CHICAGO–Willie Savannah and Juan Diaz re thisclose. In fact,. The ?Babty Bull? often refers publicly to the Houston manager-trainer and gym owner as ?my second father.? He did that here after his eighth-round TKO stoppage of IBF lightweight champ Julio ?The Kidd? Diaz even with his real father standing on the press conference podium.
Juan certainly made his surrogate Dad proud with his sterling effort against Julio. The victory on HBO added a third 135 pound title belt to Juan?s growing collection. The only belt outstanding belongs to ringside spectator and Chicagoan, the WBC champion David Diaz.
Savannah, a crafty character who gave promoter Don King one promotional option going forward, said even he is sometimes amazed by Juan?s great arsenal of ring skills.
?Amazing is the word,? Savannah said. ?This kid has been amazing me since he was 11 years old. I think we would like to go for David Diaz and his WBC belt and maybe Joel Casamayor and Nate Campbell could have a box to fight the winner of the next Diaz vs. Diaz title bout.?
Savannah also took a shot at the mouthy Cuban who is now promoted by Golden Boy.
?Casamyor is always out there calling people bad names,? Savannah said. ?He does more talking than fighting. He is always calling everyone out but nothing happens. By the time he fights anyone named Diaz, he might be 40 years old.?
Campbell was at ringside and sat front row for the postfight presser to make it known that he wants to fight somebody, anybody, to make some money.
And, of course, that includes Manny Pacquiao. Campell said he is the man who will take Manny down.
?I want to fight him. Am I throwing my hat in the ring? I?d throw a lot of stuff in the ring if I could get a fight with Pacquiao. I think he can do OK at 135 pounds but I know one thing, he just can?t beat me.?
