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Good Friends Collide: Victor Ortiz & Antonio Diaz
By David A. Avila
As a youth Victor Ortiz used to watch Antonio Diaz and his brother Julio Diaz on television and admired their super tough mentality and the way they applied their boxing skills against elite fighters.
“My brother and I used to pretend we were Antonio Diaz and Julio Diaz when we were kids,” said Ortiz who grew up in Kansas. “I never dreamed I would be fighting Antonio Diaz.”
Recently both Ortiz and Diaz have become friends. After Ortiz’ last loss, Diaz called him up for a pep talk.
“I just told him that things would get better,” said Diaz.
Life has a strange way of twisting things around.
Ortiz (24-2-1, 19 KOs) faces mentor and childhood idol “Tono” Diaz (46-5-1, 29 KOs) on Saturday, Dec. 12 at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago. The fight will be shown on HBO as part of a triple-header. Somebody has to lose.
“It’s strange huh?” said Ortiz.
Diaz had been retired for several years after an impressive career that included winning the IBA welterweight world title and beating several marquee fighters like Micky Ward, Ivan Robinson and Cory Spinks. But when he began helping brother Julio prepare for a fight by running with him, the pounds began sweating off quickly and he decided to try it once again.
“I weighed about 200 pounds,” said Diaz, 33, about his life outside of boxing. “I’m still young.”
Now trained by his older brother Joel Diaz in an Indio boxing gym, Antonio Diaz finds himself smack in the middle of one of the best boxing stables in the country. The others in his team include Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley, brother Julio, Abner Mares, Dominic Salcido and others.
Antonio Diaz fits right in as a sparring partner, assistant trainer and mentor for the hot young fighters in the team. But when you mention Victor Ortiz there is a look of solace in his face.
“He’s a strong young fighter,” says Diaz with honesty. “He hurts his opponents.”
While working in the gym you can see that Diaz knows there won’t be many more opportunities if he loses.
“My experience is my strength,” Diaz said of his pending contracted fight at 144 pounds. “I’ll be the bigger and stronger fighter.”
Meanwhile, in an immaculate gym located in a business district in Ventura, Ortiz pounds out punches with machine gun velocity. Each blow has that special sound that real power punchers possess. Kind of like the way a homerun hitter cracks the ball during batting practice. Each blast has concussive impact.
Despite being a power-puncher Ortiz worries about the small intricacies of his sport. Perfection and correctly performing each movement matter to him. The loss to Marcos Maidana last June in Los Angeles has made him understand that he needs to adhere to tactics and preparation.
“Antonio Diaz is a world champion,” said Ortiz, 22, who is still considered a hot prospect by many. “I know I’m in for a tough night.”
When Ortiz talks about Diaz it’s almost in reverential tones.
“Never thought I’d fight Antonio Diaz,” Ortiz says with a far away look. “It’s a great honor.”
But once Ortiz resumes his workout and pounds the mitts held by his trainer Daniel Garcia he emits a menacing sound after each blow. There is a foreboding presence that overcomes him like a blanket of darkness.
Garcia likes what he sees in his protégé.
“We’re prepared to deal with Diaz and his experience,” said Garcia. “But it is going to be a very hard fight.”
Diaz said the friendship that exists between them will not be an obstacle.
“Right after the (Marcos) Maidana fight I texted him (Ortiz) right away not knowing that it would be me he’s fighting next,” said Diaz with an almost sad look in his eyes before reverting back to a more stoic gaze. “After the fight, we’ll still be friends.”
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MisterLee:
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I lost faith in "Suspicious" Victor Ortiz, but at least he's not taking no "softy" in his comeback fight. Yep. Holler!
Monday Dec 7, 2009 10:11:42 PM
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brownsugar:
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one of the most vicious fights I ever saw was Margarito vs Diaz,.. it even surpass the punishment meted out in the Rocky movies,.. and all time classic,.. I'm surprised Margarito survived to become a force in the sport after that fight,... some men I guess can just take punches,... But I don't see how Diaz can be anywhere close to what he used to be after so many wars,.. but if Diaz wins,.. Ortiz will have some hard questions to answer...
Monday Dec 7, 2009 10:14:41 PM
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MisterLee:
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Spit that truth b-sug! Holler!
Monday Dec 7, 2009 10:36:47 PM
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ultimoshogun:
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I'm rooting for Ortiz to rebound from his loss....hope he doesn't let their friendship get in the way of his killer instinct. This fight should show what he's made of.
Monday Dec 7, 2009 11:21:27 PM
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MisterLee:
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No disprespect to Shogun, but I feel Ortiz left his killer instinct in the Maidana fight. Yes he was getting outgunned, but look at cotto, cotto never tapped out, he always fought until he couldn't any more. That's what it takes, the mental grit, to become a fighter, not just the physical attributes. We'll see what happens, but he already lost me as a fan, and I swore before that fight and for the last year that he and angulo are the next big thing, and i still feel angulo has a chance to be huge. Holler!
Monday Dec 7, 2009 11:41:04 PM
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ultimoshogun:
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Yeah, MisterLee, that could very well be the case. Thats why I said this should show us what he's made of....I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 12:02:44 AM
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CHUCK NORRIS:
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I BEAT BOTH OF THESE GUYS IN A SPARRING MATCH WHILE I WAS SITTING DOWN AND WEARING PILLOWS ON MY HANDS. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY WHEN CHOOSING YOUR OPPONENT, DON'T GET STUCK WITH CHUCK!!!
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 12:49:44 AM
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Radam G:
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Ortiz is a major hype, who is getting a guy on the downslide. If Ortiz cannot win this bout in a runaway or knockout, he will be worse than I thought. He ought quit hating his father as a crush for his short comings. Holla!
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 01:35:01 AM
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RG:
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*ought to...
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 01:36:21 AM
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#1 PacFan "Pacquiao by split decision or late round stoppage!":
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If Ortiz keeps fighting the way he does then I don't see him going any further but just becoming a tune-up fighter. You can't take punches that you can't absorb. Ortiz is a pressure fighter who can't handle a great punch. He can be compared to the lengthy southpaw Paul Williams who is also aggressive but can't handle punches. Ortiz needs to be a lot more lighter on his feet to be able to avoid torpedoes like the ones Maidana shot at him. He needs to take a ride about an hour and a half to Hollywood and visit Roach at the Wildcard and I'll bet you he will show him the way.
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 01:37:16 AM
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Mike M @ Brownsugar:
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You are right on about that fight between Diaz and Margarito. It was brutal. Margarito was little too big for him and absorbed alot of punishment before breaking Diaz down. Diaz showed massive heart but his corner did him no favors and the fight could have been stopped sooner. He was never the same after that fight though IMO. That fight was seven years ago and that Diaz would be competitive against anyone. He had beaten up Weis and Robinson and outslugged Micky Ward who was on a roll back then. i hope i am wrong but i don't he has anything left in his tank and Ortiz should win this fight. If you put Diaz heart into Victor Ortiz you would have a superfighter.
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 02:46:48 AM
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arturo:
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he is still young and if he learned from his last fight then he might be a good fighter.He does have a entertaining style.Just hope he doesnt burn out like Fernando Vargas
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 03:18:37 AM
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Mullen:
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I love My father, its just I never meet him.
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 05:05:08 AM
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Matthew:
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It will be interesting to see how Ortiz does. He showed a lot of heart in the beginning of the Maidana fight, but he definitely tapped out at the end. I don't know if he has the right temperment to be a top-notch fighter. His chin is definitely suspect. The curse of Golden Boy?
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 09:00:19 AM
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HBO SUCKS !!:
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This is like it the Angels beat the Yankees in the playoffs but MLB deciding to still put the Yankees in the World Series. This is all HBO Golden Boy blatant favoritism that compromises the sport. Ortiz quits against Maidana and get another HBO shot against one of his west coast homies who will make sure to make him look good for a payday. You think Diaz is going to give him a hard time? How did Diaz even get approved to be on HBO? Why is not Maidana back on HBO before Ortiz?
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 09:28:54 AM
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MisterLee:
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I wouldn't say his chin, b/c he finished on his feet, i would say his heart. Another "great Mexican hero" that Golden boy tried to hype that failed... along with Angulo (who i'm still a fan of), Ortiz, Juan Diaz, and a little bit of marquez agst. mayweather. Holler!
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 10:17:47 AM
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Aldana Jr.:
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I have know Victor Ortiz since he lived in Garden City Ks. still see him every once in a while, I can tell all of you people that Victor has heart and he will come back and knock out Antonio Diaz, and he will be a WORLD CHAMPION , all the "GREAT FIGHTERS" of the past lost,but were they writen off?, I don't know and I don't care, I think that everyone jumps off the wagon when someone loses and they jump on the winners wagon,but I'm sure when Victor wins a title all the people that have talked bad of Vic wil be climbing back on his wagon, Im sure that everyone of the people that have wrote negative comments will be praising Vic, He lost a fight so what ? Big Deal?, De La Hoya lost,J.C. Chavez lost,Sugar Ray Robinson lost, and the WORLD CHAMPION POUND FOR POUND BEST MANNY PACQUIAO lost and by KNOCK OUT!!!! so what does that mean? NOTHING they all comeback,and VICIOUS VICTOR ORTIZ will come back and beat down a lot of boxers and he will win many WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS and beat Maidana !! ALL IN TIME my friends ALL IN TIME !!!! Dont count him out!!!!!!,This is to Victor keep your head up CHAMP I'm behind you 1000% no matter what,dont let these negative comments get to you. KEEP KNOCKING THEM OUT!!!!!
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 12:00:13 PM
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Anonymous user:
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Hey Aldana you are right that alot of great fighters have lost and came back but name a fighter that actually quit in their first loss and came back to become a great fighter. That list is pretty small. What usually happens is the guy who quits ends quitting again when put in the same position. I don't consider Ortiz a great fighter. I consider him another in a long line of undefeated fighters who when they really get tested end up quitting. He is also getting pushed by GBP and while he may have the skill the heart is still in question after his last fight. It is also a crime that they are putting him back in with a fighter who is 6-7 years past his prime and has nothing left. All this does is give GBP a chance to redeem Ortiz at a shot fighter's expense and doesn't prove anything in regards to Ortiz having the heart to be a true champion. For this fight to be in HBO is a disservice to the many other fighters busting their chops and who would cut off their right arm for a shot like this. Ortiz gets another slot handed to him after quitting against Maldana, how does that make any sense?
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 01:07:52 PM
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boxer:
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its funny how everybody here busts a guy down cause he quit after gettig clobbered. roberto duran quit and won three more titles
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 03:00:36 PM
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ultimoshogun:
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Good point boxer, I never thought of that one. I was was very young at the time the infamous "no mas" fight happened. Were the critics saying the same things about Duran back then?
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 03:55:30 PM
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Anonymous user:
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Roberto Duran's greatness and legacy was already established when he said "No mas" in the second fight with Leonard. He was 71-1 and the lightweight champ for years and went through a gamut of greats in Palomino, Leonard, Dejesus, Buchanan, etc. He was getting embarassed by Leonard's boxing and made a bad decision that he paid for. But hey man he had earned some goodwill at that point. To compare that to the Ortiz fight is stretching it. The Ortiz fight is more like the Jeffrey Resto situation against Carlos Maussa. Hot prospect gets challenged and folds up. Every fighter has bad nights but Ortiz got his pass, he is not going to earn respect back by getting babied by Golden Boy and then put in with a fighter who is no longer a threat and probably should be retired and an HBO gig along the way.
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 04:32:44 PM
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Radam G - _____:
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Roberto Duran quit because of an ass whupping and stomach cramps from coming trom losing weight from 200 pounds to 147 pounds to fight a great speed demon. Diaz quit because of pure fright. The dude believe his own hype and GBP's jabberwocky that he was a dime. Dude is a nickle.Holla!
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 05:01:09 PM
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Tito D.:
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Honestly, I don't know if Victor Quit or not because I saw a video clip where the reff ask Victor in spanish after getting knocked out "Estas bien?" meaning are you ok? and Victor doesn't answer Then the reff ask Victor, "lla estubo?" meaning are you done? Then Victor shakes his head as saying NO...I don't know if he quit or not but I heard what the referree said to victor in spanish...besides that I hate how people think that a fighter should die in the ring and bleed his guts out...have not we forgotten the beauty of the sport? Isn't the main objective of the sport to compete and to win by demonstrating skills, and how well you know the game? I don't think boxing is all about savegary and about who can take a beating the most...Although getting hurt is part of the game I also don't think boxing would be interesting without skills...otherwise that would make a boxer a brawler rather than a skill fighter...Ortiz knocked out Maidana more times, but besides that Ortiz was winning in the score cards...his brother Temo was not in the fight because they were having problems and Victor was not even listening to his corner he looked bothered by something...To me Victor was more impressive by the many knock outs he did and by winning the the score cards...ppl say maidana was impressive because he can take hits...Maidana didn't seem as fast or as crisp as Ortiz and he didn't seem to hit harder than Ortiz...Maidana was just able to brawl and take a punch and that's just it... Must I add if anyone has ever watched the Marvin Cordova vs Victor Ortiz fight Victor had a huge gash on his head and didn't want the fight to stop...Mentally Victor was not in the fight with Maidana, but he will get a rematch and he will make a statement this saturday....
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 08:37:55 PM
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Aldana Jr:
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I agree with Tito G.on the part that Victor was not himself when he fought Maidana, his mind was elsewhere when they fought but I know if he was 100% in the fight that night he would have won, now what I want to know is how many people that have been writing negative comments about Vic have actually stepped in a boxing ring and being punched in the face?, Vic had just been knocked down and STOOD UP during the count then he was walked to the ring doctor, If he was going to quit don't you guys think that he would have just stayed on his knee, or just layed on his back and been counted out? Victor never said he quit or no mas, I never saw Vic quit as a kid and I know he would not quit now,anyway that story is 6 months old lets talk about the whoopin he is going to put to Antonio Diaz I say Victor by KNOCK OUT in 6 and he will look impressive and by next Christmas he will be CHAMP, I don't see Vic losing another fight,as for getting back on HBO, HBO must like the way he fights or they would not pay to have his fights on their channel as for the other guys that would give their right arm to be on HBO or deserve to be on HBO find a more powerful promoter that can get them on the show I feel bad for saying that, but it is true, how does the POUND 4 POUND king MANNY PACQUIAO get back on HBO after losing to Eric Morales? , HBO likes the way he fights as they like the way Vic fights, because if they didn't they would not buy the fight like they have done with some of the KLITSCHKO bros. fights!!!
Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 11:30:44 PM
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arturo:
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He was not going to part of the Main Event until Chris John had to pull out of the rematch with Juarez. Victor was overwhelmed by the situation . he did look inpatient to me but thats cause of the lack of experience
Wednesday Dec 9, 2009 01:07:39 AM
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To Aldana Jr:
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Golden Boy is a powerful promoter because HBO just hands everything to them. HBO banks rolls Golden Boy as a front so that HBO can do want they want. How can you say that Ortiz is on because HBO likes they way he fights? You mean HBO likes the way Ortiz fights more than they like how Maidana fights? ORTIZ BITCHES UP AND GETS ANOTHER SHOT ON HBO AGAINST AN OLD FADED FIGHTER...THIS IS CALLED A SPORT??? WHERE ARE THE STANDARDS !??!
Wednesday Dec 9, 2009 12:34:33 PM
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MisterLee:
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All the great fighter LOST , but did not quit. Duran quit agst Leonard, but according to Leonard, he quit b/c he was frustrated with Leonard's skill, taunting, and speed, but not b/c he was getting hurt or he couldn't handle the pressure. Either way, yeah, ortiz is a quitter, and let's not list him with ATG's just yet. Holler!
Wednesday Dec 9, 2009 01:21:22 PM
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Anonymous user:
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To Tito Aldana - i actually think you are the same person. Victor Ortiz quit. i don't know what video you are watching but try going to youtube and looking at the HBO one called "Victor quit..." See what he says after the fight. What happened happened don't try and spin it like it didn't happen. I have no problem giving him another chance. You want a comeback fight against Diaz, fine do it off TV and have a few more until you are ready to fight a true contender not someone who is past their prime and who maybe is getting a payday for giving Ortiz a "hang in there" card after his last fight. HBO should not be televising this fight period.
Wednesday Dec 9, 2009 02:57:00 PM
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Aldana Jr:
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I am not Tito D. as you may think, I am a Boxing coach who has been involved in the sport of boxing, for over 15 years as a boxer,and 8 years as a coach that is how I know Vic, in all the years that I have known Vic he never quit,he was the first one to the gym and one of the last ones to leave,he spent many years training to become a WORLD CHAMPION he lost in his first try,but it is O.K. he will get another chance to become a CHAMP, I know that everyone who is talking bad of Victor once hung on every punch he threw all the way from his first fight to his last fight 6 months ago, A lot of people hate when someone is successful in one way or another,and I think that is the issue here, I don't think these comments has anything to do with him fighting on HBO or who he is fighting or tell me this WHO WOULD YOU GUYS WANT VIC TO FIGHT?,TO PROVE THAT HE IS'NT A QUITTER, and to prove that he is HBO Quality?, What would make you guys happy?, I have been a BIG supporter of VICTOR ORTIZ since he left Garden City Ks,as well as a BIG supporter of all the guys that have come out of Garden City like BAM BAM BRANDON RIOS,the SIMPLE MAN ANTONIO OROZCO, and Herbert Acevedo I support these guys at 100% and always will !!! Maybe to me they can do no wrong and no one will make me see it if they do, But I'm saying right now VICTOR will WIN by KO in 6 and he deserves to be on HBO and he should also be the semi-main event if / when Floyd Mayweather fights Pacquiao so what do you guys think about that one???!!??
Wednesday Dec 9, 2009 06:49:27 PM
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MisterLee:
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I want "Suscipicious" Victor Ortiz to rematch Maidana to prove how man he is. I was one of his biggest fans up until then, hyping him angulo, kirkland, ward to be the future top 10 p4p'ers in 2012. What happened? If he had got Ko'd or got a towel thrown in or stoppage that's one thing, but for him to turn his back, he lost me as a fan, that's a heart problem, not skill or physical gift problem. Victor has a lot to prove, b/c he already proved to me he's a quitter, he'll have to disprove that persona now. Did angulo quit with the flu and being severely under weight in the cintron fight? Did juan ma quit agst mtagwa (a very similar fight to ortiz's), did cotto quit agst torres? Holler!
Wednesday Dec 9, 2009 08:44:19 PM
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JAILER:
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For all of you that are saying that antonio is a shot fighter it shows me that you did not see him fight javier castro last march . javier was a hot prospect at the time and tono took him to school. stay tuned because tono will give the test victor needs ,stay tuned
Wednesday Dec 9, 2009 11:09:44 PM
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arturo @ aidana:
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he is young and I think that last fight gave him something to learn from.
Thursday Dec 10, 2009 01:02:47 AM
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Aldanajr:
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I don't think that Team Ortiz is over looking Antonio Diaz,and I'm not saying that Diaz is a shot fighter, he was a favorite of mine a few years ago when he fought Corey Spinks who he beat, Mickey Ward who he also beat,and all the other guys who he beat, I'm saying that Victor will beat him because I know what Victor has in his HEART, and he will come out fighting like a TRUE MEXICAN WARRIOR does and will stop Diaz inside of 6 rounds!!!
Thursday Dec 10, 2009 09:59:18 AM
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Anonymous user:
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Ortiz didn't quit, his coaches called the fight because they knew he was incoherent. You should try studying videos if you are the know-it-all fans you claim to be. Boxing fans pay hundreds of dollars to see these guys fight and you don't care one bit if they beat each other to a pulp and possibly kill each other. Maybe you should pause for a moment and realize that Ortiz's coaches did the right thing because they didn't want such a young, talented boxer to end up seriously or fatally injured if they knew his head wasn't there. He wasn't answering the ref or his coaches in his corner; he was staring off into space not strategically planning his next move. Take a second to stop criticizing and educate yourselves. Try jumping in the ring and going 12 rounds with a powerful fighter before you start criticizing and claim to have an expert opinion. If you had any ounce of credibility at all you would be approaching the argument logically after careful objective observation and not with your machismo logic.
And MisterLee, stop saying 'holler' because you sound like a dumbass.
Saturday Dec 12, 2009 12:57:54 AM
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PETER:
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FINALLY SOMEONE THAT SAW THE SAME FIGHT I DID, antonio is going to win this fight he is not A SHOT FIGHTER he has alot i mean alot left in the tank, i know him and trained with him he always give timothy bradley trouble and timmy is a better fighter than victor. "tono" is back and refreshed and you'll be seeing alot of him.
Saturday Dec 12, 2009 07:49:06 PM
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Angie And Goody...23 Years Later
Twenty three years later after they seconded Marvin Hagler and Ray Leonard in Las Vegas, Goody Petronelli and Angelo Dundee crossed paths again. This time, it was at Foxwoods. Photo/friend of TSS "The Iceman" John Scully reports there were only pleasantries exchanged. Goody didn't debate the split decision victory enjoyed by Leonard, which to this day Hagler disputes.
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