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04/03/2006 Archived Entry: "Juan Diaz Ready to Clobber Cotto!"
Juan Diaz Ready to Clobber Cotto!
WBA Lightweight King prepared to Punish Puerto Rican Challenger!
Interview and photos by Karl Hegman
A confident Juan Diaz gives the victory sign.
HOUSTON, April 1, 2006 - Juan "The Baby Bull" Diaz is a fit and trim 137 pounds a week before his title defense versus undefeated challenger Jose Miguel Cotto at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas April 8th.
Friday was a light day at the Savannah Boxing Club and Youth Association for the peaked Champion as he went through his series of crunches, working on the weight machines, shadowboxing, bag work, and treadmill running. Younger brother Jose was also training for his next fight May 11th at the Reliant Arena in Houston under the watchful eye of trainer Jay Johns.
The odds makers have installed the World Boxing Association Champion as the betting favorite, but Puerto Rico native Lillian Negron disagrees. "Puerto Ricans are better fighters than Mexicans! Look how many Mexicans Tito Trinidad beat! Cotto will win for Puerto Rico!" The World Boxing Association Lightweight Champion appeared to be very relaxed and confident going into this particular fight, and I had the following Q and A session with him.
KARL HEGMAN: "Juan, are there any butterflies on your part going into your first big Pay Per View fight in Las Vegas?"
JUAN DIAZ: "Not right now. I usually don't get butterflies until I am getting my hands wrapped in the dressing room right before the fight, but butterflies are a good thing."
KH: "is there any concern on your part that if the fight goes the distance, that the infamous Nevada State Athletic Commission Officials will try to steal the fight from you?"
JD: "No, not really. I am just going in there to fight my fight and to take care of business. I am not worried about the judges."
Trainer Jay Johns (left) and Juan Diaz' brother, Jose Diaz, in training
KH: "Juan, I have to say that I have been unimpressed with Cotto's opposition thus far. Are you overconfident going into this bout versus this untested and unproven fighter?"
JD: "No, not at all. He is not undefeated for nothing. He has got two hands like I have, and all it takes is one punch to end it all, and I have trained for a hard twelve round fight."
KH: "Cotto is very robotic and predictable to me, Juan. He is good at punching at a target against the ropes that doesn’t hit back, but you are going to be circling him and turning him. How would you analyze him as a fighter?"
JD: "I think Cotto is an aggressive guy that likes to come in and fight like I do as well. I would like to start off the fight by boxing and using my jab, but if he wants to go right off the bat, we will go!"
KH: "I think once you start hitting this guy to the body early, the fight will go out of him after about the 6th round and he will be in heavy breathing and looking to get out of there. Are you looking to put those rib roasters in early against this fellow?"
JD: "Well, my body attack is a big part of my offense. I have hit a lot of guys to the body early to slow them down, and we will have to see what happens here. I am expecting a tough fight from Cotto, and I wish the fight was tonight as I am in the best condition of my career."
KH: I have noticed that Cotto lunges in and loops his left and is wide open to right hand counters when he does that. What are some of the weaknesses in him that your team has spotted?”
JD: “Hey, I can’t tell you that as his people may read this! I will say that we have watched a lot of tape on the guy and I feel really good about my chances going in there with him. He’s not taking my title.”
KH: "What are your thoughts on the Floyd Mayweather - Zab Judah fight?"
JD: "Zab and I are friends, so I will be pulling for him. We sparred when I was 15, and we have remained friends ever since."
KH: "Did you two go all out in sparring?"
JD: "I went all out, but I don't think he did at that time."
Jose Diaz works the rope under theeye of trainer Jay Johns!
KH: "I would have liked to have seen you fight Ricky Hatton here in the states as the ref here wouldn't let him get away with all of that holding and hitting, pushing and pulling and yanking, and fouling throughout. What happened with the Ricky Hatton fight?"
JD: "The money wasn't right, and his promoter, Frank Warren, wanted options on me for my next three fights if I won. Ricky was supposed to get over $2 million, and I was going to get $300 thousand. Mister Savannah took a long and hard look at the deal and turned it down. Hopefully, we can get it on in the future as I would love to fight Hatton."
KH: "What is after this fight for you?"
JD: "I am taking one fight at a time, but I will fight anybody. I really think this is going to be my breakout year, and it all starts with Cotto.”
KH "Okay Juan, give us a prediction for this fight. Are you going to stop Cotto?"
JD: "That would make it all the better, but I will just say that I will beat Cotto. It is going to be the second fight on the Pay Per View card, and it may turn out to be the best that night between two aggressive fighters."
KH: "Good luck Champion, and we look forward to seeing you retain your championship."
JD: "Thank you very much, and thanks to all of the readers out there. I am going to give this fight all that I have, and I hope that you all tune in as it should be a great card."
