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Philippines, 16 Oct 2025 |
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MIGUEL DIAZ WON THE FIGHT FOR ISRAEL VASQUEZ, BUT HE COULD HAVE DONE MORE By Ed de la Vega, DDS PhilBoxing.com Mon, 12 Oct 2009  Downtown Los Angeles:- Israel Vasquez, the two time ex-junior featherweight champ returned to the ring last Saturday night at the Nokia Theater-LA Live to headline a fight card set up by the Golden Boy Promotions. As reported in the media, Vasquez won via a 9th round stoppage over Angel Priolo, a Columbian boxer who lost all of his last five fights. One of those losses was to the “Hawaiian Punch”, Brian Viloria. Amongst some of the pundits at ring side that night, the talk was not so much about Vasquez’ victory but rather why he won. Given the fact that he had a handpicked opponent who was not supposed to give him a hard time, everyone expected no less than a “magnificent” performance. Vasquez won alright, but it was not as magnificent as everyone expected. In fact, he was stretched almost to the limit by the supposedly easy opponent. But what really saved the day for him, as the conversation goes, was the work of his cut-man, Miguel Diaz. Diaz was able to control a nasty cut over the left eye of Vasquez, a cut that would have easily resulted in the fight being stopped. And, if the fight was stopped due to the cut, given the scores on the three judges, (76-76, 76-76 and 78-74 going to the 9th round) who knows if Vasquez could have won the fight. Vasquez was so rusty from his more than 18 months of being away from the ring that as early as the late part of the very first round, he started to have some damage over his left eye that eventually became a cut later in the fight. Thus, Diaz had his work cut out for him. But Diaz, knew how to handle the situation! He had the proper medications to control the bleeding. And, he was calm and collected. Truly, Miguel Diaz saved the day for Israel Vasquez. But he could have done more! As good as he was, Diaz from this writer’s point of view, had major flaws. Diaz’ sure knew how to control bleeding to give a fighter another round. Sadly as I was told, that’s all that matters in boxing. Win at all cost! Shades of Farragut in August 5, 1864 at the Battle of Mobile Bay when he said, “damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead”! Diaz’ work practices on the ring will never make him a poster boy for OSHA. (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) He does not use devices as simple as surgical gloves to prevent the spread of infection. And to make matters worse, he keeps the cotton Q-tips (used to deliver adrenalin to the cut) in his mouth. a nasty, unsanitary practice I oftentimes see other cut-men do as well. I wonder if the California Boxing Commission have a say on this matter? Or do they even have simple training sessions to impart common sense knowledge to boxing trainers and cut-men in so far as infection control is concerned? Better still, how aware are the Commissioners themselves on matters dealing with such issues as infection control? Isn’t overall boxer’s safety part of what the Commission supposed to regulate? As a member of the health profession who is so passionate about boxing, particularly in protecting the health and safety of the boxers, from mouthguards to infection control, I would like to have some answers. But as a pundit said to me, “Forget it man, the Commission is so screwed up as it is now, do you think they have time to worry about such things as infection control?” Huh? Is infection control so trivial for such “manly” sports as boxing? Do they have to wait until some nasty cross-infection occurs before they act? Isn’t prevention worth anything anymore? Incidentally, Team Pacquiao may again hire Miguel Diaz to work the Pacman’s corner as a cut-man when he fights Miguel Cotto on November 14th. Nothing wrong with that! Diaz knows how to control bleeding, something that may be needed when Pacquiao fights a big hitter like Cotto. But I hope Team Pacquiao will take note on my comments about Diaz’ ring practices and remind him to use hand gloves and keep those Q-tips away from his mouth. We want Pacquiao to win, but we also want to keep him healthy and free from cross-infections after the fight. Top photo: Cutman Miguel Diaz (L) working on Vazquez's cut Saturday night at Nokia Theatre-LA Live in downtown Los Angeles. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.  |
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