Juan Díaz | |
---|---|
Statistics | |
Nickname(s) | Baby Bull |
Rated at | |
Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
Reach | 67 in (170 cm) |
Nationality | American |
Born |
Houston, Texas, U.S. |
September 17, 1983
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 46 |
Wins | 42 |
Wins by KO | 21 |
Losses | 4 |
Juan Díaz (born September 17, 1983) is an American professional boxer who held the unified WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO lightweight titles in 2008. He announced his retirement from boxing in 2011 to attend the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Law School, but returned to the sport in 2013.
Diaz was 105–5 as an amateur, winning 13 National Gold Medals, two National Silver Medals and four World Championships. He thought he had qualified for the 2000 Mexican Olympic team but was informed he was too young to compete in Sydney. He did not want to wait four more years and turned pro.
Díaz made his professional boxing debut at age 16 on June 23, 2000 with a first-round TKO victory over Rafael Ortiz. He won his first five fights by knockout.
On November 22, 2003, Díaz won the WBO youth lightweight title with a sixth-round TKO of journeyman Joel Pérez. He accumulated a record of 24–0, which included wins over title challengers Joel Perez and Francisco Lorenzo, before challenging for his first world title.
On July 17, 2004, Díaz defeated Mongolian Lakva Sim for the WBA lightweight title by unanimous decision. Díaz defended the title seven times. On December 4, 2004, he defeated former two-time WBA lightweight champion Julien Lorcy by unanimous decision. In his second defense, he defeated Billy Irwin by 9th round tko. On April 8, 2006, he defended his title against undefeated José Miguel Cotto (brother of Miguel Cotto) with a unanimous decision victory. In his next fight, he defeated Randy Suico by 9th round tko. On November 14, 2006, Diaz successfully defended his title for the fifth time against Fernando Angulo of Ecuador by unanimous decision.
On April 28, 2007, Diaz was upgraded to super champion by the WBA, successfully defending his title against WBO champion Acelino Freitas by TKO after Freitas forfeited the fight before beginning the 9th round, unifying the WBO lightweight championship with the WBA (Super) lightweight title. The fight took place in Mashantucket, USA.