He went on to claim the WBO world lightweight title with a split decision over Zahir Raheem, but that fight was a snoozefest and he lost the title in his first defense against Juan Baby Bull Diaz. In January 2010 he was involved in a hit and runaccident in which a 20-year-old pregnant woman was killed. Three years ago Diego De La Hoya, Jamie Kavanagh, Manuel Mendez and brothers Jessie and Diego Magdaleno arrived. Joel Diaz Boxing | Indio CA. The idea that it was easier to show the separation of Mexican farmworkers, than to explain it, was something that'd been happening for decades. But it's just not the reality of the working families.". "Work! They both scored the fight 76-75 for Mattice, enabling the Ohio fighter to keep his undefeated record intact via a split decision. Sincetheir typically rigorous training schedule has been a little slower over the last year because of how the pandemic has reduced the number of fights in the sport, the Diaz brothers have had time to spend preparing the new gym, doing much of the work themselves. Theres enough room for two boxing rings, a section with mats for wrestling, treadmills and elliptical machines, heavy bags, speed bags and an area for yoga and other activities. 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. As a pro Diaz brought him down to lightweight. A lot of people want to help, Diaz said. Joel is on Twitter @JoelDiazBoxing and Instagram @coachjoeldiaz. He found his purpose in a strange world where he didn't even speak the language. Daz, along with two of his brothers, Joel and Julio, are former professional boxers who fought for world titles after being raised in Coachella. Otherwise any future fights for the Philippine great will not be forthcoming. Wondering why he'd need the bottle of adrenaline now, Diaz answers with a confused look. They make a fist, then give him a thumbs up. He would fight one more time before retiring as a fighter and continuing as a trainer. Thirsty for liquid, the burning desert absorbed each drop of blood. The boxer is one of several Eastern European and Central Asian boxers -- from Uzbekistan and Russia mostly -- who train here. "Ponle una putiza!" When I'm not here, that's gonna be a legacy that is gonna stay behind because it's the story of my life. 2,187 likes. 1996-10-19: Phillip Holiday: 28 0 0: Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg L-UD. On top of supporting his longtime friend, Congressman Ruiz awarded Coach Diaz a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for all the work he has done providing underprivileged kids in the valley with an outlet like boxing. Joel Diaz "I told him when he came to the gym [last week], 'The problem is not you. He stands, sometimes with his hands on the top rope and other times holding them behind his back. For the curiosity of the media and the fans, someone should come forward with proof of testing. Raise your punches a little higher.. And it sometimes translates to the actual, literal fight that is presented to us when we grow up in places like Coachella.". The sense of urgency every boxer lives with was replaced by uncertainty. The two met in 2018, at a boxing convention in Panama. The Diaz brothers want to use the building for more than just boxing. Diaz said that he's rarely seen a boxer who works as hard as Flores, who is as dedicated to the gym and to the sport. Vergil Ortiz Sr., the father of welterweight prospect Vergil Ortiz Jr., said he urged his son to choose Indio because of the desert location. Its isolation eliminates distractions. Eduardo Salazar hopes that those who watch this documentary are inspired to better their lives, even when times are tough, just like Joel Diaz has done. As soon as the doctor says all's well, everyone's able to joke. Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel. There were so many fighters, in 1996, the city built Espinoza a 9,000 square foot gym and named it after him. There's a lump on the back of the right side of his head. Boxing Home Schedule Champions Divisional Rankings P4P Historic Bouts Tickets His gravelly voice, built for teaching people how to fight, makes you wonder whether he has found peace at 50 years old, or whether he's too busy to give much thought to what he lost more than a half-life ago. Golden Boy Promotions, which has a business relationship with the Diaz brothers and many of the boxers who train with them, has offered help as well. If things go well for some of these boxers, maybe they'll fight as the main event in those places. "Cordova was a tough opponent," Acosta says. Fighters who, for a variety of reasons, reached their level here, among the desert's drab colors, instead of the bright lights of places like Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York. Theres so many memories at the Boys & Girls Club, and I hope were all still a part of their annual things because I think what they do is great, Swanson said. The building has remained empty for years. One of the more crowded gyms, Indio Boys and Girls Club, has blossomed into a powerhouse. Fifty years ago here, around the time when a farmworker's average life expectancy was 49 years old, the Coachella Grape Strike's picket lines turned violent. They then cleared out five trailers full of junk and reframed the space, secured the roof and began bringing new material. On Saturday, June 18th, NBC Palm Springs had an exclusive first look at a documentary on the life of local boxing trainer, Joel Diaz. He simply moves, resets and continues yelling. The gym is located in California's. Ive always wanted to be a world champion since I was old enough to fight.. Joel Diaz worked for a while with Lee Espinoza at the Coachella Boxing Club before opening up his own gym. At the screening, coach Diaz was enjoying the moment with his friends and family. This is what Diaz does throughout the day. It was Mosleys first defense after taking the title from Oscar De La Hoya and was held in New York City. Joel worked in construction for years before he became a trainer, and they have a contractor who has helped. 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. But most promotion companies were not interested. "Every time I went to a show or to a tournament, Lee would take five, six of us. Bradley was groomed by the Diaz brothers into a professional style that was pleasing to boxing fans in the Southern California area. Everyone else, including Mucio -- whose voice is hoarse from yelling throughout the fight -- stands around, trying to process the loss. We are excited and honored to have coach Joel Diaz join us to teach a boxing class next Wednesday November 20th at 6pm at KBX Fitness Indio. While still yelling instructions, Diaz is organizing who'll fight next. He built his camp from the ground up, starting with a twice-burned-down building he bought ten years ago for $230,000 dollars. Antonio Diaz plans to continue working with kids and says one day he may bring professionals back tothe club, even after his brother moves to the new facility. More than anything, he looks relieved. The pandemic shut down his boxing club. Its a small venue near East L.A. and the fight was attended by numerous boxing celebrities such as James Lights Out Toney, Mauricio El Maestro Herrera and Gennady GGG Golovkin. They're kids with parents who are agricultural, construction or service workers. Across the street from that mural, there's an old fire station on the corner of 6th Street and Vine Avenue. Its slowly made the transition from training strictly local boxers to international mega stars in this past decade. Work!" The Diaz brothers are currently training Avni Yildirim for his Feb. 27 bout versus middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, and Bektemir Melikuziev for his fight later this month in Russia against former world champion Sergey Kovalev. the doctor asks when he arrives a few minutes later. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 Entravision All rights reserved. 445 East Florida Ave. 2nd Floor. Barrios got up at the count of 4, he didnt know where he was as he looked around towards the crowd like a kid separated from his family at a theme park, but Barrios turned to the ref at the count of 8 and signaled that he was okay, SAVED BY THE BELL. To save money, so they could buy a house back home on the other side of the border. With nothing else to do, Diaz stops singing and helps Flores warm up. This energy, this level of commitment, is also one of the things that draws fighters to Indio. Find him on Twitter: @Andrew_L_John. He said that he expects the gym to live on long after he one day retires. Hes so happy.. The other to keep track of his day. Lead announcer Barry Tompkins went further, calling it the worst decision he has seen in his 40 years of covering the sport. In the beginning of round 12, Freitas was able to score an early knockdown, and as Barrios stood up on wobbly legs and Freitas went straight at him and with a couple more shots, Barrios was clearly in bad shape and badly discombobulated and the fight was stopped. "It's fine," he says. He was the first and only inductee into the inaugural class of the Texas Boxing Hall of Fame, an organization founded by El Paso promoter Lester Bedford in 2015. The demand for labor followed. Flores is 18 and has boxed since he was 7 years old. In the second fight on the card, another one of his fighters, Grant Flores Jr., is warming up for his second career fight by stretching and jumping around. Now seven casinos have opened their doors in the desert region and most of them have held boxing cards at one time or another. The type of place that looks as if the things happening there are kept secret. They also want to provide school supplies for less-fortunate families at the start of the school year and turkeys at Thanksgiving. The festival is part of the valley's annual $7.5 billion tourist industry that attracts more than 13 million people a year. "I'm going to call the doctor," says Larry Ervin, an inspector with the California State Athletic Commission. His job was irrigation. "You got to come in like this," he says, as he moves side to side while throwing punches. "They're putting all their ideas together and creating their dream gym.". . Theres no wasting time. Mexican migration increased. Instructions are yelled in four languages; English, Spanish, Uzbek and Russian. The Coachella Valley has long been an area where the center inflatable garden slide of activity is Palm Springs. Every second is used by the prizefighters. "Nobody pushed me, I pushed myself," he says, remembering how he'd wake up to run hours before school. The day after Diaz is gone, Mucio and Acosta will leave too. He might see everything, but he can't be everywhere. His chief second bullied him into coming out for another round. When the announcer reads the judges' scores, the crowd boos. Barrios turned professional in 1996 and went 14-0 before a DQ loss after which he went 25-0-1 with 1 no decision. This is our home now, said Antonio Diaz. If he wins tonight, against Angelino Cordova, who has never lost and is five years younger, they want to fight for the world championship next. Until he finds out Acosta's bleeding. Photos: Boxing trainer Joel Daz to open new gym in Indio Skip to main content Photos: Indio boxing gym of world-renown trainer Joel Diaz nearing completion Skip to . Cole was the third man in the ring for the Nov. 25, 2006 bout in Hildalgo, Texas, between Juan Manuel Marquez and Jimrex Jaca. The place looked so brittle, everyone worried that if an earthquake hit, it all would collapse. 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). The list goes on. Seldom are cruiserweight matchups as enticing to watch as this one. It became a case of brawler vs. boxer/puncher and when the brawler caught the more athletic Popowho could slip and duck skillfullyand decked him with a straight left in the eighth, the title suddenly was up for grabs. Live. We begin with Joel's enforced retirement and the ups and downs that followed, before looking at his experiences as a trainer, taking us up to his current bunch of fighters. I would like to thank him, said Munguia about Bennetts refusal to allow him to fight Golovkin. It's Friday and that means it's sparring day for his pros. Dedication was never a problem for Joel. In a couple of months, the heat will be so unbearable those who can buy their way out will. His manager asked me what I thought of his last fight and we agreed, said Diaz of Vargas. Step it up Vergil, he shouts to one of the fighters Vergil Ortiz Jr., a welterweight from Dallas, Texas. Everything that was originally in the building was taken out to the trash except for a table and chair that he kept as a reminder. Whenever there was a big fight in the Lone Star State, his son was the favorite to draw the coveted refereeing assignment. Andrew John is a reporterfor The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. He dabs away the blood and looks at everyone. 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. THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON Diaz leaves for San Antonio where he'll join his brother. The uncertainty of changing trainers that far into their careers. At the screening, were friends and family of Joel Diaz, along with important members of the community, like Congressman Raul Ruiz. But here my son can just focus on boxing and only boxing and sharpen his skills.. Kenshiro Teraji TKOs Late Sub Anthony Olascuaga; Inoue Wins Too, Avila Perspective, Chap. To comment on this article at The Fight Forum, CLICK HERE. Then came the coronavirus, forcing one of boxing's most respected trainers to put a plan into action. A well-known figure in the Coachella Valley, many have approached Diaz and asked how they can help. "You'll see." Golden Boy chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya announced the fight, saying: "It has been Golden Boy's home in the Coachella Valley, and we are excited to bring a DAZN fight night that they will enjoy for the first . Back then, to raise funds for travel, Lee sold raffle tickets where the prizes were pigs and cows and TVs. : Thank you head trainer Joel Diaz of the Indio, Ca. Munguia stopped by Los Angeles to meet with the media last week and spoke about Bennett and his upcoming first world title defense. Now all I have to do is make it shine. The curtains part and the crowd chants Acosta's name. The building boasts 10-foot ceilings and the design for the space is expansive. When Im not here, thats gonna be a legacy that is gonna stay behind because its the story of my life. With pipes, tire irons and brass knuckles, Teamsters tried to intimidate the United Farm Workers out of contracts with growers. But also, you can see up close what devotion looks like and learn how to overcome obstacles that would break less hearty souls. Diaz, 48, said he plans to open the gym up to the community for a grand opening in September. Were working on some changes and well see on December 9.. Ukraines Usyk, 31, made his American debut in late 2016 on a Golden Boy Promotions card that staged boxing great Bernard Hopkins final prizefight. "Rosado, Rosado," other boxers tell him. The gym is clattering with noise from the various boxers working in the different stations. Box-am Box-pro . Last March, as the ongoing pandemic surged throughout the country, Diaz was told by Indio Boys & Girls Club administratorsthat hecould not continue to train professional boxers at thepublic facility that would remain closed for a fewmonths. Mucio walks beside him. That, along with intelligence, is how he trains everyone here to fight. In Joel Diaz gym Indio CA | esnews ESNEWS 749K subscribers. But that would just a short-term solution and Diaz had until July 1 to move into a new facility. There will, of course, be speed and heavy punching bags, treadmills, weight machines and free weights along withan area with a padded floor designated for wrestling, martial arts and other activities. Click below for an exclusive look at the first trailer for Joel Diaz: A Hard Knock-Life by Newman Studios. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com. Thats what Im doing.. In the fifth round, Marquez sustained a cut on his forehead from an accidental head butt. Bradley won world titles as a super lightweight and welterweight and ultimately became one of the best pound-for-pound prizefighters in the world. Many of the fighters showcased at Fantasy Springs Casino and other surrounding casinos come from Joel and Antonio Diazs group and include prizefighters from all over the country and internationally. The best known is Dmitry Bivol. Joel Diaz Boxing, Indio, California. Like Manny Pacquiao, Freitas had a difficult childhood but was determined to make a better life for himself and his family. Since they understood the discipline and sacrifices required to make a living from fighting, they became fast friends. The building will have bathrooms and locker rooms for men and women, a sauna, a private space for ice baths and two boxing rings. He's worked with his younger brothers, Antonio and Julio, as they captured world titles. For six days, festival goers from across the country, and world, will pack into the 250 acres of the Empire Polo Club's immaculate green fields. Hes almost there, said Joel Diaz. Freitas had won a TKO victory in round 12, amazing!!!!. In English it means "fight with no end.". Popo had grown old. So he made the best of it, and built a life with his wife and four kids. They'll run their daily miles and their feet will feel as if they're on fire. Last May, Bivol beat Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, a boxer many considered the best in the world. He's showing fighters how to pivot their feet to maximize their leverage. Now we have water, we have power. Hed sit, often by himself, in the early stages of the project drawing designs from his ideas for the space. "One day, I'll make money," he told her. Joel Diaz Jr. is the son of top trainer Joel Diaz Sr. and although his father doesn't work his corner he still carries the family name when he enters the ring. Hemet District Office. Palmdale's Joel Diaz, Jr. (26-2, 22 KOs) and San Diego's Mercito "No Mercy" Gesta (32-3-3, 17 KOs) hosted a media workout today ahead of their 10-round lightweight fight on Thursday, April . Boxing Techniques; Boxing Gym; Latest Fight Replays. Professional boxing trainer Joel Diaz has recently opened his boxing gym in Indio, Calif., on July 23, 2021. desertsun.com Photos: Indio boxing gym of world-renown trainer Joel Diaz nearing completion Indio boxing trainer Joel Diaz is 2-0 last week after Tito Acosta's first-round knockout win over Janiel Rivera & Dmitry Bivol Retains WBA light heavyweight title against Canelo Alvarez. Honestly, it makes me happy because at one point, you know, life is short. 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. Shows. "Things happened for a reason," he says. Bob Bennett, the Executive Director for Nevada State Athletic Commission, denied allowing Munguia an opportunity to fight Golovkin for the middleweight titles. With his right eye gone, so too went his dreams. Monday Morning Cornermen (Nov. 6 edition), The Hauser Report: Wilder-Stiverne and More from Barclays Center, In an unprecedented development, the Boxing Writers Association of America has started a watch list to lift the curtain on ring officials who have screwed up. Veteran Texas referee Laurence Cole and Nebraska judges Mike Contreras and Jeff Sinnett have the unwelcome distinction of being the first honorees., Boxing is a sport where judges and referees are rarely held accountable for poor performances that unfairly change the course of a fighters career and, in some instances, endanger lives, says the BWAA in a preamble to the new feature. So he did what his brother did, he even won a minor world title. He asks if he must go. Palm Springs Desert Sun Subscription Discount | Subscriber Services, Olympics more important than major titles for some women golfers, Strong and silly, Sarah Robles of Desert Hot Springs, is off to Tokyo, hoping to lift her way to another medal, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The documentary is titled Joel Diaz: A Hard Knock-Life and was directed by Jorge Newman and Eduardo Salazar of Newman Studios. 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. During the fight, Salido made a mockery of the Queensberry rules for which he received no point deductions and only one warning. Diaz, the eldest brother in a boxing family that produced two world champions in brothers Antonio and Julio, worked out of the Indio Boys & Girls Club for close to 18 years. Barrios wanted to turn the fight into a street fight and was reasonably successful with that strategy. He would fight one more time before retiring as a fighter and continuing as a trainer. When asked how he felt about Nevadas denying him an attempt to fight Golovkin, a wide grin appeared on the Mexican youngster. It's a welcomed distraction from the importance of this fight. Cracks that looked like spider webs, spread across the cold floor in a place just big enough for a couple of heavy bags and a boxing ring where firetrucks once parked. Now its Gassiev versus Usyk and four world titles are at stake. "I got to get these guys ready," Diaz says. The crowd was divided between Brazilian fans and those from Argentina. Arely is Acosta's wife. Monroe St Indio CA 92201. Everyone here has. He's sitting in a foldable metallic chair, getting his post-fight medical examination. Make of that what you will. Order Online. But those that remain like the focus on boxing and the solitude. Celebrities such as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and William Powell had homes here. If he weren't watching men fight, he'd look like an appraiser examining a piece of art. Joel was close to delivering on the promise he made to his mother, who didn't want him fighting. 232: Fundora Mendoza and More on a Deep Saturday of Boxing, Why Tapales vs Akhmadaliev Promises Fireworks This Saturday, Tank Davis Stops Ryan Garcia with a Near-Invisible but Lethal Body Shot, Literary Notes: Last on His Feet: Jack Johnson and the Battle of the Century, Brian Mendoza KOs Sebastian Fundora in a Shocker. After seeing those fields, the man drove them home where the Diaz brothers met their mother, sister and another brother. "People come to this country for a better opportunity and a better life for their kids and their family, and they're fighting every step of the way to make that happen," Garcia says. All he had to do was hang in there and the title would change hands on points. He trusts him with his gym and with his boxers' lives. He purchased the building as an investment property about 10 years ago. (Marquez elected to continue and stopped Jaca in the next round.). Until then, hes going to enjoy living his dream in the space that he created. Beginning in 1999, it has showcased acts as diverse as Guns N' Roses, Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar. 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). No matter what obstacles get in the way, you have to find a way to get through the hard times and keep fighting to overcome those obstacles., CONGRESSMAN RAUL RUIZ AWARDS JOEL DIAZ WITH CONGRESSIONAL HONOR. "This is where I work," the father told his sons. "This is a bad area." "It hurts me," she says of watching her husband fight. And, like Manny, he did and he also pursued a career in politics. It's the sameness of a daily routine, made a bit easier by a few inside jokes at the gym. World champions are not supposed get battered like that but when someone packs that kind of power those can be the terrifying results. "It's a small, surface level cut.". The small Palm Springs Airport will get so crowded it'll be difficult to walk through. He returns to the dressing room that not even an hour before had been so full of excitement. When Joel built his gym, Flores' father, a carpenter, did the framing.
Thornwood Ahibs Bdo,
Houses For Rent Beaumont, Tx,
Motorcycle Accident Yesterday Modesto,
Fatal Accident On M1 Yesterday,
Articles J
