Joseph Diaz

Last updated
Joseph Diaz
Diaz-Boxing.webp
Born
Joseph Pedroza Diaz Jr.

(1992-11-23) November 23, 1992 (age 31)
Other namesJoJo
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Reach64 in (163 cm)
Stance Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights40
Wins33
Wins by KO15
Losses6
Draws1

Joseph "JoJo" Pedroza Diaz Jr. (born November 23, 1992) is a Mexican-American professional boxer who held the IBF super featherweight title from 2020 to February 2021.

Contents

Early life and education

Joseph is of Mexican descent. [1] He attended Kranz Intermediate at the age of 12–14. He is left-handed and fights southpaw. As a child he played baseball but took up boxing to learn self-defense. He is coached by his father. [2] He attended South El Monte High School.

Amateur career

Prior to the Olympic Trials, he was the two-time reigning national champion at bantamweight that included a win over Antonio Nieves. [3] Diaz became the first American boxer to qualify for the 2012 Olympics by becoming a quarter-finalist at the 2011 World Championships, where he defeated both 2004 Olympic silver medalist Worapoj Petchkoom of Thailand and former world championship bronze medalist Óscar Valdez of Mexico but lost to Lázaro Álvarez. [4] Díaz was the 2011 U.S. National Champion at featherweight at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. [5] He fought in the 2010-11 World Series of Boxing

At the 2012 Summer Olympics he beat Pavlo Ishchenko, but ran into Alvarez in his second fight and lost again.

World Series of Boxing record

1 Win, 1 Loss
ResultRecordTeamOpponent (Team)ScoreDateLocationNotes
Loss1–1Los Angeles Matadors Flag of Mexico.svg Braulio Ávila (Mexico Guerreros)0-32011-04-13 Flag of the United States.svg Los Angeles, U.S.
Win1–0Los Angeles Matadors Flag of Germany.svg Ronny Beblik (Memphis Force)3-02011-02-28 Flag of the United States.svg Memphis, U.S.

Professional career

Featherweight

Diaz made his professional debut in 2012 against Vincent Alfaro, winning by unanimous decision over four rounds and also scored a knockdown in the fourth. On May 9, 2015, Diaz defeated Giovanni Delgado via unanimous decision on the undercard of the Canelo Álvarez vs James Kirkland fight. He stepped up competition against veteran Rene Alvarado in a fight televised on HBO Latino in July 2015 and on December 18, Diaz Jr. defeated Hugo Partida and earned the WBC-NABF featherweight title. [6] He went on to defend the title multiple times, before challenging Gary Russell Jr. for the WBC featherweight title on May 19, 2018, at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Diaz was unsuccessful, losing a unanimous decision to scores of 117–111, 117–111, 115–113. [7]

Super featherweight

On January 30, 2020, Diaz defeated IBF super featherweight champion Tevin Farmer by unanimous decision with scores of 115–113, 115–113, and 116–112 to claim his first world title. After the fight, Diaz praised his opponent, saying "Tevin Farmer is a hell of a fighter, guys. I thank him for giving me this opportunity." [8]

Diaz's first defense of his IBF super featherweight title was scheduled for February 13, 2021 against Shavkat Rakhimov. However, he was stripped of the title when he missed weight, weighing 3.6 lbs over the 130 lb limit. As a result, the fight still went ahead, but Diaz was fined $100,000 for missing weight, which represented 20% of his purse. The money was split evenly between Rakhimov and the California State Athletic Commission. [9] They fought to a majority draw, with scores of 115–113 Diaz, 114–114, 114–114. [10]

Lightweight

Diaz vs. Fortuna

Following his draw with Shavkat Rakhimov, Diaz moved up to the lightweight division which he promised would be his best weight, where he fought Javier Fortuna for the vacant WBC interim lightweight title on July 9, 2021. Diaz was docked a point in the fourth round for hitting behind the head, but nonetheless emerged as the victor via unanimous decision, with scores of 117–110, 116–111 and 115–112. [11]

Diaz vs. Haney

On October 8, 2021, it was announced that Diaz would be defending his WBC interim lightweight title against its previous owner, undefeated Ryan García, in Los Angeles on November 27. [12] However, on October 15, Mike Coppinger of ESPN revealed that García had suffered a hand injury and that the fight would be postponed. [13] This led to back and forth on social media between Diaz and Devin Haney, the full WBC lightweight champion, culminating in an official announcement on November 3 that Diaz would now be challenging for Haney's full world title on December 4, instead of defending his interim title against García. [14]

Diaz vs. Duarte

On April 27, 2024 in Fresno, CA, Diaz is scheduled to face Oscar Duarte in a 10-round bout. [15]

Super Lightweight

February 15, 2024 in Commerce, CA, Diaz was scheduled to face Jesus Antonio Perez Campos at super lightweight. [16] He lost the fight by split decision. [17]

Professional boxing record

40 fights33 wins6 losses
By knockout151
By decision185
Draws1
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
40Loss33–6–1Oscar DuarteKO9 (10), 2:32Apr 27, 2024Save Mart Arena, Fresno, California, U.S.
39Loss33–5–1Jesus Antonio Perez CamposSD10Feb 15, 2024 Commerce Casino, Commerce, California, U.S.
38Win33–4–1Jerry PerezUD10Jul 8, 2023 AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
37Loss32–4–1 Mercito Gesta SD12Mar 18, 2023 Walter Pyramid, Long Beach, California, U.S.
36Loss32–3–1 William Zepeda UD12Oct 29, 2022Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
35Loss32–2–1 Devin Haney UD12Dec 4, 2021MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For WBC lightweight title
34Win32–1–1 Javier Fortuna UD12Jul 9, 2021 Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Won vacant WBC interim lightweight title
33Draw31–1–1 Shavkat Rakhimov MD12Feb 13, 2021Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
32Win31–1 Tevin Farmer UD12Jan 30, 2020Meridian at Island Gardens, Miami, Florida, U.S.Won IBF super featherweight title
31Win30–1Jesus CuadroMD12Sep 21, 2019 Auditorio del Estado, Mexicali, Mexico
30Win29–1Freddy FonsecaTKO7 (12), 2:07 May 4, 2019 T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant WBA Gold super featherweight title
29Win28–1 Charles Huerta UD10Feb 9, 2019Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
28Win27–1 Jesús Rojas UD12Aug 11, 2018 The Avalon, Hollywood, California, U.S.
27Loss26–1 Gary Russell Jr. UD12May 19, 2018 MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S.For WBC featherweight title
26Win26–0 Victor Terrazas KO3 (10), 3:00Feb 22, 2018Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.Retained WBC-NABF, and WBO-NABO featherweight titles
25Win25–0Rafael RiveraUD12 Sep 16, 2017 T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBO-NABO featherweight title
24Win24–0 Manuel Ávila UD10 May 6, 2017 T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC-NABF featherweight title;
Won WBO-NABO featherweight title
23Win23–0 Horacio García UD10 Dec 17, 2016 The Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Retained WBC-NABF featherweight title
22Win22–0 Andrew Cancio TKO9 (10), 2:27 Sep 17, 2016 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, U.S.Retained WBC-NABF featherweight title
21Win21–0Victor ProaKO2 (10), 1:07Jul 30, 2016Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.Retained WBC-NABF featherweight title
20Win20–0 Jayson Vélez UD10Apr 23, 2016 Oracle Arena, Oakland, California, U.S.Retained WBC-NABF featherweight title
19Win19–0Hugo PartidaTKO2 (10), 1:32Dec 18, 2015Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.Won vacant WBC-NABF featherweight title
18Win18–0Ruben TamayoUD10Oct 23, 2015Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
17Win17–0 Rene Alvarado UD10Jul 11, 2015Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
16Win16–0Giovanni DelgadoUD10 May 9, 2015 Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas, U.S.
15Win15–0Juan Luis HernandezTKO3 (10), 3:00Mar 6, 2015Belasco Theater, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
14Win14–0Jose Angel BeranzaUD10Dec 8, 2014Cowboys Dance Hall, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
13Win13–0Roberto CastanedaRTD4 (10), 3:00Nov 13, 2014Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
12Win12–0Raul HidalgoTKO7 (10), 2:13Sep 29, 2014 State Farm Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S.
11Win11–0Ramiro RoblesUD10Jul 9, 2014 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
10Win10–0Luis MaldonadoUD6Apr 26, 2014StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.
9Win9–0Joivany FuentesTKO5 (8), 2:59 Mar 8, 2014 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
8Win8–0Carlos RodriguezTKO7 (8), 1:13Dec 13, 2013Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S
7Win7–0Noel MendozaKO3 (6), 1:54Aug 24, 2013 StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.
6Win6–0Luis CosmeKO1 (6), 2:09Jul 20, 2013 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
5Win5–0Rigoberto CasillasRTD3 (6), 3:00Jun 8, 2013 Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S.
4Win4–0Eric GotayTKO3 (6), 2:13May 3, 2013Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
3Win3–0Alberto CupidoUD6Mar 16, 2013Grand Oasis, Cancún, Mexico
2Win2–0Jose RuizTKO2 (4), 2:03Feb 2, 2013 Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
1Win1–0Vicente Afaro MartinezUD4Dec 15, 2012 Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S.

See also

Related Research Articles

Robert Joseph Guerrero is an American professional boxer. He has held world championships in two weight classes, including the IBF featherweight title twice between 2006 and 2008, and the IBF junior lightweight title from 2009 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robson Conceição</span> Brazilian boxer

Robson Donato Conceição is a Brazilian professional boxer who has held the World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight title since July 2024. As an amateur, he became the first Brazilian boxer to win an Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Serrano</span> Puerto Rican boxer and mixed martial artist (born 1988)

Amanda Serrano is a Puerto Rican professional boxer, mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. As a boxer, she is the unified featherweight world champion, having held the WBO title since 2019, IBO title since 2021 and the WBA title since 2023. She held the IBF title between 2022 and 2024. She is the only female, and Puerto Rican, to win world titles in more than four weight classes, and holds the Guinness World Record for the most boxing world championships won in different weight-classes by a female, having held 9 major world titles across seven different weight classes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikaela Mayer</span> American boxer (born 1990)


Mikaela Joslin Mayer is an American professional boxer, who has held WBO welterweight title since September 2024. She is also a former unified female super-featherweight world champion, having held the WBO and the IBF titles simultaneously. She has also held the interim WBC female lightweight world title. As an amateur, she won a bronze medal at the 2012 World Championships and competed for the U.S. at the 2016 Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delfine Persoon</span> Belgian boxer

Delfine Persoon is a Belgian professional boxer. She held the IBF female lightweight title in 2012 and the WBC female lightweight title from 2014 to June 2019, losing the title in a unification fight against Katie Taylor for the undisputed lightweight championship. As of September 2020, she is ranked as the world's best active female super-featherweight by BoxRec, the second best active female lightweight by The Ring, and the second best active female, pound for pound, by BoxRec, fifth by The Ring and seventh by ESPN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charly Suarez</span> Filipino boxer

Charly Coronel Suarez is a Filipino professional boxer. He is the current WBO International Super Featherweight Champion. As an amateur, Suarez represented the Philippines at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Cordina</span> Welsh boxer

Joe Cordina is a Welsh-Maltese professional boxer. He is a two-time super-featherweight world champion, having held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title from April 2023 until May 2024 and previously in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shakur Stevenson</span> American boxer (born 1997)

Ash-Shakur Nafi-Shahid Stevenson is an American professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in three weight classes from featherweight to lightweight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Magsayo</span> Filipino boxer

Jessel Mark Araula Magsayo is a Filipino professional boxer who held the WBC featherweight title in 2022.

Timofei Konstantinovich Tszyu is an Australian professional boxer who held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior-middleweight title from 2023 to 2024. He is the son of former light-welterweight world champion of boxing, Kostya Tszyu and older brother of Nikita Tszyu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Garcia</span> American boxer (born 1998)

Ryan Garcia is an American professional boxer. He held the World Boxing Council (WBC) interim lightweight title in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devin Haney</span> American boxer (born 1998)

Devin Miles Haney is an American professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the undisputed championship at lightweight from 2022 to 2023, and the World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight title from 2023 to 2024.

Alberto Puello Calderón is a Dominican professional boxer who held the World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight title from 2022 to 2023 and has held the World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight title since June 2024. On April 19 Puello tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance and was handed a six-month suspension on June 22 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond Ford</span> American boxer

Raymond Ford is an American professional boxer, who held the WBA featherweight title from March 2024 to June 2024.

Abraham Nova is a Puerto Rican professional boxer who has held the WBA-NABA super featherweight title since 2018.

Stephen Fulton Jr. is an American professional boxer. He is a former unified super bantamweight world champion, having held the WBO and the WBC titles from 2021 to July 2023.

Eduardo Antonio Solorza Ramirez is a Mexican professional boxer.

O'Shaquie Dominique Williams Foster is an American professional boxer, who has held the WBC super featherweight title from February 2023 until July 2024. Foster is managed by Keith Mills of Boxing Advisors LLC.

Sebastian Alexander Fundora is an American professional boxer and unified light middleweight champion who has held the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) titles since March 2024. As of July 2024, he is ranked as the best active light middleweight by The Ring magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Kambosos Jr vs Devin Haney</span> Boxing competition

George Kambosos Jr vs Devin Haney, billed as Undisputed, was a lightweight unification professional boxing match contested between WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and The Ring champion, George Kambosos Jr, and WBC champion, Devin Haney. The bout took place on 5 June 2022, at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. Haney defeated Kambosos via unanimous decision to become the first undisputed lightweight champion since Pernell Whitaker in 1990, and the first in the four-belt era.

References

  1. Corrales, Danny (2016-03-24). "No Hablo Espanol with Boxer Joseph 'Jo Jo' Diaz". Espn.com. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  2. Kevin Baxter (2012-05-07). "Boxer Joseph Diaz Jr.'s biggest motivation is helping his family - latimes". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
  3. "Joseph Diaz Jr. - Top Amateur Focuses on London - Boxing News". Boxingscene.com. 2011-07-30. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
  4. "Diaz Becomes First American to Qualify for London - Boxing News". Boxingscene.com. 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
  5. "California Leaves Its Mark on The Olympic Trials - Boxing News". Boxingscene.com. 2011-08-06. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
  6. "Joseph Diaz Jr. Faces Hugo Partida For NABF Title - Boxing News". Boxingscene.com. 2015-11-24. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
  7. "Russell Jr. tops Diaz Jr. via unanimous decision". ESPN.com. 2018-05-20. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  8. Christ, Scott (2020-01-30). "Joseph Diaz Jr takes IBF title from Tevin Farmer by decision". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  9. "Diaz misses weight, loses belt before title fight". ESPN.com. 2021-02-12. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  10. "Diaz Jr. vs. Rakhimov results: JoJo Diaz and Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov battle to a majority draw | DAZN News UK". DAZN. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  11. "Diaz beats Fortuna in impressive lightweight debut". ESPN.com. 2021-07-10. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  12. Esco, Wil (2021-10-08). "Ryan Garcia reaches terms with Joseph Diaz Jr for November 27 fight". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
  13. "Hand injury forces postponement of Garcia-Diaz". ESPN.com. 2021-10-15. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  14. Stumberg, Patrick L. (2021-11-03). "Devin Haney vs Joseph Diaz Jr official, December 4th in Las Vegas". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 2021-11-06.
  15. Iskenderov, Parviz (13 April 2024). "Oscar Duarte vs Joseph Diaz joins Ramirez-Barthelemy undercard". FIGHTMAG.
  16. Iskenderov, Parviz (25 January 2024). "Joseph Diaz faces Jesus 'Ricky' Perez in February in Commerce, CA". FIGHTMAG.
  17. Iskenderov, Parviz (16 February 2024). "Jesus Perez takes decision against Joseph Diaz in Commerce, CA - Photos". FIGHTMAG.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Marvin Sonsona
WBC-NABF featherweight champion
December 18, 2015 – April 2018
Vacant
Title next held by
Manny Robles III
Vacant
Title last held by
Miguel Marriaga
WBO-NABO featherweight champion
May 6, 2017 – April 2018
Vacant
Title next held by
Joet Gonzalez
Minor world boxing titles
Inaugural champion WBA Gold super featherweight champion
May 4, 2019 – December 2019
Vacant
Title next held by
Mark Urbanov
Major world boxing titles
Preceded by IBF super featherweight champion
January 30, 2020 – February 12, 2021
Stripped
Vacant
Title next held by
Kenichi Ogawa
Vacant
Title last held by
Ryan García
WBC lightweight interim champion
July 9, 2021 December 4, 2021
Lost bid for full title
Vacant