Boxing trainer Joel Diaz is widely considered to be one of the best trainers in the sport and has a vast stable of fighters that include Timothy Bradley, Omar Figueroa and prospect Diego De La Hoya. Joel, as former fighter in his own right, has had the most success training Timothy Bradley, who has won titles in two divisions and has a win over boxing legend, Manny Pacquiao.
In this ?On The Ropes? boxing radio interview with Joel Diaz, I talk with him about Timothy Bradley?s future and a possible move up in weight. Diaz also shares his thoughts on the upcoming Mayweather-Pacquiao fight and picks who he believes will win it. Additionally, Diaz talks about Omar Figueroa?s upcoming bout and gives and update on Victor Ortiz. Here is what Joel Diaz had to say.
Jenna J: There?s a lot of talk about Timothy Bradley possibly fighting Shawn Porter in an eliminator. How would you feel if that fight came to fruition?
Joel Diaz: Well I have not heard anything regarding that kind of fight. But if that fight were to happen, I would think it would be a great fight. Both have similar styles, and I think it would be a great fight for the fans.
Jenna J: You as his trainer, is there a guy that you?re looking out there at that you want to see Timothy Bradley in the ring with?
Joel Diaz: I want to see Tim Bradley against the best fighters out there. At some point they talk about Tim Bradley and Danny Garcia. Danny Garcia, after his last fight, I don?t think he would want to be in the ring with Tim Bradley. Tim Bradley beat Lamont Peterson when Lamont Peterson was in his prime, he was undefeated.
Now, Amir Khan, I wanted Tim Bradley to fight Amir Khan due to the fact that there was some fire back in the day. There were some action from the past years from him and Tim Bradley and Amir Khan fighting. There was a little bit of heat going on between them two. But other than that, I don?t care.
Right now Tim Bradley coming off of the two fights with Manny Pacquiao and beating Juan Manuel Marquez, anybody. We can welcome anybody in the welterweight division, it doesn?t matter who he is. Tim will fight anybody in the welterweight division. If he fought the best, which is Manny Pacquiao, I don?t think he would dodge anybody out there.
Jenna J: There has been some talk of Bradley moving up to 154lbs. Is that something that you actually want to see, or do you want to see him more or less content for a title at 147lbs?
Joel Diaz: I would like to see Tim more in the 147 division but if there is a possibility or an opportunity out there for him at 154, we?ll definitely take it.
Jenna J: I want to get your views on the big fight that is coming up on May 2nd, Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. How do you see that fight going?
Joel Diaz: That fight is all common sense. If you want my opinion, I could break that fight down for you. I think Mayweather is going to win the fight, decision. Mayweather is going to win that fight by a decision, but don?t just focus on going the distance.
The reason why I think Mayweather can hurt Manny Pacquiao is because he? a natural welterweight. Mayweather is a natural welterweight and Pacquiao is not. Pacquiao comes from the lower weight classes and Mayweather is a solid welterweight, he is the bigger man.
I?ve been in that ring with Pacquiao twice. Pacquiao is a very explosive fighter that throws a lot of punches, but when you come looking for him, that?s his best ability. But when Manny Pacquiao goes out there looking for the opponent, he has trouble. You make Manny Pacquiao think, he don?t know what to do, he throws punches but he misses a lot of them.
Bradley opened up a blue print when he moved on him. When you make him miss, when you make him fall short, Many Pacquiao gets frustrated. I think that night, when that bell rings, Floyd Mayweather is going to dictate the pace of the fight, he?s going to get in there and he is going too feel Manny Pacquiao.
If Floyd thinks that Manny Pacquiao is a threat for him to lose his ?0? on his record, he?s going to move make him miss, pick him, just counter punching him and do enough to take the decision at the end of the day. But if Floyd Mayweather thinks that he could put up a little bit of action and he will not jeopardize his ?0?, he?s going to put up a fight.
Jenna J: If either one of these guys were to score a knockout, which fighter would you think it would be? Pacquiao or Mayweather?
Joel Diaz: Mayweather, Mayweather because Mayweather is very accurate with his right hand, especially when he fights lefties. When Manny Pacquiao throws his combination, he steps in and he?s reckless. He?s very reckless when he lunges in and throws combinations and when he sticks him with a jab, he drops the left, and that?s when he?s more vulnerable to get caught with a right hand.
Mayweather, every time he threw the right hand at Robert Guerrero, he landed the right hand on the southpaw. I think that Mayweather is very, very sneaky with that right hand. If he catches Manny Pacquiao when Manny Pacquiao comes in reckless to unload, if he catches him with a straight right hand just like Juan Manuel Marquez did, he can put him out.
Jenna J: Whose legacy do you think the fight effects more? Pacquiao or Mayweather?
Joel Diaz: Well, business wise a lot of people want to see Manny Pacquiao win, because Manny Pacquiao brings a lot more fans in to the boxing world. Manny Pacquiao is the cash cow because of the action packed fighter that he is. Mayweather is a fighter that fifty percent of the people are going to tune in hoping Mayweather loses. The other fifty percent are going to be there hoping that he wins. Manny Pacquiao has a higher percentage of people hoping for him to win.
Jenna J: Can you to give the fans an update on ?Vicious? Victor Ortiz. Are you still working with him? If you are, what is his future looking like?
Joel Diaz: Yes I am, I work with Victor Ortiz. I have one fight with him, which I did a total transformation of his style and mentally he?s focused. Victor Ortiz after that fight had an injury in his hand, which he went through a surgery couple of months ago. Now he?s going to therapy, so he should be back pretty soon in camp again getting ready for whatever his promoter and his manager got lined up for him.
Jenna J: Another fighter that you work with is Omar Figueroa and he has a fight on May 9th. He?s taking on Ricky Burns, how do you feel that one is going to go?
Joel Diaz: Ricky Burns is a great fighter, but Omar Figueroa is a devastating puncher. I think Ricky Burns will not withstand the pressure of Omar Figueroa.
Jenna J: Do you think Omar will knock him out due to attrition?
Joel Diaz: If Omar Figueroa is one hundred percent ? I?m talking about his hands, because usually he has a few issues with his hands. If he don?t have any issues with his hands between now and the fight, he will definitely knock out Ricky Burns.
