” said Provodnikov, “I will listen. I will sleep on the floor of the gym if I have to. I’ll do whatever it takes.”