Diaz-Holt: A potential crossroads classic?

Diaz-Holt: A potential crossroads classic?

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

May 12, 2011

If you looked up the definition of “crossroads fight” in a boxing dictionary, you'd probably find a fight poster of this week's ESPN Friday Night Fights headliner from the Chumash Casino & Resort in Santa Ynez, California, a ten round junior welterweight clash between former world titleholders Kendall Holt and Julio Diaz.

Both fighters showcased have been to the mountaintop more than once and are looking to reclaim the shine that was once theirs. Not only that, they attempt to do it in the weight class where some of the biggest dollars are they to be made. One that features Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Juan Manuel Marquez [potentially], Manny Pacquiao [catchweightedly], Erik Morales, Marcos Maidana, Timothy Bradley, and Devon Alexander as well as a slew of other credentialed contenders just a step below.

Julio Diaz shook off the “shot” whispers by decisioning former title challenger Herman Ngoudjo two days shy of a year ago and followed it up with a TKO over gatekeeper Pavel Miranda off-TV from the January Timothy Bradley-Devon Alexander title unifier.

Holt suffered a shock loss to the unheralded Kaizer Mabuza last February and has fought one round since, a less than two minute annihilation of journeyman Lenin Arroyo on that very same Bradley-Alexander card. Holt is memorable to boxing fans for a number of reasons. He participated in a controversial and enthralling two fight series with Ricardo Torres over the course of 2007-2008 that saw the WBO junior welterweight title caught in the middle. After losing to Torres in a first battle that saw a number of slipups that seemed questionable in Torres' home court of Colombia, Holt recovered from two first round knockdowns in the return bout to blast him out just mere seconds later with a devastating shot that left Torres limp against the ropes.

Following what may have been the best one-round fight in years, Holt dropped current unified undefeated champion and pound-for-pound entrant Timothy Bradley twice [the first rather brutally] but lost nearly every other round en route to a wide decision loss to lose his belt in a unification clash. Despite the loss, Holt still showed he has some of the best firepower in the division, which makes him a dangerous foe to anyone.

With what some of his Mexican brethren have been able to do in the past few months, at 31 years old Julio Diaz must be excited about what he could do in the future despite many critics thinking he was on his last legs. Erik Morales just went twelve hard rounds with Marcos Maidana at age 34 and nearly scored an upset. Orlando Salido and Jorge Arce overcame long odds against Juan Manuel Lopez and Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr. recently to jump back into the mix in their respective weight divisions, as did gatekeeper Marco Antonio Rubio with his shocking defeat of the hyped David Lemieux of Canada and Jhonny Gonzalez with his knockout win over Hozumi Hasegawa over in Japan. Diaz will face an opponent he is more expected to be competitive against than any of those previously mentioned, and as a former reigning world champion it makes it hard to count him out.

Expect fireworks for as long as the fight may last because both fighters are known for their penchant of coming forward and pressing the fight. It could be the best action fight of the weekend and is a fitting headlining bout for ESPN's Friday Night Fights which has seen its fair share of action so far in 2011.

On the undercard, touted Puerto Rican junior middleweight Jonathan Gonzalez meets his stiffest test in former Contender alum Rudy Cisneros [12-2, 11 KOs] of Chicago, Illinois in an eight-round bout. Gonzalez has toiled back and forth between the mainland and Puerto Rico over the course of his pro career and has maintained a healthy and active schedule since turning pro in 2009 following an inclusion on the Olympic team in the Sydney Games of 2008.

Another competitive fight tabbed for the undercard is one between unbeaten Julian Williams [6-0, 4 KOs] of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and local favorite Francisco Santana [12-2, 6 KOs] of nearby Santa Barbara, California in a six-round junior middleweight bout. Santana's two losses came at the hands of fellow prospect Karim Mayfield of San Francisco, California with the first one being a narrow split decision loss. Santana claims he was not properly prepared the second time around in which he suffered a stoppage loss and that he didn't feel right that low in weight. Now compaigning closer to the junior middleweight limit, Santana has a ton more confidence and shook off the rust three months ago with a one-round win over an overmatched opponent. He should serve as a tough out for his less experienced opponent and it stands as an interesting fight on the card.

Also returning to Chumash is Kurtiss Colvin [4-0, 3 KOs] of Austin, Texas against Cameron Allen [3-6, KO] of Battle Creek, Michigan in a four-round super middleweight bout. Colvin looked raw last time at the casino but showed heavy hands as he stopped his opponent in the opening round.

In action as well is 19-year old super featherweight Joel Diaz [2-0, KO] of Palmsdale, California, welterweight Jhon Ortega [4-0-1, 4 KOs] of Londonderry, New Hampshire, as well as local products in welterweight Rufino Serrano [8-3] and debuting female super bantamweight Seniesa Estrada, both of nearby Santa Maria.

For the first time ever, ESPN Friday Night Fights comes to Chumash Casino & Resort Friday May 13^th in Santa Ynez. It's a full card of live, professional boxing featuring former IBF lightweight champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz [38-6, 27 KOs] versus former WBO light welterweight champ Kendall “Rated R” Holt [26-4, 14 KOs] to be nationally televise on the ESPN network. Doors open at 5PM and tickets are priced at $35, $45, $55, $65, and $75 and will be televised at 6 PM Pacific Time on ESPN2.