ANOTHER ?Juan? seems to have succeeded in getting the goat of Freddie Roach.
Juan ?The Baby Bull? Diaz, holder of three world lightweight belts, was recently able to put the right words in getting the attention of Roach, the respected American trainer of Manny Pacquiao.
In an interview with boxing web site boxingtalk.net, Roach retorted Diaz?s recent statement about the quality of Pacquiao?s foes.
?We aren?t ducking anybody. Juan Diaz is talking about how Manny fights old washed-up fighters. Well who has Juan Diaz beaten? Who has he fought?? said Roach in the interview ?I will say this though, he is an up and coming fighter, and I give him a lot of credit.?
Roach, however, admitted that Diaz is probably a more marketable fighter that Juan Manuel Marquez, the current World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight champion.
?I think that if Manny does move up to 135 lbs, everyone else will, too, everybody wants to fight Manny, he makes the most money,? added Roach ?We need to see the numbers first before deciding on Juan Diaz. If it makes sense, we?ll move up and take his belt.?
The 24-year-old Diaz (33-0, 17 knockouts) holds the World Boxing Organization (WBO), World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight crowns. Mexican-American David Diaz reigns as WBC kingpin.
Marquez is considered by experts as the most logical fight for Pacquiao as the Mexican was able to score a draw in their only encounter nearly three years ago in Nevada.
?Well he seems to be the front runner, but Manny wants to move up to 135 lbs and challenge Juan Diaz and David Diaz. These are factors that need to be considered also,? said Roach.
On May of 2004 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Marquez, then defending his WBA and IBF Featherweight jewels, recovered from three first-round knockdowns and salvaged the 12-round stalemate against Pacquiao.
Last weekend, Marquez, 34, defended his WBC crown with a masterful 12-round win over American challenger Ricardo ?Rocky? Juarez at the Desert Diamond Hotel in Tucson, Arizona.
Roach, who watched the bout, still gave credit to Marquez for his latest performance.
?It was a big win for Marquez, he clearly won the fight, but not real exciting though. He still is a counter puncher, but that?s what makes him such a difficult fighter,? said Roach.
Roach said that it will all boil down to business as it is expected that Pacquiao will take a fight that will give him more money.
?Well I talked to Manny a few days ago, Manny said take the fight that makes the most money, and the most sense,? said Roach ?March 15th is our next date for Manny to get back in there. Whoever Bob Arum gets us to fight that makes the most sense, that?s who we?ll fight.?
