While hes had some help, Diaz has done the majority of the work himself. After a 12 months constructing his personal boxing gymnasium in Indio, doing a lot of the work by himself, coach Joel Diaz is near opening it to the neighborhood. Its slowly made the transition from training strictly local boxers to international mega stars in this past decade. Bob Bennett, the Executive Director for Nevada State Athletic Commission, denied allowing Munguia an opportunity to fight Golovkin for the middleweight titles. The community, in turn, has helped Diaz make this project a reality. Car share apps charge $40 for a two-minute ride to the festival grounds. Recently former WBC super featherweight champion Francisco El Bandido Vargas has become part of the team and is preparing for a showdown against Englands Stephen Smith at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Dec. 9. Joel Diaz sounds like a drill sergeant and constantly harangues the various boxers to continue the intensity of their drills. A lot of the boxers are just like me.". When Mucio fights and Acosta watches, he feels the same. "Tijuana, linda frontera, cmo te podr olvidar," (or in English, "Tijuana, beautiful border how can I forget you?") And if all that weren't enough, there's always someone calling his phone. Let us know. He put away every trophy, plaque and medal he earned. Barrios wanted to turn the fight into a street fight and was reasonably successful with that strategy. As Gracia wraps Acosta's left hand, and Flores shadow boxes, Diaz returns to the dressing room. The inference was that Marquez was free to quit right then without tarnishing his record. A furniture store occupied the space for a time, but it went out of business and the area has in recent years become known for drugs, prostitution and homelessness. Women's boxing divisional rankings: Ryan shakes up welterweight division after impressive win, Arrest warrant issued for Nate Diaz after brawl, Sources: Smith-Eubank rematch set for June 17, Gervonta Davis says he's the face of boxing and he's right, Inside fight week for a boxer and his trainer: A miner's vest, a bean dip can and plenty of fruit salad, Bivol no longer an afterthought after beating Canelo -- and lots more superfights are ahead, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Of those fading photographs on the gym wall, a lot of them are of the fighters he trained. The crowd was divided between Brazilian fans and those from Argentina. World champions and contenders fight along with boxers early in their careers, risking it all for a shot at their dreams. His voice rises above the rhythmic sounds of speed bags thumping, above the jump rope slapping the floor, above the grunts of those who sound as if they're fighting for their lives. "This is all I know how to do.". All he had to do was win and he'd fight for a world title. In the fifth round, Marquez sustained a cut on his forehead from an accidental head butt. Back then, to raise funds for travel, Lee sold raffle tickets where the prizes were pigs and cows and TVs. Yes, you can learn things here as a boxer that will help you win. When he was active as a fighter Antonio captured the IBA world welterweight title and fought many of the best fighters in the world including Sugar Shane Mosley for the WBC welterweight world title in November 2000. How a gym in California's Coachella Valley became an international destination for boxing. If things go well for some of these boxers, maybe they'll fight as the main event in those places. While Diaz was reluctant to accept any offers, many have insisted. Mucio comes into the locker room to say a prayer and Diaz gives him some last-minute advice. Mercito Gesta vs Joel Diaz Jr at Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio Filipino boxer Mercito 'No Mercy' Gesta will take on twice beaten Joel Diaz Jr in a 10 round Lightweight bout. Speaking of casinos, it was the arrival of casinos that opened the door for professional boxing cards in the Coachella desert area. "Mr. Diaz," the doctor said, "you can't fight anymore." Back in April when middleweight titan Gennady GGG Golovkin was seeking an opponent to replace Saul Canelo Alvarez who was facing suspension for performance enhancement drug use, it was the 21-year-old from Tijuana who volunteered his services for a May 5th date in Las Vegas. More. A member of Ring 10, and Ring 4s Boxing Hall of Fame, he was recently cited by Hannibal Boxing as one of three Must-Read boxing writers. Joel worked in construction for years before he became a trainer, and they have a contractor who has helped. Migrant workers come each year to the desert region to pick crops: primarily dates, grapes, peppers, and citrus fruits in the area. Other talents have learned from Joel's assertive style of fighting. Hes comfortable. The pain of losing a child during pregnancy. Diaz sings again, only stopping to tell Gracia to visit an optometrist. Diaz, 47, said he expects the new gym to open in March. Welcome to the world of Mexicos Jaime Munguia (29-0, 25 KOs) the WBO super welterweight world titlist who meets Englands Liam Smith (26-1-1, 14 KOs) at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 21. Diaz and Gracia put away the tools used to help their boxers fight. With his right eye gone, so too went his dreams. Not just them, but everyone here. Waiting for his time just like a scorpion in the desert heat. Its helped everything come together.. thesweetscience.com All rights reserved. Way too many distractions. He says he won the fight and wants a rematch. EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: Joel Diaz: A Hard Knock-Life Documentary by Newman Studios. To make the hurt worse, he was one round short of qualifying for California's boxer pension. Divisional rankings: Where do Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia land after their megafight? As was his career overall, maybe not well enough where he could quit his construction job, but things were getting better. How Indio Boxing Trainer Joel Diaz Helped Dmitry Bivol Secure Victory over Canelo Alvarez. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com. Shows. Its isolation eliminates distractions. Hed sit, often by himself, in the early stages of the project drawing designs from his ideas for the space. "We're waiting for the doctor.". Otherwise any future fights for the Philippine great will not be forthcoming. The pain of Mucio unexpectedly losing her father -- who trained them both -- in July 2021. Even if they share just a few words of a common language, they understand each other. His neighbor owns Indian Wells Glass and Mirror and provided mirrors for the gym. I would sit at that table and eat, drink, write and sleep, Diaz said. He won another fight in 2015 and though by now he was visibly paunchy, he still managed to go 10 rounds to beat Gabriel Martinez in 2017 with occasional flashes of his old explosive volleys. Hes still working to complete the entryway and his office inside the gym, off Indio Boulevard, but the rest of the 6,250-square foot space has been transformed from a gutted building to a gym that will soon host current and future world champions. Questions ahead of Paul vs. Diaz: Can Diaz box? But thats boxing. The bags of ice to help ease the swelling between rounds. He dabs away the blood and looks at everyone. And, like Manny, he did and he also pursued a career in politics. They've sacrificed for all of this. "I accidentally cut Tito," Gracia tells him as Diaz hands over the small dark bottle with a yellow label. And although Joel has long been considered one of boxing's best trainers, being part of Bivol's team, and Bivol beating Canelo, who hadn't lost in nine years, made people take further notice of what was happening in this boxing gym out in the desert. That's how state Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia describes the contrasts within Coachella Valley, part of the district he represents. After eight months of work, the building remains a work in progress. It's now a restaurant. He would fight one more time before retiring as a fighter and continuing as a trainer. They would be his only defeats in 43 pro bouts. But when it's time to fight, they train in Diaz's gym, in part because his strong personality reminds them of Mucio's father. But Im really excited for (Joel and Antonio) to get their own place and to do it the way they want to do it. But those that remain like the focus on boxing and the solitude. Since they understood the discipline and sacrifices required to make a living from fighting, they became fast friends. The building boasts 10-foot ceilings and the design for the space is expansive. But I can finally sleep comfortably now.. The building, which boasts 10-foot ceilings, is around three timesthe space the Diaz brothers had at the Boys & Girls Club. When Im not here, thats gonna be a legacy that is gonna stay behind because its the story of my life. As soon as the doctor says all's well, everyone's able to joke. Once a highly touted prospect he states his biggest loss was to Regis Prograis in 2017 when he fought the soon to be light welterweight world champion and was stopped in the second round. He's showing fighters how to pivot their feet to maximize their leverage. "If Arely knew about this, she'd drop you with a punch to the liver," Diaz tells Gracia. When I'm not here, that's gonna be a legacy that is gonna stay behind because it's the story of my life. A post shared by Jorge Newman (@jorgenewman13). You gave somebody too much authority of your life,'" Diaz said. Joel Diaz fought for the IBF world title against South Africas Phillip Holiday in 1996 and lost by decision. Now all I have to do is make it shine. The Boys & Girls Club has been a great place for us for so many years, Antonio Diaz said. Boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Did Gervonta Davis make the top 10? The Vaseline and the cotton swabs. Diaz teamed up with Yildirim (21-2 12 KOs) late in October 2019 but due to . Even the transients who I asked to leave, when they see me, they ask, Hey Coach, hows the gym coming along?. Hes enjoying everything right now, and he wants everyone who trains and visits there to have that same feeling.. One of those guys is Bek The Bully, who'll rematch against Gabe Rosado on April 22. Thats life.. In his first bout, a promoter paid him $400 then filed for bankruptcy as soon as the fight ended. Joel Diaz 18: 3: 0: 4 KOs 2 KOs; wiki. While wrapping his hands, Oscar Gracia, who helps train fighters at Diaz's gym, accidentally cut Angel "Tito" Acosta, their boxer on the main event. In the murals around downtown Coachella, like the one showing endless rows of fields along with the words, "Lucha Sin Fin." The building will have bathrooms and locker rooms for men and women, a sauna, a private space for ice baths and two boxing rings. Now we have water, we have power. Not all prizefighters can adapt to the remoteness and solitude and end up moving on to urban locations like Jessie Magdaleno did recently. The pandemic shut down his boxing club. Diaz knows it was an accident. "I'm going to call the doctor," says Larry Ervin, an inspector with the California State Athletic Commission. Mucio has a fight sometime in June or July, so in a few weeks, they'll return to train again in the Coachella Valley. He trusts him with his gym and with his boxers' lives. The rest is history. One of the more crowded gyms, Indio Boys and Girls Club, has blossomed into a powerhouse. The Brazilian fans urged their hero on but to no avail as Barrios rendered a pure beat down on Popo during virtually the entirety of the 11th roundone of the most exciting in boxing history. Find Related Places. He stands, sometimes with his hands on the top rope and other times holding them behind his back. Representative Ruiz and Diaz grew up in the same neighborhood in Coachella and were only a couple of years apart at Coachella Valley High School. That, along with intelligence, is how he trains everyone here to fight. A lot of people want to help, Diaz said. Bad Bunny, as the most streamed artist on Spotify for three consecutive years and who might be the biggest musical act in the world, will be headlining. Trainer Joel Diaz says his work with new charge Avni Yildirim will shock the world when he takes on WBC/WBA super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens in Florida on Saturday February 27, live worldwide on DAZN (except Mexico). The Diaz brothers initially found homeless men and women squatting in the building and asked them to leave. He tells a boxer what he wants by showing it with his own body, moving his legs as if he's evading punches. "I'd wake up the next day, go home and try finding something to do," he says. When WBA/WBO super featherweight champion Acelino Popo Freitas met Jorge Rodrigo Il Hiena Barrios in Miami on August 8, 2003, there was more on the line than just the titles. "You're going to lose your eye," the doctor warned. Three years ago Diego De La Hoya, Jamie Kavanagh, Manuel Mendez and brothers Jessie and Diego Magdaleno arrived. Then came the coronavirus, forcing one of boxing's most respected trainers to put a plan into action. He was big and tall and had a beard. Share. "One day, I'll make money," he told her. Diaz shouts between sneaking looks at two clocks. From an administrative standpoint, boxing in Texas during the reign of Dickie Cole was frequently described in terms befitting a banana republic. Diaz surrenders to New Orleans police after brawl, Paul launches series for up-and-coming boxers, Ramirez to defend WBO title vs. Shimizu in July. She has to do the same work as the guys. We dont have any women for her to spar so she spars with the men.. Powered by IBofP 2021 Coles agency is purportedly in the top two nationally in writing these policies. "They'll spend weeks and months here and a lot of money, which is good for our economy and our communities. But it's just not the reality of the working families.". With this loss, that now becomes more difficult. It was panic time in the Barrios corner, as the blood continued to flow like lava, and he was bleeding from his ear (due to a ruptured ear drum). Everything happens for a reason.. See a problem? Joel Diaz Boxing, Indio, California. Still beaming over his newfound recognition, Munguia has grand plans for his future including challenging all of the other champions in his weight category and the next weight division. Later, Freitas tarnished his image with a No Mas against Diego Corrales, but he had gone down three times and knew there was no way out. Only a few of those kids will ever be good enough to box in amateur tournaments, but coming from here, all of them will have to fight. Celebrities such as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and William Powell had homes here. So this former champ moved it out to the desert, Riverside County reports 3,901 additional coronavirus cases, 53 new deaths Wednesday, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Laurence Cole is the son of Richard Dickie Cole. "Even when he's dead, he's still fighting.". Freitas went down early from a straight right. Health Clubs & Gyms. This is what Diaz does throughout the day. JoJo Diaz, an Olympian from the Los Angeles suburb of South El Monte, beat Tevin Farmer last February to secure the International Boxing Federation's super featherweight title in Miami. It's the stomach pain from hunger while trying to make weight. Laurence Cole (pictured alongside his father) was singled out for his behavior as the third man in the ring for the fight between Regis Prograis and Juan Jose Velasco at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans on July 14. Box-am Box-pro . This was yet another shocker, but others (including Kostya Tszyu, Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and even Ali) had done so and the criticism this time seemed disproportionate. All he had to do was hang in there and the title would change hands on points. Diaz comes from the Palmdale, California area and will be the hometown favorite over the Filipino Mercito Gesta who is based out of San Diego, California. "It hasn't stopped bleeding," Ervin adds. Though Joel's brother, Antonio, remains employed by the Indio Boys & Girls Club and works with about 20 kids now that the facility has re-opened, an era of professional boxing at the club came to a close whereboxing history runs deep.
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