Photo: Boxing360
Power Punching super featherweight prospect Joel Diaz Jr (9-0, 8 KOs) of Palmdale, California will headline in his first main event on Saturday June 2nd. The 20-year-old Diaz Jr. will take on Puerto Rico born Guillermo Sanchez (13-6-1, 5 KOs) in a scheduled for ten round main event at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA. The card is promoted by Halquist Productions. Very good things were being said of Diaz Jr. leading up to his ShoBox debut this past January against fellow unbeaten Guy Robb. Dropped early in the bout, Diaz Jr. stormed back to drop Robb twice en route to a dazzling 7th TKO victory. In the few months that have passed since that fight, Diaz Jr. has squeezed in two more stoppage victories. The 23-year-old Sanchez has hit a recent losing slide but at one time was being touted as a promising prospect going unbeaten in his first 12 fights. Added to the mix is the classic boxing rivalry of a fighter of Mexican descent in Diaz versus one of Puerto Rican descent in Sanchez. Fightnews spoke with the always ready to fight Diaz as he finished a recent workout in preparation for the upcoming fight.
How excited are you to be in your first main event?
I’m very excited about it. My conditioning is oustanding right now. I am ready to put on an exciting performance.
Any concerns with the possibly of having to go 10 rounds for the first time knowing your opponent has already done this?
I’m always in peak condition. Since signing with my promoter Boxing 360 I have been very busy with them getting me fights and I’m constantly in the gym in prepartion for those fights. The promoter has done his job so I have to do mine now whether my fights are 10 rounds, more, or less. In my TV fight with Robb I learned that I need to pace myself so that I dont burn out and have something left in the tank should the fight go the distance. It’s no gurantee that I am going to stop every opponent I fight in the first few rounds. Especially as I continue to step up in competition.
Since your ShoBox fight you have made some changes in your corner as well as your training environment correct?
Yes I have. Though I did come out victorious in my ShoBox debut there were some flaws that needed to be corrected. Abel Sanchez is my new lead trainer and this will be our third fight together. I am very satisfied with his training methods and the new things he has been teaching me. I have relocated from training at Freddie Roach’s Wildcard Gym to Big Bear since this past February and that too has been a very good change for me. I have adjusted well to training in Big Bear. I’m very happy and comfortable in this new training environment.
Sanchez will be your first southpaw opponent. What are your thoughts on that?
Honestly I try not to think about it (laughing). I mean it is what it is. Your not always going to get to fight righthanded fighters. I´m getting the proper sparring and I will be ready for the adjustment.
This fight seems to be a list of firsts for you on many fronts. Adding to your list of firsts, this is the first Mexican versus Puerto Rican fight that you’re involved in. Has that crossed your mind?
It’s funny because I was just talking with my father about that. This fight may not be on the same level of a Juan Manuel Lopez versus Orlando Salido fight, but the intensity of the fight will be the same. Whenever you get a Mexican and Puerto Rican fighter in a fight you can almost always be assured of fireworks. The fans in attendance in Washington are going to be in for a real treat come June 2nd.
