So, what’s next for Juan Diaz?
Juan says that he wants Manny Pacquiao next. This is understandable in the respect that he would want to be involved in a high-grossing PPV event with boxing’s biggest superstar and make a lot of money. But it’s not only that — a victory over Pacquiao is the fast track to superstardom.
Then there is David Diaz, who I will always believe received the title to be a patsy for Erik Morales and then beat the Mexican legend in August in a fairly close fight. David, the WBC title holder, owns the remaining belt that doesn’t belong to Juan and is probably the third-best Diaz in the division.
One name that keeps coming up is actually improbable at this point, Joel Casamayor, who last fought just over a year ago when he won the WBC title from the late Diego Corrales. Casamayor is scheduled to fight No. 1-ranked WBC contender Jose Armando Santa Cruz on the undercard of Miguel Cotto-Shane Mosley at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 10.
After winning the title last October, Casamayor was stripped early this year — prematurely, in my view — when he negotiated for a unification fight with then WBO titlist Acelino Freitas instead of signing with then WBC interim champ David Diaz. Now after some wrangling, the WBC website lists Casamayor as the interim champ, which is a sorry joke when you stop to think about it.
So you see, dear readers, that Casamayor cannot be considered for Juan Diaz’s next fight, because if the belt is Juan’s motivation, he would fight David Diaz.
Casamayor is also the Ring Magazine champion, which is a bit of a drag in this case, considering Juan Diaz’s performance and his three belts. That’s one of the pitfalls of The Ring’s policy. They have absolutely no power to get two legitimate contenders in the ring. A graybeard — say Bernard Hopkins — can win their title and freeze it because it can only be lost in the ring, according to their policy. If The Ring had any real clout, Casamayor would be fighting Juan Diaz and Hopkins would fight Chad Dawson.
But Casamayor can’t fight Juan because he’s just an interim belt holder, and Hopkins just won’t because he is very smart and very rich.
For what it’s worth, Casamayor does not have a gimme in front of him with Santa Cruz either. Santa Cruz was leading David Diaz by five points on two cards and three on another when he was TKO’d in the 10th.
But I do find it interesting that you don’t hear the same drum beat for Casamayor, assuming he wins against Santa Cruz, to fight David Diaz, as when the situation was reversed. Some of that is because he has been out of the limelight for so long now that people forget. We’ll see.
David Diaz is linked to Juan, obviously, because he has that last belt. But shouldn’t he defend it against Casamayor next? With Pacquiao, David’s name comes up because he’s thought of as beatable at 135. Actually, Manny should be able to handle David, Casamayor and Santa Cruz. It’s just that sooner or later, he would have to face Juan Diaz.
I don’t know. It seems like only yesterday that Pacquiao had to grow into 130. Now that he is, has he outgrown it already, or is his erratic training regimen to blame? If the problem is in his preparation, a more balanced lifestyle has to be easier than facing a Texas twister like Juan Diaz.
Don’t get me wrong. It might well be the fight of the year in 2008. Manny’s quickness may be just the antidote for Juan’s aggression. But with Pacquiao, so much is riding on it, like the hopes of an entire country. It seems to be more of a gamble than is necessary. Manny could fight Harry Homitz, knock him out in 1 second, and Filipinos would love it. Lose to Juan Diaz, and the aura of invincibility vanishes.
The lightweights are loaded with possibilities, with or without Pac-Man in the mix. I haven’t even touched on the talents of No. 1-ranked IBF contender Nate Campbell, WBO interim belt holder Michael Katsidas or ,moving up quickly, WBO No. 1-ranked contender Anthony Peterson. That’s enough talent to keep Juan busy until he graduates from law school.
