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Friday, September 17, 1999
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Junior welterweight Diaz chases shot at big time
By Kevin Iole
Review-Journal
There is no shortage of great fighters in the junior welterweight division.
World Boxing Council champion Kostya Tszyu is a feared puncher. Julio Cesar Chavez remains a force. Zab Judah is one of the bright stars in the game. World Boxing Association champion Sharmba Mitchell has lost only twice in 47 pro fights. And, despite a crushing loss to Tszyu, Miguel Angel Gonzalez is a viable contender in the division.
Antonio Diaz wishes one of them would fight him. The 23-year-old from Coachella, Calif., is as personable a fighter as there is in the sport, but he is about to lose his patience.
He will fight Emanuel Burton in the main event of a seven-bout card today at the All-American SportPark. The card begins at 6 p.m., and parts of it, including the Diaz bout, will be televised live on ESPN2.
Diaz, who is 27-2 with 19 knockouts, has his eye on the division's big names. He said he hasn't complained to promoter Bob Arum, but he said he is beginning to get frustrated with being paired against B-level competition.
"I've been saying it for a long time, that I want to fight the best guys," Diaz said. "I'm not the kind of guy who makes a big fuss and yells and demands things. Maybe if I did that, it would work. I think I've accomplished a lot, but I'm at a point where I need to move up."
Diaz hasn't fought since winning a tough decision over Marlon Thomas on May 7 and, with no disrespect intended toward the 21-13-4 Burton, isn't content to be the big fish in the small pond any more. Toward that end, he has called out Shane Mosley, who earlier this summer gave up the International Boxing Federation lightweight title and then skipped 140 pounds to go straight to welterweight.
Diaz said he is not impressed with Mosley and would relish a fight against him.
"He's more style than substance," said Diaz, who is a fan favorite because of his aggressive, hard-charging style.
"I don't see what's so great about Mosley. Believe me, I would love to fight him."
In other bouts:
-- Unbeaten heavyweight Lamon Brewster (21-0, 19 knockouts) meets veteran Quinn Navarre in a 10-round bout.
-- Darrell Morgan faces Cliff Etienne in a scheduled eight-round heavyweight match.
-- Diaz's younger brother, Julio, will fight Mahan Washington in a six-round lightweight duel.
-- In a four-round women's light flyweight bout, Nina Ahlin, an Atlanta Falcons cheerleader, will accept the challenge of Andrea Blevins.
-- Hank Markin and Vince Moses go head-to-head in a four-round junior middleweight fight.
-- Lightweight Justin Juuko will fight an eight-rounder against an opponent to be named.
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