In a Houston gym that was hotter than a brick oven, there was a workman like volley of punches in rapid succession that propelled the speed bag and later hammered the heavy bag. As I moved in for a closer look I realized the man responsible for all the noise was none other than the former ruler of the lightweight division, Juan Diaz (33,1,17 KO?s).
I found Diaz in the midst of his preparations for his next assignment, a fight against the very dangerous and always entertaining fighter, Michael Katsidis (23,1, 20KO?s) that takes place September 6 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas .
As most fans know, Diaz is not only a professional boxer, he’s also a full-time student. So despite having to train for a very risky opponent and in what could be a ?make or break? fight for him, the former champion spent most of the morning taking his final exam in criminal justice.
Juan is coming off the experience of losing for the first time in his storied career when he saw his belts go to the current IBF and WBO lightweight champion Nate Campbell via a split decision.
Diaz said that looking back on the Campbell fight, he felt that his loss was a mixture of Nate?s skill and outside pressures leading up to the fight?referring to his very public contractual dispute with his former promoter Don King.
He said that his head wasn?t in the fight because of everything that Don was doing.
?He (Don) put out 24×30 signs at the press conference saying that I stole money from him and that I was this and that it was our last fight. It was a lot for me.?
Diaz also admitted that he didn?t expect Campbell to be so aggressive and effective as he was that night and that he failed in listening to his corner?s instructions.
? I thought Campbell was going to come out and I would pressure him and he?d box me. But he came right at me. I didn?t listen to my corner like I usually do either.
They kept telling me to box more and be patient, but I didn?t. But they are the one?s that can see better becuase they can see it from a different angle (from the outside). So I?ve learned to listen to Ronnie (Shields) and my corner and to follow their instructions.?
So what does the Katsidis fight mean to Diaz ?
?You know we both need a win. It?s kind of like a ?do or die? situation for Katsidis and myself even though we?re both great fighters. But both of us are coming off a loss and we need a win to reestablish ourselves at the lightweight division.?
?I think that a loss would set me back even more than the Campbell fight did. Another loss would take away my credibility and really hurt me.?
As we close out a year of boxing for 2008, many potentially explosive brawls are on the schedule. The Diaz/Katsidis fight is one of those fights that many believe is on the short list for possible ?fight of the year?.
According to Diaz, he plans on testing the Australian puncher all night and if this is true, then this fight is a must see.
?I know that he?s (Katsidis) very aggressive. You know, a lot of these guys haven?t been taken to the limit and when we?re in that situation I?m going to test him,” said Diaz. “I?m going to see if he can go toe to toe with me for twelve rounds. I know that I can go twelve.I also know that I know how to box and that my conditioning is one of my biggest advantages too.So I?m going to test him and see if he can go toe to toe for twelve rounds and if that doesn?t work, then I?ll just box him.?
Despite all the impending implications of the outcome in Diaz?s next fight, his demeanor was calm and focused, much like the approach that he took heading into his final exam. Maybe that?s why he was able to ace his criminal justice test that morning as he informed me.
With one test conquered you can bet that Diaz?s will work tirlelessly right up to fight night on September 9th and he’s looking to score nothing less than an A on his next exam.
