“BABY BULL” IN MARKET FOR NEW PROMOTER
Houston, TX-In an interview that was part of “Ring Talk Radio” Sunday night, WBA lightweight champion Juan Diaz dropped a “bomb” on promoter Kathy Duva and Main Events. Fresh off a TKO 9 over Filipino Randy Suico a fortnight ago, Diaz, 30 and zip with 15 KOs, says he is a promotional “free agent.” His four-year pact with Main Events recently expired, and unless Kathy Duva and company can come up with a “sweet” deal, Diaz will leave.
FREE AGENT DURING 30-DAY “WAITING” PERIOD
“My four year deal with them has expired. They have 30 days to make me a better offer. I’m already a free agent, we just have to wait,” said the WBA 135 lb. champion. Diaz was followed on “Ring Talk Radio” by a Cassius Clay performance (before he was Muhammad Ali) with an unlikely straight man in pianist Liberace. Also appearing Sunday night, Brian “Super V” Viloria, the reigning WBC 108 lb. champion who fights next Thursday on the Top Rank Outdoor Life TV Network series.
HONORED TO BE MENTIONED WITH CORRALES
When I guided the conversation from the humidity in Houston, to the likelihood of fighting recognized World lightweight champion, Diego Corrales. “I’m hoping maybe we can do this fight at the end of the year, or early next. It’s an honor to be in with a great fighter like Diego Corrales. I want to fight the best.” I then posed the following question; “Do you expect me to be calling you Juan Diaz, free agent after the 30-day period? “Yes, I do.”
TALKED OF RECENT WIN OVER SUICO & SCHOOL
When probed as to whether or not his most recent challenger, Randy Suico, the Filipino who was brought in at virtually the last minute could punch, Diaz put it like this. “I was really surprised by his heavy hands.” When the subject came to school, Juan said. “I’m taking the second summer session off. I took one class in Summer I, in Communication, and I got an A. Right now I’m just relaxing.”
DIAZ TO SHAW, ARUM, OSCAR, OR SOMEONE ELSE?
With Diaz all but saying Kathy Duva won’t be promoting him anymore, this creates intrigue. Will Don King show the boxing world he’s not packing it in, and in turn extend Diaz an offer? Or does he go with promoter Gary Shaw, Bob Arum, maybe Oscar De La Hoya, or is this a case where somebody with big bucks is going to come in and take over?
SAVANNAH AND SHIELDS STAYING ABOARD
Having seen his pact with co-manager Shelly Finkel expire, Diaz is indeed a young man in a unique position. An undefeated titleholder with 30 scraps, I’d say the college graduate is in the drivers seat. Regarding his relationship with longtime manager Willie Savannah, that’s solid
