Juan Diaz
Name: Juan Diaz
Alias: Baby Bull
Hometown: Houston, Texas, USA
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, USA
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 168cm
Reach: 170cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Trainers: Ronnie Shields, Derwin Richards
Managers: Willie Savannah, Shelly Finkel
Promoter: Golden Boy Promotions
Amateur Career
Juan Diaz started boxing when he was eight-years-old at Willie Savannah’s Boxing Club in Houston, Texas. In December 1999, he won a gold medal at the Mexican Open National Championships and was declared the “Outstanding Boxer” of the tournament. He thought he had qualified for the 2000 Mexican Olympic team but was later informed that he was too young to compete at the Olympics. Diaz considered staying an amateur and trying to make the 2004 Olympic team, but he eventually decided to turn professional. He finished his amateur career with a record of 105-5.
Professional Career
Diaz made his professional boxing debut at age 16 on June 23, 2000 with a first-round TKO victory over Rafael Ortiz. Diaz stopped his first five professional opponents.
On May 10, 2003, Diaz won the vacant WBC youth lightweight title with a ten-round unanimous decision against Eleazar Contreras Jr..
On July 17, 2004, Diaz defeated Mongolian Lakva Sim by a twelve-round unanimous decision to win the WBA lightweight title. After five successful title defenses, Diaz engaged in a unification fight. On April 28, 2007, he defeated WBO titlist Acelino Freitas by an eighth-round TKO to unify the WBA and WBO lightweight titles. Diaz was then upgraded to super champion by the WBA. In his next fight, Diaz took part in another unification match. On October 13, 2007, he beat Julio Diaz by a ninth-round TKO to win the IBF lightweight title.
Diaz lost his lightweight titles to Nate Campbell by a twelve-round split decision on March 8, 2008. It was his first defeat after 33 consecutive professional victories. Diaz fought Juan Manuel Marquez for the vacant WBO lightweight title and the vacant WBA super world lightweight title on February 28, 2009. Marquez won by a ninth-round TKO. The fight was named the 2009 fight of the year by both The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America.
On June 13th 2011, Diaz officially announced his retirement. He returned to the ring on April 13, 2013, stopping journeyman Pipino Cuevas Jr. in six rounds.
Professional Record
Championship Record
- 8 opponents (4 by KO) beaten for World Lightweight Title.
Regional & Minor Titles
- WBC Youth World Lightweight Title (May 10, 2003 - 2004)
- IBO World Lightweight Title (September 6, 2008 - February 28, 2009)
- WBO NABO Junior Welterweight Title (August 22, 2009 - December 12, 2009)
World Titles
- WBA World Lightweight Title (July 17, 2004 – April 28, 2007)
- WBA Super World Lightweight Title (April 28, 2007 – March 8, 2008)
- WBO World Lightweight Title (April 28, 2007 – March 8, 2008)
- IBF World Lightweight Title (October 13, 2007 - March 8, 2008)
| Preceded by: Lakva Sim |
WBA Lightweight Champion
2004 July 17 – 2007 Apr 28 |
Succeeded by: Nate Campbell Super Champion |
| Succeeded by: Jose Alfaro Regular Champion | ||
| Preceded by: Acelino Freitas |
WBO Lightweight Champion 2007 Apr 28 – 2008 Mar 8 |
Succeeded by: Nate Campbell |
| Preceded by: Julio Diaz |
IBF Lightweight Champion 2007 Oct 13 – 2008 Mar 8 |
Succeeded by: Nate Campbell |