Diaz defeats Montes de Oca!

September 3, 2008

By Francisco Salazar
Photos: Big Joe Miranda

No one said that the path to returning to top form from a long layoff was going to be easy. Former two-time title challenger Antonio Diaz can attest to that.

Veteran Juan Pablo Montes De Oca wanted to be a major bump in that path, but Diaz was able to weather the storm.

Diaz fought his way to an eight round unanimous decision victory over Montes de Oca before an overflow crowd of over 1,800 at the Omega Products International in Corona, CA.

The bout headlined a four-bout “Path to Glory” card, presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions.

Friday night’s bout was the first time Diaz had fought in Southern California in over three years. He returned to the ring last month and defeated Felix Flores by majority decision in Miami.

Prior to the July bout, he had been out of the ring for three years due to what he felt he needed was time away from the ring.

Diaz was facing a fighter who began his professional career with five straight defeats, but then became known for upsetting fighters or fighting to close split decision defeats.

Montes De Oca began the bout doing his best work on the inside. Montes de Oca used his awkward style to go to the body effectively, while Diaz attempted to counter with hooks to the head.

Diaz began to find his rhythm, doubling up on left hooks to the body and head of Montes De Oca. Although he was facing a brawler who was willing to take a punch, Diaz was willing to stay on the inside and land punches onto Montes De Oca. Diaz did his best work while Montes de Oca was on the ropes or backing away from him.

At the end of the fourth round, Diaz had Montes De Oca stunned as he landed a barrage of punches to the head of Montes De Oca. Montes de Oca was able to weather the storm and even fought back, landing counter shots to the head of Diaz until the bell sounded to end the round.

Diaz began to assert himself more by landing the more effective punches in the second half of the fight. However, Montes De Oca came right in and landed his share of shots to the head. He never strayed away from going to the body.

However, he was warned in the seventh round for landing twice below the belt. Diaz also was warned by referee Jack Reiss in the round for landing below the belt.

Both had their moments in the eighth and final round. Montes De Oca was able to land to the head with straight right hands. However, Diaz seemed to be the fresher fighter and was able to close the bout landing the more effective punches.

All three judges scored the bout 79-73, 79-73, and 78-74 in favor of Diaz. Fightnews.com scored the bout 78-74 in favor of Diaz.

“He was a tough guy,” said Diaz, is being trained by his older brother Joel, who used to be a pro fighter. “I felt tight and tired in there. I couldn’t let my punches go. He was able to catch me.”

Asked if he may have wanted a knockout since so many fans made the two hour drive from the Indio-Coachella area, Diaz responded, “I wasn‘t looking for the knockout. I wanted to give the fans a good show. The important thing is that I got the victory. I wanted to get rounds in and I was able to do that.”

Diaz, from Coachella, CA, improves to 43-5-1, 27 KO’s. Montes De Oca, from Las Vegas, NV by way of Toluca, Mexico, 9-15-2, 6 KO’s.

In the co-main event, Welterweight Mauricio Herrera scored a six round unanimous decision over Santiago Perez.

Both fighters jabbed and boxed as they attempted to size each other up in the first two rounds. Perez was more accurate with his punches as he countered while Herrera pressed the action.

Although Perez became more assertive in the middle rounds, Herrera would use his speed. Herrera was busier and landed the more effective punches during these exchanges.

Herrera continued to be more accurate with his punches as he used and landed more uppercuts that connected. Perez pressed forward and did land a few lead right hands. However, Herrera was the better fighter and finished strong.

All three judges scored the bout 60-54, 60-54, and 5 9-55 in favor of Herrera. Fightnews.com scored the bout 58-56 in favor of Herrera.

Herrera, from Riverside, CA, improves to 6-0, 2 KO’s. Perez, from El Monte, CA by way of Copala, Guerrero, Mexico, falls to 10-2-2, 2 KO’s.

Junior Welterweight Pavel Miranda scored a razor-thin eight round split decision victory over Alex Viramontes.

Miranda worked behind a jab as he circled around the ring, even going to the body with left hooks in the first couple of rounds. Viramontes went at Miranda, but did not let his punches go, allowing Miranda to control the action.

It was not until the third round when Viramontes began to let his hands go. Viramontes began to let go of his punches as he made his way inside of Miranda’s defense.

Viramontes was able to work the body and then the head of Miranda. During the fourth round, Miranda’s nose began to bleed from the punches connected by Viramontes.

The fifth round was the best round as both fighters had their best moments. Viramontes was much busier and effective with his combinations, but Miranda landed the harder shots to the head and body.

Just when Viramontes was doing well in the sixth round, Miranda landed a hard left hook to the head. The punch momentarily slowed him down.

Miranda slowed down considerably in the final two rounds. It allowed for Viramontes to press the action and have Miranda backing up against the ropes. Viramontes was busier and landed the more effective combinations. However, to his credit, Miranda came on in the final half of the eighth round.

One judge scored the bout 77-75 for Viramontes, while the remaining two judges scored the bout 77-75 in favor of Miranda.

Miranda, from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, improves to 18-2, 10 KO’s. Viramontes, from Riverside, CA, falls to 9-6, 3 KO’s.

Lightweight Daniel Hernandez scored a spectacular first round stoppage over Ricardo Sanchez in a scheduled four round bout.

Both came forward, throwing and landing thudding shots to the head. Later in the round, Hernandez landed a counter right hand to the head of Sanchez, dropping him flat onto his back.

Sanchez tried getting up, but was in no condition to continue, prompting referee David Denkin to stop the bout at 1:38.

Hernandez, from South Gate, CA, improves to 2-0, 2 KO’s. Sanchez, from Pomona, CA by way of Mexico City, DF, Mexico, falls to 0-2.

Notes:
- Lightweight contender Julio Diaz, Heavyweight contender Chris Arreola, Middleweight Enrique Ornelas, Lightweight Josesito Lopez, unbeaten Dominic Salcido, unbeaten Bantamweight Michael Franco, longtime promoter Benny Giorgino were in attendance at the outdoors venue.

- WBC officials presented championship belts to former world c hampions Rene Arredondo and Rodolfo Gonzalez in a ceremony prior to the main event. Arredondo had his championship belt stolen from his home and Gonzalez gave is belt away for as a sign of gratitude to the Virgin de Guadalupe, which is a symbolic gesture within the Catholic Church for being cured. In this case, Gonzalez suffered from cancer and made a full recovery after visiting a Tijuana church while making a spiritual visit.

- Next Thompson Boxing Promotions event will take place on Friday, September 26th at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA. For tickets and information, contact Thompson Boxing at (714) 935-0900.

- Ring announcer was Jim Fitzgerald.