JoJo Diaz the latest boxer to make the switch to bare knuckle
Joseph “JoJo” Diaz is the latest former champion to move over to bare knuckle boxing and will make his BKB debut on July 18 at The Novo at LA Live in Downton Los Angeles.
Diaz boxed in the 2012 Olympics and, now 33, has carved out a 34-10-1 (15 KOs) record in the pros having won the IBF 130lbs title, when he beat Tevin Farmer in 2020. However his subsequent form has been patchy at best. Most recently, Diaz was outpointed by Ashton Sylve on June 19.
The Southern Californian said: “I’ve spent my entire career testing myself against the best fighters in the world, and I’m excited to start this next chapter with BKB. I’ve always been a fighter who comes forward, throws punches, and gives fans everything I have every time I step into the ring. That’s exactly what bare knuckle boxing is all about. To make my debut in my home state of California, in front of my hometown fans in Los Angeles, makes this opportunity even more special.”
Diaz fought the likes of Farmer, William Zepeda, Regis Prograis and Devin Haney, but he’s lost six of his last seven contests, and his last three bouts have been decision defeats over 10 rounds.
“JoJo Diaz is exactly the type of world-class athlete that continues to elevate BKB,” said BKB’s David Tetreault. “He’s an Olympian, a former world champion, and one of the toughest, most respected fighters of his generation. His pressure style, toughness and willingness to engage make him a natural fit for bare knuckle competition.”
The BKB 56 show also features the bare knuckle debuts of Victor Ortiz and Alfredo Angulo
JoJo Diaz the latest boxer to make the switch to bare knuckle
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Re: JoJo Diaz the latest boxer to make the switch to bare knuckle
ex-boxers Ortiz, Diaz and Angulo all win bare knuckle fights
http://www.boxingtalk.com/Late-results-ex-boxers-Ortiz,-Diaz-and-Angulo-all-win-bare-knuckle-fights
Former boxing champions Victor Ortiz and JoJo Diaz made successful bare knuckle boxing debuts, as BKB debuted to a sold-out crowd at LA Live on Saturday night. Ortiz, a former welterweight champion in 2011, showed his resilience and power to earn a hard-fought five-round unanimous decision victory over Dominic Salcido. Ortiz captured the WBC title with a dominant win over Andre Berto and lost in his next fight to Floyd Mayweather Jr.). Afterwards, Ortiz said: “glory be to God, he gave me the victory. It was a hard one but I enjoyed it.”
Diaz needed less than one round to make his statement. The former IBF junior lightweight champion dropped Nate Williams with a bodyshot for a first-round knockout. Coming off a gloved-boxing loss just two weeks earlier, Diaz’s explosive finish reversed his career momentum and signaled that he has a future in bare knuckle fighting. Diaz said: “I loved it. I’m the type of fighter that likes to bang on the inside and give the fans an action packed fight. The fighters I’ve been boxing in the boxing ring have been moving around. In the Trigon it’s all close quarters so you have to bang it. I feel like this is my home.”
LT “Smash” Nelson, BKB's pound-for-pound #1 bare knuckle fighter, dropped down in weight, and fought through the loss of two teeth to knock out junior middleweight Serob Minasyan in the fourth round. The performance keeps his quest alive to become a three-division crld champion.
Former interim junior middleweight champion Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo rolled back the years with a thrilling comeback. After weathering a tough first round, he stopped much younger two-time National Golden Gloves champion Rashad Bowens with a highlight-reel knockout in the second round. The win reminded that Angulo’s aggressive, high-pressure style is tailor-made for bare knuckle.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Henry Correles, a former multi-weight MMA champion, thrilled the home crowd in his BKB debut with a doctor’s stoppage TKO over Ihor Blazhenko early in the third round.
Adel Altamimi remained undefeated at 3-0, stopping Eduardo Perez by Doctor’s Stoppage TKO at the end of a war in the fourth round.
Ozzie Alvarez earned his first bare knuckle victory, taking a grueling five-round
unanimous decision over Kaine Tomlinson Jr.
Jesse Sparks stayed perfect at 2-0 with a first-round knockout of Darius Lesane.
Zion Tomlinson overwhelmed previously undefeated Said Abdulgaziev, forcing a referee stoppage just before the end of the first round.
Danny Ramirez spoiled JD Burns’ return with a strong BKB debut victory.
Jorge Martinez scored a first-round knockout over Ryan Venable.
Jackie Cataline and Alexa Gracias battled to a four-round split draw in the opener.
http://www.boxingtalk.com/Late-results-ex-boxers-Ortiz,-Diaz-and-Angulo-all-win-bare-knuckle-fights
Former boxing champions Victor Ortiz and JoJo Diaz made successful bare knuckle boxing debuts, as BKB debuted to a sold-out crowd at LA Live on Saturday night. Ortiz, a former welterweight champion in 2011, showed his resilience and power to earn a hard-fought five-round unanimous decision victory over Dominic Salcido. Ortiz captured the WBC title with a dominant win over Andre Berto and lost in his next fight to Floyd Mayweather Jr.). Afterwards, Ortiz said: “glory be to God, he gave me the victory. It was a hard one but I enjoyed it.”
Diaz needed less than one round to make his statement. The former IBF junior lightweight champion dropped Nate Williams with a bodyshot for a first-round knockout. Coming off a gloved-boxing loss just two weeks earlier, Diaz’s explosive finish reversed his career momentum and signaled that he has a future in bare knuckle fighting. Diaz said: “I loved it. I’m the type of fighter that likes to bang on the inside and give the fans an action packed fight. The fighters I’ve been boxing in the boxing ring have been moving around. In the Trigon it’s all close quarters so you have to bang it. I feel like this is my home.”
LT “Smash” Nelson, BKB's pound-for-pound #1 bare knuckle fighter, dropped down in weight, and fought through the loss of two teeth to knock out junior middleweight Serob Minasyan in the fourth round. The performance keeps his quest alive to become a three-division crld champion.
Former interim junior middleweight champion Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo rolled back the years with a thrilling comeback. After weathering a tough first round, he stopped much younger two-time National Golden Gloves champion Rashad Bowens with a highlight-reel knockout in the second round. The win reminded that Angulo’s aggressive, high-pressure style is tailor-made for bare knuckle.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Henry Correles, a former multi-weight MMA champion, thrilled the home crowd in his BKB debut with a doctor’s stoppage TKO over Ihor Blazhenko early in the third round.
Adel Altamimi remained undefeated at 3-0, stopping Eduardo Perez by Doctor’s Stoppage TKO at the end of a war in the fourth round.
Ozzie Alvarez earned his first bare knuckle victory, taking a grueling five-round
unanimous decision over Kaine Tomlinson Jr.
Jesse Sparks stayed perfect at 2-0 with a first-round knockout of Darius Lesane.
Zion Tomlinson overwhelmed previously undefeated Said Abdulgaziev, forcing a referee stoppage just before the end of the first round.
Danny Ramirez spoiled JD Burns’ return with a strong BKB debut victory.
Jorge Martinez scored a first-round knockout over Ryan Venable.
Jackie Cataline and Alexa Gracias battled to a four-round split draw in the opener.