The last time Felix Diaz was in the ring, he gave a former champion all he could handle before coming up just short. Now Diaz gets another opportunity to take down an ex-titleholder, and this time the 2008 Olympic gold medalist plans to leave no doubt.
Felix Diaz has gone the distance in his last four bouts, including a unanimous decision over Gabriel Bracero in April 2015. The 2008 Olympic gold medalist will face former 135-pound champ Miguel Vazquez on May 28. (Suzanne Teresa/Premier Boxing Champions)
Diaz (17-1, 8 KOs) returns to action for the first time since suffering his first professional defeat when he battles veteran Miguel Vazquez (35-5, 13 KOs) on May 28 in a scheduled 10-round clash of 140-pound contenders. The bout from Cowboys Dancehall in San Antonio tops a prime-time Premier Boxing Champions card on Fox Sports 1 (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).
Fighting at a 145-pound catchweight, Felix Diaz slugged it out with former 140-pound champion Lamont Peterson for 12 rounds on October 17 in a hard-hitting affair in Fairfax, Virginia. After a slow start, Diaz came on strong in the middle rounds and even won Rounds 10 and 12 on two of three scorecards.
However, it wasn’t enough, as the Puerto Rican southpaw dropped a majority decision.
“This is a great opportunity for me, and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Diaz said. “Miguel Vazquez is a great former champion, and I’ll have to be at my best. I’m very thankful to be the main event again, and I’m thrilled to fight in San Antonio for the first time.”
Like Diaz, Vazquez is also coming off a defeat: a 10-round unanimous decision to Algenis Mendez on October 6 from Cowboys Dancehall. Including a split-decision loss to Mickey Bey in September 2013, Vazquez has lost two of his last three bouts following a 13-fight winning streak.
That six-year run included Vazquez capturing a 135-pound title in August 2010, a crown he successfully defended six times before losing to Bey.
“I’m very excited for this opportunity to face a skilled Olympic gold medalist like Felix Diaz,” Vazquez said. “He’s a good fighter, but he’s never faced someone as experienced and talented as I am.
“I look forward to a great victory in front of the great fight fans of San Antonio as I march toward becoming a world champion again.”
A boxer-puncher from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, the defensive-minded Vazquez has seen 12 of his last 13 fights—including the last eight in a row—make it to the finish line. Meanwhile, Diaz has gone the distance in four consecutive outings after stopping eight of his first 13 opponents.
Diaz’s scrap against Peterson was the first time he’d ever fought 12 rounds.
For a complete look at Diaz vs Vazquez, visit our fight page.
