JUAN ?Baby Bull? Diaz has rebounded quite nicely from that first career loss inflicted by Nate Campbell a few months ago. In gutting out that split decision win over the rugged Michael Katsidis last Sunday, I saw no telling signs of a fighter psychologically ruined by his first loss.
In a perfect world, he?d make for a better, more credible opponent for Manny Pacquiao than his promoter Oscar De La Hoya.
Brawler versus Banger. Raging bull against a voracious pacman.
JAB. Last Sunday, when he was matched up against a puncher with an equally ferocious demeanor, Diaz exhibited an improved jab and used it to pepper the slower Katsidis whenever the latter?s face came within range.
The muscular Katsidis appeared to be the stronger fighter but he just wasn?t busy or accurate enough with his punches in order to convince majority of the judges.
The problem with ?The Great? Katsidis is that he just cuts too easily. In a good two-way scrap, it?s a no-brainer that the bloodied fighter is always on the losing end as far as impressions go.
ROCKY. Equally impressive was Rocky Juarez? performance against Argentinean strongman Jorge Barrios. It was a morale-boosting victory over a marquee opponent which may somehow resurrect his career.
Barrios seemed to be outfighting the slower, plodding Juarez in spurts, but Barrios being the notorious brawler that he is, was more than willing to gamble on exchanges.
Bad decision when you?re up against a fighter whose left hook can level a bus. The result was a hideous-looking split lip which prompted the stoppage.
The hitch with Rocky is that he will always have trouble with movers who can stay away from his power punches. If only his hands were a little bit faster, he would be very difficult to beat.
Kudos to ABS-CBN for featuring both bouts plus the much awaited Juan Manuel Marquez-Joel Casamayor championship match this Sunday. Finally, a soothing salve to soothe our squalid state of longing, ever since Solar Sports departed from our cable televisions.
That blot you see on today?s Sun.Star Cebu issue is on account of my drooling. Sorry about that.
HAIL MARY. Chuck ?The Iceman? Lidell has made a name for himself in the mixed martial arts world by being the antidote to the jiu-jitsu masters who excel at the ground game.
A no-nonsense striker, Lidell has mastered the sprawl and brawl- the perfect defensive counter to a takedown. He likes to keep things standing up where his long arms are able to do damage.
But last Sunday at UFC 88, he got careless and got whacked into next week by a Hail Mary of a right hand from Rashad Evans.
If you saw the replays, you will have noticed that Lidell made a very basic mistake in boxing- by not covering his jaw with his left hand when he threw that right hand uppercut.
E-MAIL. Last Rounder Tom John Pineda e-mailed me his reactions on my column last week on ALA Gym?s Rey Bautista:
?Boom-Boom?s defense needs a lot of work, but he?s still young with a bright future ahead. There?s no problem in offense, he?s starting to mature in that aspect. He knows how to control those boulder-packed fists! I still believe he?s going to be a champion someday.?
Thanks for your e-mail Tom. I?m sure ?Boom-Boom? appreciates the encouragement he gets from avid boxing observers such as yourself. Let?s hope he acquits himself well on the undercard of the Pacquiao-De La Hoya exhibition match.
LAST ROUND. It?s on Paul and Carmen?s little angel Samantha and my bro Atty. Ramsey Quijano, whose passion for life is rivaled only by his equally famous love affair with basketball. Happy birthday and Cheers!
