No Bull About It...
Juan Diaz is The Future At 135 Pounds

Written By William Trillo
Photos By David Martin Warr
 

In a division chock full of Champions named Diaz, it was Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz (32-0,16 KO's) who brought himself to that head of that list after his dismantling of former Jr. Lightweight Champion Acelino "Popo" (or is that Poo Poo) Freitas (38-2, 38 KO's). With the victory Diaz retains his 135 pound WBA strap and he adds the WBO leather to his collection. 

 
It was being said that this bout would be a true test for the young fighter from Texas, or so it seemed on paper. Freitas did have World Class fighters on his ledger and he did earn more than one Jr. Lightweight belt. He truly was a step in class for Diaz, but when it came to heart, Freitas was lacking in that department, or at least the jury was still out.

Certainly there could be no doubt that Diaz was going to meet that challenge head on, like the proverbial Bull In The China Closet. Coming straight in with his hands held high and throwing punches from all sorts of wide angles, Diaz did his moniker proud. It's not flashy, but it has kept him undefeated up until now and his future looks very bright. Just ask Acelino who quit on his stool after the eight round.
 

Things looked to start out well for Freitas who was moving well early and was landing nice shots on Diaz, seemingly at will. Uppercuts were doing some damage on Diaz and at one point right before the end of the second round Diaz was wobbled by a solid Freitas shot.

Undaunted and obviously in tip top shape, Diaz weathered the storm and then started doing damage to Freitas, who for some reason went to the ropes and stayed there for a good portion of the fight. This was not a version of the Foreman Rope-a-Dope, it was the beginning of Acelino's version of Duran's No Mas.
 
As the beating got worse for Popo, the look on his face was that of a fighter who did not want much more of what Diaz was serving up.
 

After round eight Freitas returned to his corner and it was obvious he wanted no more, but his corner was imploring him that this fight was still there for the taking...Freitas wanted none of it and the fight was stopped.

After the fight Oscar Suarez said that it was his decision to stop the fight, but anyone watching the HBO BAD broadcast knows that is not what transpired in front of the cameras.
 
The jury on Freitas came to a verdict. To the charge of having the heart of The Cowardly Lion ( pre-Oz ) the jury finds the defendant GUILTY. Popo is done, we have no need to see his act again.
 

Diaz on the other hand has just begun his charge at some very big and lucrative fights. Joel Casamayor has one version of the lightweight titles and it wouldn't hurt for Juan to go ahead and put the other two Diaz Champs in their place as well. But the fight that already has Baby Bull buzzing is a match up with 130 pound king and p4p best Manny Pacquiao, if Paq would be willing to move up.
 
With Manny's legal problems making fights with some of the other "top" fighters at 130, the prospect of a Baby Bull vs. Paqman bout is not as far off as we may think.

Questions Or Comments? Email Will "The Thrill" Trillo