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WBA Lightweight Champion Juan Diaz (right) stuns Fernando Angulo (left) during his successful title defense Saturday on SHOWTIME from Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
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Diaz Retains WBA lightweight world title
By Michael Norby
November 4, 2006
In the televised main support of Briggs-Lyakhovich, unbeaten WBA lightweight world champion Juan Diaz retained his title and in doing so treated fans to a masterful twelve round performance against tough Ecuadorian challenger Fernando Angulo.
The 23 year old champion pressured his opponent throughout the fight, working behind a spectacular and punishing jab that, by round seven, began to disfigure Angulo's face. The challenger, for his part showed a granite chin and fantastic stamina in the face of non stop adversity from Diaz. Angulo did throw a lot of punches every round and was never really hurt at any stage in the bout, but he was met with a vastly improved defense from "The Baby Bull" who only allowed Angulo to land sporadic telling shots.
Diaz improves to 31-0 (15) and looks forward to unifying the 135lb division. After the fight Diaz called out the other champions. He said, "My main objective is to unify the lightweight division and be on top like the great Julio Cesar Chavez at 140. I want to take on any other champion, I feel that I'm ready."
Scores: 118-109, 118-109 and 116-111
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