JOSEPH DIAZ was meant to be fighting Ryan Garcรญa. But with a hand injury ruling out the Golden Boy star it was natural to put him in with Matchroomโs rising American hope Devin Haney. The two will box on Saturday (December 4) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Itโs a good, high level lightweight fight. Haney, ranked fourth by BN, is looking to solidify his standing in the world. Haney is only 23 years old but, after beginning his career with a sequence of low key bouts in Mexico, heโs amassed a 26-0 (15) record and recently has stepped up his competition. Last year he outpointed Yuriorkis Gamboa, long past his best, and in March secured his most significant win to date when he beat Jorge Linares over 12 rounds. Linares has been a superb fighter over the years but at 36 he is reaching the end of his career. It was a fight in which Haney looked excellent at times as he moved off behind quality jabs and cracked Linares with fine hooks. But the veteran still stung him, shaking the American up with a few warnings shots.
Diaz is a different kind of test. His age is not a factor. He is seasoned but insists he is in his prime. His only defeat came against Gary Russell Jnr and his victory over Tevin Farmer, for an IBF super-featherweight belt, is his signature win. Heโs only had one bout at lightweight but that was a good win too over Javier Fortuna, enough to get Diaz into the world top 10 (heโs ranked by BN at nine).
โI always fought those top tier contenders. Devin Haney, heโs a young fighter, heโs a hungry fighter and he has a lot of experience,โ Diaz said. โI just feel like he doesnโt have the experience that I have. I feel like thatโs going to be the key factor to my victory.โ
โI got all the skills and all the resume,โ he added. โIโm a 2012 Olympian and Iโve fought all these tough fighters already.
โHeโs going to bring out the best of me and Iโm going to bring out the best of him. At the end of the day I know what Iโm about and I know thereโs a lot at stake for myselfโฆ Iโm just going to f**k him up.โ
Haney looks big at the weight though and Diaz has spent much of his career in lighter divisions. Itโs easy to see that rapid jab and his handspeed bamboozling Diaz over the course of a long fight. The pick is for Haney to pick up another points win but look smooth in the process.
โSkills pay the bills,โ Haney insists. โI feel like we had to corner him to make him take the fight and all these other guys [at lightweight] the same thing. They know my skillset and they know how much I bring to the table.
โI canโt overlook Jo Jo Diazโฆ I do feel like he is in the prime of his career so it wonโt take nothing away from my victory when I win.
โIโve been seeing guys come at me and trying to do everything they can to win forever now. Iโve always been a slick boxer, Iโve always had skills,โ he added. โI do feel like his style will be made for me.
โHe canโt outbox me, he canโt outbang me. I just feel like thereโs nothing that he can do.โ
The WBC lightweight belt awarded to Haney will be on the line.
On the undercard, womenโs welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill was meant to be defending against Victoria Noelia Bustos. But she has had a last minute change of opponent forced on his, with Kandi Wyatt coming in. Wyatt has lost her last two bouts, including a 2020 contest against Kali Reis. In all likelihood McCaskill win this inside the distance.
Filip Hrgoviฤ will be a force at heavyweight. Itโs important that he gets a run out before the end of the year though donโt expect Emir Ahmatovic to put up much resistance. Prospects Alexis Espino, Marc Castro and Austin Williams will also box while flyweight contender Ricardo Sandoval also appears.
The Verdict Haney must win with a shot at new world champion, George Kambosos Jnr, suddenly in the offing. DAZN televise.
