Paul McCloskey to battle Julio Diaz on May 5th in Belfast

Image: Paul McCloskey to battle Julio Diaz on May 5th in BelfastBy William Mackay: Light welterweight contender Paul McCloskey (23-1, 12 KO’s) will be facing former IBF lightweight champion Julio Diaz (38-7, 27 KO’s) on May 5th at the Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. The 32-year-old McCloskey hasn’t been able to land a title shot after beating Breidis Prescott by a controversial 12 round decision last September in a WBA light welterweight title eliminator bout. It was a fight that few boxing fans felt that McCloskey deserved to get the decision.

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Juan Diaz wants title shot against Brandon Rios

By Jason Kim: Former IBF/WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Diaz (35-4, 17 KO’s) wants a title shot against WBA lightweight champion Brandon Rios (27-0, 20 KO’s). Diaz recently called the 24-year-old Rios, saying on his twitter page “I am back and stronger than ever. Just letting you hold my title for now. I am going to school you, and shut you up.”

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Juan Diaz plans comeback

By Eric Thomas: Former lightweight champion Juan Diaz (35-4, 17 KO’s) reportedly plans on giving it another shot at resurrecting his career and hopefully capturing another title before he hangs it up. Only 27, Diaz, has lost four out of his last six fights and looked pretty unremarkable in all of the fights. He wants to take on some of the top fighters in the division like Michael Katsidis, Roberto Guerrero, Humberto Soto or Urbano Antillon.

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Is there a case for John Murray to face Juan Diaz?

By Shaun Campbell: European lightweight champion John Murray (30-0 18ko’s) is looking for a new opponent and a step up to world level. Although Murray is probably not quite ready for the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez, Michael Katsidis or Robert Guerrero, it is clear he deserves a chance to fight at the top level. Murray is the type of fighter that needs good opponents to bring out the best of his, and it is widely thought that we still haven’t seen the best out of him. Many believe him to be a one dimensional, come forward brawler with no head movement. This view is usually adopted by those who have seen one, or maybe two of his fights. Ricky Hatton was also cursed with the same sort of view.

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Student gets a failing grade in the ring, the future for Juan Diaz?

Image: Student gets a failing grade in the ring, the future for Juan Diaz?By Kirk Jackson: Juan Diaz was outclassed in his rematch with Juan Manual Marquez last Saturday. It was apparent from the opening bell who was the student, and who was the teacher, as Marquez built up a huge lead and Diaz looked confused through out the majority of the fight. Perhaps a strategy mishap, a mental relapse, or both, Diaz looked like a fighter without that fire he once had earlier in his career. It also didn’t help Marquez did not show too many ill effects of his age or the one year lay off he had, even after suffering a defeat last year from the hands of Floyd Mayweather. Although not the physically prime fighter he once was, Marquez showed he still has the instincts, intelligence, technique and skill to control a fight. He did exactly that, controlling a large portion of the fight, snatching most of the early and middle rounds. To Diaz’s credit, he did put on a strong showing the last 3 rounds of the fight, but by that time it was too late.

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Marquez fails to mention Khan’s name after Saturday’s win over Diaz

Image: Marquez fails to mention Khan’s name after Saturday’s win over DiazBy Jason Kim: When naming fighters that he’d like to fight next, WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KO’s) failed to mention that of WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KO’s), who flew all the way over from the UK just to scout Marquez, and is hoping to get a fight against the aging star in December. Marquez, however, failed to mention Khan after the fight, saying “A trilogy with [Manny] Pacquiao is what I want and it should happen. It is my number #1 priority. I will be ready to fight again in November and hopefully Pacquiao takes the fight with me.” Khan will be ready to fight again in December, and he really needs a fighter like Marquez to step in the ring with him so that Khan can try and get a huge boost up in terms of becoming well known to American audiences.

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Marquez-Diaz Undercard: Upset for Jacobs while Guerrero and Linares cruise to victories

Image: Marquez-Diaz Undercard: Upset for Jacobs while Guerrero and Linares cruise to victoriesBy Peter Wells: Not everything last night went as planned, as expected Robert Guerrero dominated the 38-year-old Joel Casamayor and took an easy decision apart from his last round scare, and Linares did enough to make Rocky Juarez’s late surge all for nothing. But it was Daniel Jacobs another promising star at Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), who slipped up on his big night.

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Marquez-Diaz: Marquez looks as good as ever

Image: Marquez-Diaz: Marquez looks as good as everBy Peter Wells: Last night Juan Manuel Marquez looked as good as ever in outscoring Juan Diaz in there much anticipated rematch. The younger Juan was brave and fought to the very end but by changing his tactics he preventing himself from taking a beating, just that Marquez was too slick and easily outboxed the Texan. It wasn’t an easy fight by a long stretch and the one judges score of 118-110 did the fight no favours, I scored it 116-112, giving Diaz the 2nd and last 3 rounds. The other judges scored it 116-112 and 117-111.

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The future of Juan Manuel Marquez

Image: The future of Juan Manuel MarquezBy Kirk Jackson: The Warrior from Mexico City, Mexico, Juan ‘Dinamita’ Marquez, was victorious in his rematch against Juan ‘The Baby Bull’ Diaz retaining his status as Lightweight Champion of the World. Although this fight failed to match the hype and excitement of their first fight, it was still a great fight, just with a different flow to how the bout turned out.

At times he looked his age 36, with punches penetrating his defense, and towards the latter stages of the fight looked completely winded. But also at times, he showed the brilliance that has captivated many fans and purist alike, landing accurate 3 and 4 punch combinations, showing the skill, precision and power to hurt Diaz on many occasions through out the fight. His reflexes have slowed, his stamina isn’t quite where it used to be, he cuts and bruises a lot easier now at this stage of his career, but he still has the skill and ring savvy to overcome these hurdles in the ring.

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