Trainer Miguel Diaz remembers...

Trainer and cut man Miguel Diaz, (who without question should be in the Boxing Hall of Fame - Yes, I’ll say that every chance I get), having cornered some of boxing’s greatest fighters over his time in the sport, has enjoyed many thrilling nights. However, perhaps his greatest career highlight was 31-years ago when his fellow countryman Pedro Decima (31-4, 21 KO’s) captured the WBC world super bantamweight title to become Argentina-native Diaz’s first world champion.

Decima would turn pro in 1984 and go 14-1, over 2 years, in his first 15 bouts with his only loss coming to 99-fight veteran, and former world title challenger, Ramon Balbino Soria.

Over the next 3 years he would fight 13 times and bank a 12-1 record with his only loss being to former world champion Louie Espinoza. He landed a title shot against WBC super-bantamweight champion Paul Banke on November 5 of 1990 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. That night, Pedro Decima would fulfill a dream and become world champion after stopping Banke in the 4th round. Trainer Miguel Diaz had his first world champion from his home of Argentina, and it was a thrill he still recalls fondly to this day.

Maxboxing had a chance to catch up with Diaz, from his home in Las Vegas, to get his thoughts and recollections of that night in Los Angeles.

“Of course, it was the greatest thrill of my boxing career, to see my fellow countryman crowned a world champion” said the friendly, well-spoken Diaz. “He was a great fighter and when he got his chance he made the most of it stopping Paul Banke, who was a very tough and rugged fighter himself”, he said.

Decima had been based in Argentina for the early part of his career, but an opportunity brought him to the U.S. and was the start of a run that would see him eventually fighting for a world title.

“Bob Arum and Top Rank were putting on a show for a group that had been brought in from Argentina on a gambling junket. Bob was approached to see if they could do a show with an Argentinian fighter and he spoke to me and I said, ‘sure, I will get someone for you’. We brought in Pedro”, he said.

While Decima was a good fighter, and entertained his Argentinian faithful at the show, it was the next win that raised a few eyebrows.

“Pedro beat a tough guy on his first show, but it was a guy he was expected to beat”, said Diaz. “But we talked him into staying on a bit and in his next fight next, a couple of months later, he beats Jesse Benavidez who is ranked #4 in the world at the time. Now, people are starting to say, ‘wait a minute, this guy can really fight’, he looked very impressive”, said Diaz.

But in his next fight there was a setback.

“Then Top Rank lines him up with former world champion Louie Espinoza, a very good fighter, but most people thought he was long past his best days and Decima should be able to beat him”, said Diaz. “But he got stopped. So, naturally Top Rank backed off a bit, and I understand that, it is nothing personal, it is just business and they thought if he can’t beat this guy then maybe there isn’t as much there as we thought”, he continued. “But over the next 2 years he put together 6 straight wins and works his way to a shot at the title”.

Asked how he felt going into the title fight, Diaz was confident but somewhat cautious.

“Of course, I was excited and very confident with Decima as he was a good fighter, but you never know in a title fight and Banke was a very rough and tough guy himself. But he won the fight and looked every good and it was a great night for Pedro and of course I was so happy with a world champion from my home”, said Diaz.

Now, over 30 years later, Diaz, who still works coroners for some of boxing’s best, looks back with pride at his title winning night.

“It was a great win for sure. after that fight, it got me attention from other fighters as the trainer of a world champion, it was a good win for me in that way. But, it was just great winning the title with a fighter from my home country; I was very proud. One of the greatest moments of my career? Of course. The night that Pedro Decima became a world champion was, of course, one of the greatest highlights of my career”.