{"id":5834,"date":"2010-12-02T22:14:02","date_gmt":"2010-12-03T03:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=5834"},"modified":"2010-12-02T22:15:18","modified_gmt":"2010-12-03T03:15:18","slug":"living-the-american-dream-the-%e2%80%9cbaby-bull%e2%80%9d-juan-diaz-speaks-to-rsr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=5834","title":{"rendered":"Living the American Dream: The \u201cBaby Bull\u201d Juan Diaz Speaks to RSR"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Interview by Marc Anthony<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Managing Editor\u2019s Note: Marc Anthony is our newest Interviewer\/Feature Writer here at RSR.\u00a0 He will be bringing you the biggest names in boxing in the weeks and months to come.\u00a0 I, along with the rest of the team, welcome him aboard!)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not about being\/having motivation it\u2019s about having a goal in mind and once you realize what your goal is and you go for it then everything else just falls in place.\u201d- Juan Diaz
\n<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\nDiaz story tells a tale of overcoming odds and, by doing so, inspiring those around him. Growing up, he was not an athletic kid\u2026at 8 years old and overweight learning his craft at Savannah’s gym, which would have closed had Juan quit boxing!<\/p>\n

At 16, he qualified to compete in the Olympics for Mexico but two countries protested so he was unable to do so. Juan did not let that discourage him. Where others might have only seen this as bad news, Juan saw this as an opportunity to become a Pro. By age 20, Juan Diaz also known as \u201cBaby Bull\u201d became a world lightweight champion, one of the youngest ever. By age 24, he became WBO, IBF and WBA Super World Title holder.\u00a0 One year later a graduate with a political science degree from University of Houston.<\/p>\n

Now Juan\u2019s getting ready to take the LSAT in December 11th to enter a new chapter in his life: Law School.\u00a0<\/p>\n

MA:\u00a0 Bring us up to speed on what you have been doing since your last fight?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well I have been contemplating a lot on what my next event is, as far as boxing is concerned, especially lately. Because I know the year is almost up, it\u2019s time for me to make some serious decisions, and I am definitely going do it because I have been doing a lot of business with the construction industry. My brother and I have a construction company here in Houston, and it\u2019s been going extremely well and, at the same time, I have been studying for the LSAT.<\/p>\n

You know, I have been giving myself an opportunity to do different things outside of boxing. I really enjoy everything that I am doing and I am taking the LSAT test to get into law school December 11th and my whole plan is to get accepted into law school. And I think that once I am successful doing that at the end of December that is when I am really going to know what you know what I am going do, whether I am going pursue my law degree and dedicate myself 100 percent or do I feel like I need to fight again just to you know just to ah (inaudible) \u2026I mean it\u2019s still inside of me but I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s worth it anymore.<\/p>\n

MA:\u00a0 Like they say: Fighting careers are shorter and law would definitely last longer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah, especially seeing the fight between Michael Katsidis and Juan Manuel Marquez\u2026it was a great fight. I got to give it up to both those guys but, at the same time, you know I wish I was in there, but I also know that everything that I am doing outside of the ring I am being pretty successful at it, so I am being successful, making money without getting beat up.<\/p>\n

MA: (Laughter) Yeah, I wanted to ask you if you have any pre-fight rituals before you go out into the ring.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, not rituals per say, but I guess I\u2026it\u2019s not even a superstition, I don\u2019t know\u2026I guess more for good luck, I started doing it a few fights ago.\u00a0 What you know, I lace up my shoes, my boots, my boxing boots and for some reason I always skip the second to last belt.\u00a0 Also when you tie in, where you lace them up and the last two, I mean the second one before the last two, I skip it and I jump into the last two holes and I lace them up.\u00a0 For some reason I don\u2019t do that with tennis shoes or my sneakers\u2026none of that, but when I am boxing, especially for a fight, I skip those two for some reason.<\/p>\n

MA: Has your dad ever given you advice on boxing and have you ever used it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, all the time (laughter) really.\u00a0 He tells me lately, in my last few fights, he kind of stepped away from telling me what to do.\u00a0 He tells me that my trainers know what to do and that I already know what to do, but in the past, he did use to tell me about maybe I need a little bit more pressure or the way to throw my combinations, but in my last few fights, he just became more of a spectator and a fan than anything else.<\/p>\n

MA: What is the best advice that Willie Savannah or Ronnie Shields have given you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well the best advice that they have gave me in the near future: If I want to keep boxing, do it because I love it and if I don\u2019t feel like I am doing it for the love of the sport then go ahead and just retire and concentrate in being a lawyer. I would say that is the best advice that both those guys have given me.<\/p>\n

MA: What mental tricks do you use to stay motivated in everything you do?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well when you wake up in the morning, a lot of guys, people, friends, family members, they ask me why? What\u2019s my motivation to everything I do? And I tell them: \u201cLook guys, when I wake up at five in the morning six in the morning, you know getting my daily run in or drive to Port Arthur, which is two hours away from Houston, I am not motivated I am just like you guys\u2026I have like no motivation to wake up at five in the morning and drive or go work out.\u00a0 There is no motivation, but what I do have \u2026is goals, and that is what I wake up to!\u201d My goal is to be the best at what I am doing! So if there is a fight and I wake up early in the morning to work out, and I don\u2019t think about you know being motivated but I think about the end result that in two or three months, I win and the referee picks up my hand as the winner and that\u2019s going be the end result.\u00a0 That\u2019s going be the goal so every time I wake up in the morning.<\/p>\n

I wake up with a goal in mind. So whether it\u2019s getting ready for a fight or getting ready to drive to Port Arthur, my goal is: Okay I am going drive to Port Arthur to make it on time to the meeting so that these people see that I am a professional and that I am really dedicated at what I do so they will keep giving me jobs and that cash flow keeps coming in. So you always have to have a goal in mind that is what I tell my family and friends, it\u2019s not that I am motivated it\u2019s just that I have a goal in mind.<\/p>\n

MA: If you do decide to continue in boxing, are you going to stick fight at 135, is that were you feel your best at?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I feel that I am best at 135, yes I definitely do. I tried that 140 pounds with Paul Malignaggi and he was obviously the bigger guy at 140. So, as of right now, I feel that you know if I was to fight again, then it definitely would have to be at 135.<\/p>\n

MA: Do you have any favorite movies you want to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah I do, I actually like that movie \u201cA Knight\u2019s Tale\u201d with Heath Ledger. Yeah it\u2019s my favorite movie off all time, really!<\/p>\n

MA: I read on your twitter that you have two new contracts?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah, yeah right now we have our crew painting a high school in Port Arthur and these two jobs require painting as well and a little bit of construction but we just got awarded those two jobs.\u00a0 They like our work\u2026they like how well the guys are doing right there right now.<\/p>\n

MA: What is the name of your construction company that you have with your brother<\/strong>?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s called JD Services<\/p>\n

MA: I noticed that you have a YouTube channel that you do fight predictions? Can you give us a brief prediction what you think between Amir Kahn vs. Marcos Maidana how that will go down?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kahn and Maidana?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, I believe that Khan is going have the advantage here because, especially on what he showed on his previous fight against Paul Malignaggi, that the way he basically kept Paul Malignaggi at bay with his jab he was just really using his height to his advantage.<\/p>\n

Because, in the past we\u2019ve seen Khan fight he is a tall guy, but he was fighting like a short fighter.\u00a0 He will be in there, mixing it up and get caught with pretty clean punches and I think that now that he has gone with Freddie Roach he has developed a good style, boxing a little bit more and being more smart.<\/p>\n

So I think that that is why he has the advantage over Maidana. It is the fact that he has his height and he is using his height to his advantage now! But Maidana you can\u2019t really fall asleep on him because he does have power and he has proven that with Victor Ortiz. So if Khan lets him get in and fight in the close range then I think that it\u2019s going be in early night for the fans, because you know that Khan can\u2019t take a hit. I mean, doesn\u2019t really have a good chin. But overall, I think that Khan could be the clear winner on this fight, I am picking Khan<\/p>\n

MA: (laughter) so money on Khan!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah,\u00a0 because like I just broke down those guys\u2026both those guys have good qualities in them but you also have to see that you know with Maidana is what if? Khan brings more of a technical boxing style that can beat a lot of fighters and Maidana is kind of an awkward guy who has a lot of power but it\u2019s always what if\u2026 what if he catches this guy? What if he doesn\u2019t? You know.<\/p>\n

MA: Yeah, that\u2019s true.\u00a0\u00a0 Well I like to thank you so much and thank you Jose, both you guys giving me the time, do you have any final words for the fans?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well I want to wish the fans a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! The holidays are right around the corner. And, like I said earlier when you asked me about motivation… And I want to give everyone a little bit of advice, It\u2019s not about being\/having motivation it\u2019s about having a goal in mind and once you realize what your goal is and you go for it then everything else just falls in place.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Juan Diaz
\nNickname: \u201cBaby Bull\u201d
\nDivision: Lightweight
\nProfessional Record: 35- 4-0, 17 KO’s<\/strong><\/p>\n

2010
\n07-31 — Juan Manuel Marquez, Las Vegas, NV, L 12
\n(For WBA lightweight title)
\n(For WBO lightweight title)<\/p>\n

2009
\n12-12 — Paulie Malignaggi, Chicago, IL, L 12
\n08-22 — Paulie Malignaggi, Houston, Texas, W 12
\n02-28 — Juan Manuel Marquez, Houston, Texas, TKO by 9
\n(For vacant WBA lightweight title)
\n(For vacant WBO lightweight title)<\/p>\n

2008
\n09-06 — Michael Katsidis, Houston, Texas, W 12
\n03-08 — Nate Campbell, Cancun, Mexico, L 12
\n(Lost IBF lightweight title)
\n(Lost WBA lightweight title)
\n(Lost WBO lightweight title)<\/p>\n

2007
\n10-13 — Julio Diaz, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, TKO 9
\n(Won IBF lightweight title)
\n(Retained WBA lightweight title)
\n(Retained WBO lightweight title)
\n04-28 — Acelino Freitas, Mashantucket, Connecticut, TKO 8
\n(Won WBO lightweight title)
\n(Retained WBA lightweight title)<\/p>\n

2006
\n11-06 — Fernando Angulo, Phoenix, Arizona, W 12
\n(Retained WBA lightweight title)
\n07-15 — Randy Suico, Las Vegas, Nevada, TKO 9
\n(Retained WBA lightweight title)
\n04-08 — Jose Miguel Cotto, Las Vegas, Nevada, W 12
\n(Retained WBA lightweight title)<\/p>\n

2005
\n07-16 — Arthur Cruz, Kinder, Louisiana, TKO 5
\n01-21 — Billy Irwin, Houston, Texas, TKO 9
\n(Retained WBA lightweight title)<\/p>\n

2004
\n11-04 — Julien Lorcy, San Antonio, Texas, W 12
\n(Retained WBA lightweight title)
\n07-17 — Lakva Sim, Houston, Texas, W 12
\n(Won WBA lightweight title)
\n04-17 — Martin O’Malley, Temecula, California, TKO 2<\/p>\n

2003
\n11-22 — Joel Perez, Houston, Texas, TKO 6
\n07-19 — Francisco Lorenzo, Houston, Texas, W 10
\n05-10 — Eleazar Contreras Jr., Temecula, California, W 10
\n02-01 — John Bailey, Uncasville, Connecticut, TKO 7<\/p>\n

2002
\n11-22 — Arthur Cruz, Atlantic City, New Jersey, TKO 4
\n10-19 — Roy Delgado, Houston, Texas, TKO 6
\n08-24 — Peter Nieves, Atlantic City, New Jersey, W 10
\n07-05 — Michael Davis, Laredo, Texas, W 10
\n04-27 — Nelson Ramon Medina, Uncasville, Connecticut, W 8
\n02-15 — Juan Carlos Juarez, Houston, Texas, W 8<\/p>\n

2001
\n11-10 — Rudolfo Lunsford, Houston, Texas, W 4
\n09-01 — Ubaldo Hernandez, El Paso, Texas, W 8
\n07-27 — Scott Buck, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, TKO 1
\n06-23 — John Trigg, Uncasville, Connecticut, W 6
\n05-19 — Carlos Horacio Nevarez, Uncasville, Connecticut, KO 1
\n03-02 — Mahan Washington, Las Vegas, Nevada, W 6
\n01-13 — Bradley Jensen, Uncasville, Connecticut, W 6<\/p>\n

2000
\n12-01 — Michael Lucero, Las Vegas, Nevada, W 6
\n11-10 — Antonio Young, Las Vegas, Nevada, TKO 2
\n09-22 — Starr Johnson, Houston, Texas, TKO 3
\n09-02 — Juan Carlos Alvarez, Mexicali, Mexico, TKO 1
\n07-22 — Miller Vazquez, Mexico City, Mexico, KO 1
\n06-23 — Rafael Ortiz, Yucat\u00e1n, Mexico, TKO 1<\/p>\n

\n

RSR is Now Hiring Entertainment Writers (Last 2 Writer Slots Open) and Photographers (2 Slots Open)<\/a><\/p>\n

Advertise Now On RSR<\/a><\/p>\n

Purchase Boxing Interviews Of A Lifetime<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Interview by Marc Anthony (Managing Editor\u2019s Note: Marc Anthony is our newest Interviewer\/Feature Writer here at RSR.\u00a0 He will be bringing you the biggest names in boxing in the weeks and months to come.\u00a0 I, along with the rest of the team, welcome him aboard!) \u201cIt\u2019s not about being\/having motivation it\u2019s about having a goal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[105,152,1850,1447,2129],"class_list":["post-5834","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-boxing-news","tag-boxing","tag-champion","tag-interview","tag-juan-diaz","tag-marc-anthony"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5834","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5834"}],"version-history":[{"count":-2,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5834\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5834"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}