Is this the end of Diaz as a top fighter?

He has alot of mileage on him for a 25yr old. After the beating he took against Campbell, and now tonight... I can see his career as a top fighter spiraling down from here. He sure has got alot out of himself considering he wasnt blessed with great talent.

Thoughts?

 

what should shields have told him? valero would beat down diaz as would a few other guys possibly

 

Really hard to say. Can't take too much away from him for losing to Marquez who is just plain awesome.

Like after any knockout loss we don't how a fighter will recover either.

Assuming he didn't take enough damage to affect him physically for future fights, i still think he has a place at least near the top. He puts in a lot of effort when he gets into the ring and there are still winnable fights for him out there.

Probably a good time for a change in trainers though.

 

Everyone loses hunh? Tell that to Juarez. Diaz has a good chance of being just like that guy, only difference is Diaz had his championship.

Who else is out there to beat Diaz? How about Funeka, or Guzman or even Humberto Soto. I'd pick all 3 to beat Diaz.

 

Agreed. Sheilds has been with him his entire career and has helped Juan get the most out of himself. Plus its not like Diaz is a fighter who depends on strategy to win. Regardless of who trains him, he'd be the same.

Sheilds has always been a good fit for Diaz. They have good chemistry together.

I'm fuckin SICK of ppl blaming the trainer after everytime a guy loses.

 

I probably would as well, but at the same time i wouldn't completely count Diaz out in any of those fights either.

 

That's true, but exactly why a new trainer could help. I'm certainly not saying it's Shield's fault for the loss. I just think a different trainer might be able to improve him. Diaz is still a young man, it's not as if he's beyond learning anything new.

 

people have seen how to beat Diaz, but there's still a few in my opinion who could beat him. what he needs or his team to do right now is heal Diaz's ego and start getting his confidence back. still i believe he doesn't really belong to the rung of elite/great fighters who could be champion for years, though he may still pick up another championship belt and when another elite fighter beats him that's it for him and he can probably retire.

 

I expect better from you. :kick:

Diaz would bash up Funeka in five rounds max. You guys are ridiculous. Funeka has no chin, he doesn´t take five of those lefthooks from Diaz like JMM. Marquez is a total different league from Funeka and so is Diaz.

 

His style has a short shelf life.

 

To pace himself. His jab is quick and accurate, he has good timing, proven by how frequently he could deliver his punches against Marquez, but he totally burned himself out against Marquez, when it wasn´t necessary. Maybe he needs to go the Barrera route and become more of a boxer than a pressure fighter, he certainly has the tools. He stayed in front of Marquez far too long, and gave the shorter fighter all the counter opportunities.

 

He doesnt have Barrera's ability, or skill level.

 

As was pointed out by other posters, Funeka's chin isn't the problem, it's his huge cranium like head . I think given Juan's slappy punches that Funeka would be able to deal with the power and outbox Diaz.

I think Diaz should hire Mayweather Sr to be his trainer and learn to be a defensive boxer. His fists were made for boxing not brawling.

Also the only lawyer job Diaz is going to get is as a public defender.

 

I don't see him being able to take the route Barrera took, but he certainly could learn to box better. Even though a loss against Marquez is far from a death sentence, it should be fairly clear to him and his team that simply trying to outwork guys won't pay off every time.

Diaz has great stamina and work ethic which is a good foundation. He'll never be a pure boxer but he needs more subtleties to his game.

 

dsimon writes:

Yes it does.

Diaz has gotten a lot of mileage from working hard and he deserves to. I just don't see him as an elite guy... He can stick around and be an inspiration and have a few more fights. But when a real talent comes along its tough because Juan gets by on guts and persperation.

Juan can be competative but I would like to see him fight less now and probably not challenge any upcomers who need a gate keeper to get by... juan does not need that role.

 

Juan Diaz still has a few years left...and he can win back those titles as soon as Marquez moves up...

However i don't know if Juan Diaz want to keep boxing.....with the school thing..he has probably made a few million and might be looking to go into something else...

 

I don't think he burned himself out at all. He's fought at that pace many times for 10-12 rounds. He's just limited in what he can do to make a stand. Not a single punch in his arsenal has the ability to KO or directly stun someone at this level, even if thrown from a surprise position. Marquez didn't see 2 or 3 of Diaz's hooks in the first round, and didn't look phased. No one has; even his higher level stoppage of Freitas was due to attrition.

He's seen the peak, and he is not quite there. No shame in that. His body type and style don't lend to long careers. If he keeps the fundamentals that he has, then he may win a title again. And anyone who tries to blow him out will have a long night (yes, I'm including Valero in this).

 

I have no clue what this comment is supposed to mean. That's like saying the only job as a pharmacist [insert pharmacy school student's name] is going to get is at CVS. Is that supposed to be a bad thing?

 

Umm, Diaz was actually winning the first half of that fight against Marquez, and even though he was getting his ass kicked in the 7th and 8th round, the cards were a virtual draw in the 9th.

Diaz didn't hold when hurt, and opted to slug it out. Yes, he made a bad mistake.

But to say he's done as a top fighter is premature at best.

People are all over Fagquez's nuts, yes he came back, but Nate Campbell didn't lose a single round versus Juan Diaz, while Marquez was hurt multiple times and had to come from behind to get the win. It makes for great fights, but I think it's very telling that Marquez had to come from behind at all.

 

Okay but Campbell is a natural 135....and probably in fight night he was 150+...Diaz was Marquez 2nd fight at 135....and he was fighting at worst 2-3rd best fighter in the Division.

 

He's not done. He just lost.

And he didn't burn himself out. He's fought at that pace (or higher) throughout his career and he's young and stronger than ever.

He looked tired because of the return fire he was taking.

 

I agree that it is very telling that a former featherweight champion in his second fight in the lightweight class (after first beating a top rated fighter in that class near the end of his career) fights another consesus top rated fighter in that class who is also 10 years younger than him and is highly active in the ring, then proceeds to almost match his punch output, clearly outdo his "effective landed punches" output, and knock him out.

 

What I'm saying is considering this brutal KO loss, and considering he has alot of mileage for a fighter his age... that this loss could be the begin of his decline.

 

::

Marquez hasn't fought at featherweight since 2006. You guys crack me up. :atu:

 

Um...yeah...that's why he is a former featherweight. He is not a current featherweight. What is your point? As if I'm trying to say he pulled a herculean effort to beat this giant of a man? That is not the case.

Wait, let me continue this trend.

"10 years younger" oh yeah, like it's impressive to beat a novice :atu:

"top rated fighter" Suure, Casamayor was definitely on the decline and we all know it :atu:


Your points are fair and that's why it's a discussion; why make a strawman?

 

It's a shame that Diaz doesn't have the ability or skill level to change his style, because honestly, he doesn't quite have the guts or endurance to be a top pressure fighter.

As I said before the fight, Diaz gets discouraged. It happened against Nate, and it happened last night when Marquez started to get into his groove.

Diaz is not quite -balls to the wall- enough for his style.

 

I prefer intelligent discussion so I was trying to help you out.