{"id":58324,"date":"2016-02-18T00:30:25","date_gmt":"2016-02-18T05:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=58324"},"modified":"2016-02-18T00:30:25","modified_gmt":"2016-02-18T05:30:25","slug":"jojo-diaz-to-make-hbo-debut-breaking-boxing-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=58324","title":{"rendered":"JoJo Diaz to Make HBO Debut – Breaking Boxing News"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DSC_0016(2)~2_wm\"<\/a>A member of the 2012 United States Olympic team , Joseph \u201cJojo\u201d Diaz Jr. 19-0, 11 KO\u2019s has taken on anyone who has stepped up to the plate and on Saturday, March 26, he will make his HBO World Championship Boxing debut when he faces Puerto Rican contender Jayson \u201cLa Maravilla\u201d Velez, 23-1-1, 16 KO\u2019s at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.<\/p>\n

The 10-round featherweight fight will open the HBO telecast, which is headlined by Andre Ward, 28-0, 15 KO\u2019s taking on number one IBF light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera, 17-0, 12 KO\u2019s in a 12-round light heavyweight clash. The event will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am excited and very grateful about making my debut on HBO\u201d said Joseph Diaz Jr. \u201cHBO is known for putting on the best fights and I feel honored to defend my title for the fight time on the network. Every fighter dreams to fight on a big stage like HBO and I am grateful to my team, Golden Boy Promotions, my manager Ralph Heredia and my father and trainer for helping me get to this point in my career. I know Jayson Velez is a very tough contender, but I promise not to let my team and my fans down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am ready and focused for this fight,\u201d said Jayson Velez. \u201cAfter my loss against Ronny Rios, I had to change a lot of things in my training including my corner. I understood that I had to work harder to prove that I still have what it takes to be on the top of the featherweight division. I am very excited to have that opportunity on HBO and against a fighter like Joseph Diaz Jr. I want to challenge myself and fight the best. I know that defeating Diaz Jr. will prove that I am back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are two exciting, up-and-coming fighters, with the winner likely soon looking at a world championship battle,\u201d said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. \u201cWith so much at stake, fans can bank on an action-packed fight with both guys going all out for the knockout.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJayson has great power and experience and has been under those lights before,\u201d said Hector Soto, Vice President of Miguel Cotto Promotions. \u201cThis is a great fight for Jayson to be back on HBO and it will be a tough test for Diaz Jr.\u201d<\/p>\n

A 23-year-old southpaw, Joseph \u201cJojo\u201d Diaz Jr. has followed up his stellar amateur career with an equally impressive professional run thus far, with several notable wins showing him to be capable of doing it all in the ring. In 2015, Diaz had his biggest year yet, winning five bouts, including victories over former WBC Silver Featherweight Champion Rene \u201cGemelo\u201d Alvarado, Ruben \u201cCanelito\u201d Tamayo and Giovanni \u201cLloviznas\u201d Delgado.<\/p>\n

In his most recent bout, the South El Monte native stopped Hugo \u201cOlimpico\u201d Partida in two rounds on December 18, 2015, winning the NABF featherweight title. Now he\u2019s ready to kick off the biggest year of his career against Jayson \u201cLa Maravilla\u201d Velez.<\/p>\n

Hailing from Juncos, Puerto Rico, 27-year-old Jayson \u201cLa Maravilla\u201d Velez has been a fine representative of the Caribbean\u2019s fighting capital since turning professional in 2007, winning all but two of his 25 pro bouts. Owner of the WBC Interim Silver, WBC FECARBOX and USNBC titles over the years, Velez has made his mark with victories over the likes of Salvador \u201cSal II\u201d Sanchez, Dat \u201cDat Be Dat\u201d Nguyen and Daniel \u201cHuracan\u201d Ramirez, as well as a draw in an IBF title bout against Evgeny \u201cEl Russo Mexicano\u201d Gradovich. On Nov. 21, 2015 Velez opened up the pay-per-view telecast of Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez against Ronny Rios and suffered his first professional defeat via decision. A victory over Joseph \u201cJojo\u201d Diaz Jr. will get Velez back into the world title race.<\/p>\n