Classy Diaz offers no excuses after losing fight to talented Russell

Sub Lead22-May-18by John J. Raspanti

By John J. Raspanti

Russell v Diaz

Losing in sports is never fun. In boxing a loss is highlighted with terms like wide, hammered, stopped, or knocked out.

But over the course of a career, a loss can actually help a fighter. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. Reality doesn’t bite, it helps. That zero looks great on the resume, but life goes on.

Joseph Diaz Jr. was in tough the minute his fight with Gary Russell Jr. was announced. Think of Russell going around saying, “Anything you can do-I can do better.”

Diaz is good, but Russell is better. He’s faster, more athletic, and more skillful. No disgrace though. Russell is exceptionally talented. He’s lost only one fight—and that was to one Vasyl Lomachenko in 2014. Diaz borrowed Lomachenko’s strategy by going to the midsection.

"The game plan was to break him down with the body shots and start attacking him more in the later rounds," Diaz said in the ring after losing for the first time in his professional boxing career.

Diaz connected, but Russell wasn’t going anywhere.

"We train to survive those body shots. We put the work in every day in the ring," said Russell. “We consistently grind and push ourselves to be great. We push ourselves to the limit.

Russell used his jab extensively Saturday night. Over 500 times according to CompuBox. Though it only landed occasionally, his quick stick kept Diaz off balance.

Russell v Diaz

“I hurt my right hand in the second or third round, so we had to make the adjustments," said Russell, who has had hand injuries throughout his career. "He couldn’t get past my jab. When he got close, we made sure to smother him.

True, and very frustrating for Diaz.

"He was throwing a lot of pitter patter jabs to keep me at bay," Diaz said. "He was trying to keep me guessing and make sure I had to think about coming in”

Russell also cracked Diaz with hard combinations. The 25-year-old from El Monte, CA. had had no answers. So far only Lomachenko has been able to crack the puzzle that Russell presents.

"He wasn’t hurting me with any shots,” said Diaz who sustained some damage to his left eye. “He was just very fast. It was keeping me guessing. When he threw combinations, I wasn’t able to set my shots. I was a little bit hesitant."

Diaz remains undeterred in his belief that one day he’ll be a champion.

"This will just make me a hungrier fighter,” Diaz said. “I hope I got the respect of a lot of fight fans. I wanted to become champion against the best featherweight fighter in the world. Tonight, wasn’t my night but I’m going to bounce back harder and I’ll be champion soon."

Professional fighter and trainer Travis Hartman thinks that losing to Russell won’t adversely affect Diaz.

“I think JoJo will be fine,” said Hartman. “He needs a challenge his next fight. Not a tomato can or a Gary Russell type, but a right in between. That’s what important.”

Diaz has the ability and the desire to be a champion. I don’t believe losing for the first time will bother him that much. I bet he’s over it already, except perhaps when he looks in the mirror.