Diaz Stops Freitas in Lightweight Unification
Sunday April 29, 2007
WBA lightweight champ Juan Diaz (32-0) added the WBO belt to his collection when Acelino Freitas (38-2) failed to come out for the ninth round of their unification bout. Both fighters exchanged power punches from the opening bell in a fight that lived up to expectations. Freitas was slightly ahead through four rounds but could not sustain his effectiveness in the face of the relentless pressure being applied by Diaz. Freitas was hurt in the fifth and it became clear that Diaz was the physically stronger man and would eventually either stop Freitas or force him to quit (as Freitas did in his 2004 fight with Diego Corrales).
Freitas was hurt again in the eighth and his corner was unable to convince him to come out for the ninth. Diaz was ahead on all three scorecards at the time: 79-73, 76-75 and 77-75. Afterwards, Freitas' trainer Oscar Suarez corner claimed that it was his decision to stop the fight but it sure didn't look that way to anyone watching the fight. At 23, Diaz is a rising star in the sport of boxing. Possible future opponents include fellow lightweights Joel Casamayor, David Diaz and Julio Diaz (yes, most of the good fighters at 135 are named Diaz) ... and maybe even super featherweight Manny Pacquiao.
Comments
Juan Diaz ate many a punches in the early rounds only to persavere and wear down Acelino Freitas to take his 2nd belt (WBO) to go along with his WBA belt. After the surprising strange ending of Freitas not coming out of his corner a even stranger thing happened as his handlers raised him up on their shoulders with him smiling and raising his hand like he won, not quit. Then Max Kellerman whose best work was out of the studio not at ringside kept saying Joel Casamayor is the real lightweight champ. The only belt he has is the paper belt from Ring Magazine. Two other Diaz’ Julio and David have belts. Seems Max just didn’t want to give Juan Diaz his due credit. Let’s hope he is not Larry Merchant’s replacement. We want fair treatment of the fighters.
Diaz is a very good fighter and unified both belts but he needs a big name like Pacquiao to catch the peoples attention and to gain respect if he does fight manny it would be a hella of a fight speed vs power