Tim Bradley parts with trainer Joel Diaz

By Boxing News - 09/02/2015 - Comments

bradley#1By Dan Ambrose: WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (32-1-1, 12 KOs) has reportedly let go his trainer Joel Diaz after working with him for the past 10 years.

There’s no word as of why the 32-year-old Bradley has decided to make a chance with his trainer. It’s kind of late in the game for Bradley to switch trainers.

Diaz has been by Bradley’s side for his biggest fights of his career against Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Ruslan Provodnikov. Diaz has done a good job of working Bradley’s corner.

According to Dan Rafael, Bradley is meeting with Teddy Atlas and Buddy McGirt, as possible replacements.

Bradley recently won the WBO 147lb title with a 12 round decision win over Jessie Vargas last June at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Bradly dominated almost the entire fight until getting hurt by a big right hand in the 12th round, when he decided to fight aggressively instead of milking his lead the way most fighters would have done.

Bradley said this on his Instagram:

“I would like to take the time to clarify the conflicting media publications. First of all I am a man that would never disrespect any other man whom I’ve worked with for 10 years. I know this decision came as a shock to many that I would be making changes to my team, but with that being said I want everyone to know that I took the time to meet with Joel Diaz in person to directly communicate with him that I would be making a change. The message that Joel is referring to was a voice message that I left for him after we spoke in person to reconfirm to him that my decision was made. Joel chose not to answer my call. I thank Joel Diaz for his time and efforts and know that he and I have accomplished great things together. I wish him nothing but success and blessings for him, his family and team.

It’s unclear whether Bradley decided on his own to mix it up with Vargas in the 12th round or if that was something that his trainer Diaz told him to do. I can’t imagine Diaz telling Bradley to go out and fight aggressively in the last round of the fight considering how dominating he’d been.

Bradley is a good fighter, but he would likely struggle badly if he had to fight some of the top welterweights outside of his promoter Bob Arum’s Top Rank stable. If you put Bradley in with guys like Marcos Maidana, Kell Brook or Keith Thurman, for instance, he would have a very tough time against those guys. They can all punch, and they wouldn’t be waiting for the last 20 seconds of the 12th round to load up on a shot against Bradley like Jessie Vargas did.

Bradley’s at a stage in his career where he’s gotten pretty much everything he can get out of his body. I don’t see it making any difference who trains him now. He’s going to do well when put in with guys like Jessie Vargas, and struggle when matches against other fighters like Diego Chaves, Kell Brook, Keith Thurman, Amir Khan or Shawn Porter. The thing of it is, Bradley likely won’t fight guys like Thurman, Khan or Porter unless his contract with Top Rank expires and he moves on. Those fighters are with Al Haymon, and it’s unlikely that they’ll ever fight Bradley while he’s with Top Rank.

Lamont Peterson vs. Felix Diaz possible for October 17th on PBC

Former IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson (33-3-1, 17 KOs) could be facing unbeaten 2008 Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz (17-0, 8 KOs) on October 17th on Premier Boxing Champions card, according to Dan Rafael. Rafael is saying that trainer Joel Diaz is saying that his fighter Diaz, 31, will be fighting Peterson.

Peterson recently was beaten by Danny Garcia in a non-title catch-weight fight at 143lbs last April in a 12 round majority decision loss. Peterson was stripped of his title by the International Boxing Federation after the defeat despite the fact that his IBF title wasn’t on the line due to the fight taking place at welterweight. Peterson had been talking about moving up to the welterweight division after the Garcia fight. It looks like that’s what’s happening.

Diaz, 5’5″, hasn’t done much since he turned pro in 2009. He’s faced only weak opposition, and he’s had two close calls in having to struggle to defeat Emmanuel Lartei Lartey and Adrian Grandos by narrow decisions. Diaz’s lack of size is clearly a problem for him with him fighting in the welterweight division. Diaz would be better off fighting at lightweight. Even at 140, Diaz would likely struggle against the taller welterweights like Viktor Postol and Amir Iman.



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