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[Previous entry: "Duddy-Howe, headlines in Boston Saturday, June 28th"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "'Bad' Chad Dawson Phone Interview Transcript"]

06/19/2008 Archived Entry: "Family Values and Dad’s Work Ethic Keep Diaz Anchored & Focused in Showdown with Pacquiao"

Family Values and Dad’s Work Ethic Keep Diaz Anchored & Focused in Showdown with Pacquiao

Photos and story by Juan C. Ayllon

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WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz addresses the media


CHICAGO, June 19, 2008—With America’s Presidential election year heating up, his deft, affable style and talk of family values might lead you to think that he’s running for office, not facing his most dangerous foe a little more than a week away at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Sweat glistens on the chiseled muscles of 32 year-old World Boxing Council Lightweight Champion David Diaz and drenches his navy tank top. He’s just finished an open workout and is now holding court with the media and a small crowd at JABB Boxing Gym. He charms them with his easy smile, disarming sincerity and self-deprecating sense of humor.

Standing to the side, his lovely bride, Tanya Diaz, smiles and looks regal in a suave casual way, dressed in designer jeans and a chic, long sleeved shirt. Her father-in-law, Señor Anselmo Diaz, wears glasses, a crisp, white Oxford shirt and pressed khakis, along with the traditional Mexican cowboy hat. Nearby sporting a Chicago White Sox baseball cap, khakis, and a black T-shirt bearing the logo, Diazboxing.com, David’s brother, Jose, tends to his two sons, Daniel and Ishmael.

There’s an air of excitement and nervous energy about the gym, and with good reason. His opponent, Philippino superstar Manny Pacquiao, has earned the nickname, “Mexicutioner” for his proclivity for knocking off Mexican icons. They line them up and he bowls them over. Just like that, more or less.

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At left, Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions and co-owner of JABB Boxing Gym, looks on as Diaz is interviewed. Although he was never Diaz's promoter, Pesoli has always been a stallwart supporter of Diaz through the years and has featured him a number of times on his shows in Chicago

Venerated names like Marco Antonio Barrera, Eric Morales, and Juan Manuel Marquez pad the win column of Pacquiao’s record of 45-3 with 35 knockouts, bolstering his claim to being the pound-for-pound best in boxing. And, with the sport’s universally recognized Pound-for-Pound king—Floyd Mayweather, Jr.—now retired, an argument may be made that Manny is indeed King.

Now, the margins of victory in his two wars with Marquez were razor thin, stirring demand for a third definitive bout. Still, such wars of attrition can take their toll. Just ask Evander Holyfield or a slew of other warriors too many to mention. They both need a breather, promoter Bob Arum (who promotes both Diaz and Pacquiao) had said.

Enter David Diaz. The January 2008 issue of The Ring Magazine describes him as “not the most talented fighter out there, but a gritty guy who never stops working.” For many in the media who agree, that translates into a walkover and a fourth weight division world title for Pacquiao—who began his career fighting at 107 lbs. in 1995—as he moves up from super featherweight at 130 lbs. to the lightweight limit of 135.

But, what do they know? At a ripped 137 lbs. today, neither Diaz nor his family buy it. Boxers throughout Chicago swear that his work ethic in the gym is unreal and all but EARNED him the title. Add to that a growing legion of fans and some media members (including this writer) who are numbered in the ranks of believers. He’s got eight days to lose a measly two pounds—a piece of cake—and put an end to Pacquiao’s “Mexicutioning” ways. The latter’s not so easy, but completely plausible for someone with Diaz’s heart and work ethic.

And a father like Anselmo Diaz.

You see, as the youngest of nine children raised by two migrant Mexican parents with scarcely a first grade education between them, Diaz got a first rate education in what truly hard work was. Time and again, his father labored and sacrificed to provide for his family. He spent many a year sweating in the anonymity of a trophy-making factory. It was a lesson not lost on little David, who would earn his share of trophies, and then some.

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Anselmo and David Diaz

Rising up from the rugged Chicago neighborhood of Humboldt Park, David Diaz began boxing as a little kid.

Pointing to one of his boys who stood about four feet tall, Jose Diaz said, “He was about as big as he is when he started boxing.”

It wasn’t long before the trophies began coming in. Repeat Chicago Golden Gloves. Then Nationals. Then two upset wins over Zab Judah (who went on to championship status as a professional) in the Olympic Team box-offs. David Diaz went on to compete in the 1996 Olympics, losing out to the eventual Silver Medalist, Oktay Urkal.

Diaz turned pro and—after a two-year hiatus related to burnout, one of his brothers passing, and his mother’s health issues—he returned to the ring as a junior welterweight and gradually rose through the ranks with the guidance of manager and veteran cutman Jim Strickland.

Diaz suffered his sole loss via eighth round technical knockout to the dangerous junior welterweight contender Kendall Holt in April 2005 in a bout in which both fighters suffered a knockdown. Standing 5’ 6” and swinging wide, Diaz repeatedly was beaten to the punch by the straighter punching, 5’ 9” Holt. Interestingly enough, just as the referee intervened, Diaz knocked Holt flat on his back.

Nevertheless, manager Strickland prevailed upon Diaz to follow his longtime notion that he should really be fighting as a lightweight. A series of wins followed and on August 12, 2006, Diaz won the WBC Interim Lightweight Title with a dramatic come-from-behind technical knockout of Jose Armando Santa Cruz in the 10th round. When the regular champion, Joel Casamayor, refused to grant Diaz his mandatory shot at the title, he was stripped and Diaz gained full championship status.

On August 4, 2007, Diaz overcame an early knockdown and a badly bruised nearly shut right eye to defeat—and beat-up—Erik Morales so badly, Morales had to be helped down the aisle to his dressing room. I know, as I watched him limp past me in the press section held upright by two assistants.

Now, with a record of 34-1-1 and 17 knockouts, Diaz looks to add one more to the win column, gain a little more respect, and secure his kids’ college funding next Saturday.

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Left to right: Jim Strickland, Anselmo Diaz, David Diaz, and Mike Garcia

Speaking at ringside, Diaz touched on his preparation and motivation behind that propels him toward victory. Afterwards, his co-trainer Mike Garcia, wife Tanya Diaz, and—later—his brother, Jose shared their thoughts on his upcoming battle.

JUAN AYLLON: You’ve been working out with [undefeated local prospect] Ivan Popoca, right?

DD: Ivan Popoca, Diamond’s around here—and we’re working out with “Diamond.”

JA: “Kid Diamond” [Almazbek Raiymkulov, a hard-hitting lightweight contender slated to fight in Chicago tomorrow night]?

DD: No, “Diamond,” a kid from around here from Chicago who used to live here. We trained with a guy from Colombia named Oscar Leon, and we worked out real good. We had a good camp.

JA: Without divulging too much, can you tell us what--

DD: Pressure, man. That’s all we’re going to do—same thing we always do—we’re not going to change it now. You know, there’s no need. So, we’re going to go hard and see what happens.

JA: Is this the best shape you’ve been in?

DD: I think so, I think so. We’re getting there. I’m not at the point I want to be just yet. But, in a couple days, we’ll be all right.

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Mike "Fly" Garcia (right), co-trainer and co-ower of JABB Boxing Gym, with David Diaz

Mike “Fly” Garcia (a defensive whiz who accumulated a 26-0 record as a professional fighter himself before bad hands forced him out) spoke next.

JA: What can you tell us about this camp that’s different than others?

Mike Garcia: There is no difference, really. David just trains hard for every fight. You know, I mean, he wanted to be home for this one, which I don’t blame him. He feels comfortable here. And for a fighter, to be comfortable, that’s most important. You don’t want to take him out of his elements—something different, something to change it up. If something’s working with a certain thing, why change it?

JA: Now [Diaz’s manager and trainer Jim] Strickland mentioned in the teleconference the other day that for this fight, you brought another dimension than that other guy he trained for previously down in St. Louis. Can you tell us more about that?

MG: Well, Kevin Cunningham is good friends with Jim Strickland. He helped us out for the last Morales fight. For this fight, we’re trying to do more defense, [and] more angles. So, we’re really working on David’s defense, bobbing and weaving, making sure he doesn’t stay in front of Manny too long.

JA: And your thoughts on how this fight’s gonna go?

MG: We’re going to win! Nothing more. We’ll see you there June 28th!

David Diaz resumed.

JA: You previously said that this fight was going to take care of your kids’ college.

DD: Well, this is just going to set them up. I’m going to be able to afford to pay their college now so when they grow up, hopefully it’s no option for them—they’ve got to go to college.

JA: And the next one’s for you, after that?

DD: God willing, everything comes out all right, then, I guess we get to splurge! [He laughs.]

JA: Tell us a little bit more because in boxing, everyone’s not so responsible, but you’re a very grounded family person.

DD: My dad took care of nine kids, dude! Where do you think I got that from, man? My dad took care of nine kids, clothed and kept a roof over their heads, so something rubbed off: His hard work and his way of looking at life and knowing what’s first. So, I attribute that to my dad.

JA: Tell us about your feelings about your kids, your dreams.

DD: No, man, those are [things] that I want to keep to myself, because that’s for [my wife and I] to plan out. I mean, they’re still young. If it was up to me, they’d go and be presidents. Right now, I’ve just got to make sure they go on the right path. And if they go on the right path, whatever they become, I’ll be all right with that.

JA: What kind of legacy do you want to leave for your kids?

DD: Just so they know that I worked hard and everything I got, I’m doing it for them. That’s it pretty much. It’s pretty simple. Just to know that their dad is getting his ass beat right now so they can enjoy life. [Laughs]. That’s it.

JA: And how does Tanya help out in this whole equation?

DD: She doesn’t! [Laughs]. Nah, just joking! She does everything. I mean, she’s the one taking care of the kids right now. I’m usually helping her, but she’s taking the whole workload. And in the morning, daycare, picking them up, feeding them, washing them, and she’s doing everything right now. And that’s a big help for me because I know my kids are being taken care of.

JA: And is she still working two jobs?

DD: Naw, I cut it down to one job.

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Tanya and David Diaz at dinner about a year-and-a-half ago

Tanya Diaz shared her thoughts next.

Tanya Diaz: I’m really excited. I can’t wait. Emotionally, everything, I’m really happy for David.

JA: Describe your feelings with the fight a little over a week away.

Anxious. I’m anxious. I know that he’s been training really hard and I’m really confident. So, it’s going to be good to see it all come into play.

JA: And on helping him out—it seems that you’ve got a very team oriented approach. What’s it like to be the wife of a fighter? Can you tell us more about that?

TD: It’s sometimes hard—it’s actually hard when he goes away to camp. We have a three year-old and a one year-old, and they keep me running; they keep me on my toes!

And then taking care of David, too. Like when he comes home from training, just making sure that he’s eating what he needs to eat and that’s about it. Mmm-hmm.

JA: And then the last week before the fight, he’s kind of grouchy?

TD: Yeah. But, you know what? I got used to that a long time ago. So, I don’t pay that any attention—it’s not only physical, but mentally, too, that he has to prepare himself. So, I don’t take it personal.

JA: And your prediction for this fight?

TD: Diaz is going to be victorious!

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Jose Diaz with his boys

His older brother, Jose Diaz—whom I encountered afterwards at a tiny Mexican restaurant several blocks away from JABB—shared his perspective. Jose, who is married and works the nightshift, was treating his boys to lunch. As the restaurant didn’t accept credit cards and he was a little short on cash, he skipped lunch and refused to let me buy it for him, saying that eating now would interfere with his sleep.

JA: What can you tell us about growing up with David through the years?

JD: He’s a very dedicated individual. Whatever he always wanted, he always got, obviously because he was the youngest one of us. He’s a hard-working athlete, you know.

It’s exciting and like, when he’s up in the ring, you feel like you want to jump up and help him out when he’s getting hit; when he’s getting hit, you feel, like, an anxiety! Usually, one week before he fights, I start getting a jittery bug in [my] stomach. And that’s exciting!

JA: Now family values seem to be a big theme in David’s life. Can you tell us more about that? David said it had something to do with his father raising nine kids.

JD: Yeah, well, we’ve always stuck together. And every family gathering, we’re always there. Even if we only stay there an hour or so, we always show up. We grew up together, so we always stick together.

Even when my parents go to Mexico! We have a sister, her name is Maria: She’s like our mother when our mom is not here. So, every weekend we all go over there.

JA: Describe a typical gathering.

JD: You know, it’s food, cooking food, like carne asada. You know carne asada [Editor’s note: Steak]? [We eat it] when it’s hot outside. Otherwise, we order pizza, watch a couple of movies, and then we just talk. We talk a lot about everything. Everything. We usually like to remember when we were young. You know, like, ‘Remember when David got lost?’ He was a little trouble-maker when he was little.

When we came back from Mexico, a lot of relatives from the same town started arriving there, too. He was like the little kid that everybody loved. So, he would go out in the street, walk around, and everybody knew him. So, that’s what we remember a lot.

JA: My middle brother owns a restaurant and, as I see him succeed, I feel very proud and happy for his success. Tell us how it feels for you seeing David doing so well with his career.

JD: That’s exactly how I feel! Some people say, ‘hey, now that he’s champion, does he get you a lot of stuff? I say, no, it’s not that way at all. The only thing I want is for him to be comfortable!'

JA: Your prediction for his fight?

JD: You know what? When I found out he was going to fight Pacquiao, I remember saying in my head, ‘Oh my God! Pacquiao is down!’ Yes, I keep hearing it over and over [in my head]. You know, it’s unbelievable: ‘David has knocked out Pacquiao.’ That’s what I hear in my head. And I think that’s what’s going to happen.


* * *

Grounded. A great father’s example. Love and sacrifice for the family. Hard work. Overachievement. And an unshakable confidence that things are going to go your way. Those are words that come to mind as I think about David Diaz as his big fight with Manny Pacquiao approaches.

Don’t be too surprised if Diaz proves the nay-sayers wrong and his gloved fist is raised on June 28th. It may not be presidential, but will be a crowning achievement of a fighting family man, nevertheless.

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