Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz 32-1-1 (15) feel rejuvenated since moving up to lightweight and wants a shot at hard-hitting rising star Ryan Garcia 21-0 (18) next.
Southpaw Diaz, 28, delivered one of the best performances of his career when he outpointed Javier Fortuna 36-3-1 (25) at 135-pounds the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles earlier this month.
It was his first proper fight in the weight class after coming in three-and-a-half pounds heavy for his super featherweight clash with Russian southpaw Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov 15-0-1 (12) at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California in February. That bout ended in a majority draw.
Diaz sees a fight against Garcia as a natural and with both boxers sharing a promoter in Golden Boy Promotions, he says it shouldn’t be a problem to get the bout made.
“I’m going to take him to a place he’s never been before, physically and mentally,” Diaz said to ESPN.
“Ryan Garcia, I feel like he’s a very talented fighter but he’s never been in the ring with the guys I’ve been in the ring with: some warriors trying to take your head off, not guys I’m going to put on a highlight reel.
“If this fight doesn’t get made, it’s not on my end – it’s on theirs.”
The 22-year-old Garcia was originally slated to face Fortuna instead of Diaz but withdrew citing mental health problems.
He is coming off a career-best performance in January when he recovered from an early knockdown to stop former world title challenger Luke Campbell 20-4 (16) with a body shot in round seven at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
“He’s been fighting guys a lot smaller than him and I feel like with me, he’ll have the height advantage, but as far as physical body strength, I might be even stronger,” said Diaz, who is four inches shorter than the 5-foot-10 Garcia.
“If not, we’ll both be the same. He’s going to feel my power in there.”
The lightweight division has developed into one of the hottest weight classes in boxing in recent years with undisputed champion Teofimo ‘The Takeover’ Lopez 16-0 (12) leading the pack. Hot on his heels are former three-weight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko 15-2 (11), Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis 25-0 (24) and Devin Haney 26-0 (15).
Diaz is a welcome addition to their ranks and victory over Garcia will solidify his credentials.
“I think I’ll stop Ryan in the later rounds,” Diaz said. “My pressure and body shots will be too much for him. He’ll be feeling my shots and trying to hold and hug but I think my overwhelmingness will be one of the keys to victory.
“Whatever Ryan Garcia wants to bring to the table – if he thinks he wants to knock me out or does that pull hook that he does – it’s not going to work… Whatever he tries to do inside that ring, I’ll be ready.”
