By Dan Ambrose: Golden Boy Promotions boss Oscar De La Hoya had thrown cold water on the possibility of Joseph ‘Jo Jo’ Diaz Jr. challenging WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney in November.
Jo Jo Diaz Jr. won’t be fighting Haney despite earning the WBC mandatory spot by fighting in a world title eliminator.
De La Hoya isn’t saying WHY Jo Jo Diaz (32-1-1, 15 KOs) won’t be facing Haney, as he’s the WBC mandatory for his belt after his decision win over Javier Fortuna last month on July 9th in a title eliminator.
Diaz Jr., 28, had mentioned recently that he wants to fight the belt-less Ryan Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) next. However, Ryan posted that 2022 will be a big year for him, which could mean he’s done for the remainder of the year.
Unless Ryan doesn’t consider Jo Jo Diaz Jr as a “huge” fight, it suggests that he might not be fighting until next year.
“2022 is going to be my year 🥊Only Huge fights LETS GO!! 👊🏼” said Ryan Garcia on Twitter.
If Jo Jo Diaz Jr. isn’t fighting Ryan Garcia next, it’s going to be interesting to see who De la Hoya has for him.
Fans will assume that Jo Jo is ducking the fight with Haney if he turns it down and winds up facing a lesser talent.
When a fighter starts turning down world title shots after earning the mandatory spot in a title eliminator, you got to wonder.
On Thursday, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn told DAZN that they’re targeting Jo Jo Diaz Jr. for Haney (26-0, 15 KOs) to fight in November and that talks are starting for that fight.
Apparently, Hearn needs to check with De La Hoya because he’s saying that unequivocally the Jo Jo Diaz Jr. vs. Haney fight is NOT happening.
In the interview, Hearn said he has no interest in putting a fight together between Haney and WBA interim lightweight champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero. He feels that former IBF super featherweight champion Jo Jo Diaz Jr is a bigger name.
That may be true, but if Hearn can’t get Golden Boy to agree to the fight, he’s wasting his time and should take the match with Rolly.
No truth on @JosephDiazJr negotiating or fighting @Realdevinhaney .
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) August 27, 2021
Is De La Hoya worried about whether Jo Jo Diaz Jr. is up to the task to challenge Haney for his WBC belt?
Again, Hearn might want to reconsider his stance about not wanting to put a fight together between Haney and Rolly Romero.
Unless there’s a particular reason why Hearn wouldn’t want to make the fight with Rolly, this is a match that’s better than nothing. Hearn can’t drag out Yuriorkis Gamboa for Haney to fight again.