This weekend I will be covering the Kendall Holt-Julio Diaz junior welterweight clash that will be televised nationally on ESPN Friday Night Fights. It is a true crossroads bout by every definition, and an intriguing one at that. Some feel that both fighters are shot and even those critics should be excited because they are being matched against each other rather than as cannon fodder to more prime dudes that toil at 140. Here is my preview. Discuss and give feedback on the fight if you could. This content is protected Diaz-Holt: A potential crossroads classic? Mark Ortega If you looked up the definition of crossroads fight in a boxing dictionary, you'd probably find a fight poster of this week's ESPN Friday Night Fights headliner from the Chumash Casino & Resort in Santa Ynez, California, a ten round junior welterweight clash between former world titleholders Kendall "Rated R" Holt [26-4, 14 KOs] of Patterson, New Jersey and Julio "The Kidd" Diaz [38-6, 27 KOs] of Coachella, California. Both fighters showcased have been to the mountaintop more than once and are looking to reclaim the shine that was once theirs. Not only that, they attempt to do it in the weight class where some of the biggest dollars are they to be made. One that features Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Juan Manuel Marquez [potentially], Manny Pacquiao [catchweightedly], Erik Morales, Marcos Maidana, Timothy Bradley, and Devon Alexander as well as a slew of other credentialed contenders just a step below. Julio Diaz shook off the shot whispers by decisioning former title challenger Herman Ngoudjo two days shy of a year ago and followed it up with a TKO over gatekeeper Pavel Miranda off-TV from the January Timothy Bradley-Devon Alexander title unifier. Holt suffered a shock loss to the unheralded Kaizer Mabuza last February and has fought one round since, a less than two minute annihilation of journeyman Lenin Arroyo on that very same Bradley-Alexander card. Holt is memorable to boxing fans for a number of reasons. He participated in a controversial and enthralling two fight series with Ricardo Torres over the course of 2007-2008 that saw the WBO junior welterweight title caught in the middle. After losing to Torres in a first battle that saw a number of slipups that seemed questionable in Torres' home court of Colombia, Holt recovered from two first round knockdowns in the return bout to blast him out just mere seconds later with a devastating shot that left Torres limp against the ropes. Click here to read the rest...
I like Julio DIaz but I think Holt has more left.... Diaz didnt look to good his few before last, but did look rejuvinated against Njodjou.... Dont know if Holt is younger but he hasnt been around as long as Diaz... Diaz has also never had the best set of whiskers, hes a decent puncher but i dont think hits hard enough to ko Holt... Diaz fights his heart out and makes Holt think (Diaz has good boxing skills) making it competetive...BUt i think Holt will ko him eventually... Holt ko 7
I have always liked watching Holt fight, if he's focused, which I consider to be his biggest problem, he will KO Diaz in my opinion. He's one of the more explosive guys I've seen in the 140 division, but he leaves himself open too, always makes for excitement. A really good main event for FNF.
Both are way past their primes . . . I'll pick Diaz who This content is protected to have more left in his tank.
Both guys are past their best but this should make for a good fight. I think Holt has more left but I could be wrong. I think he ends up stopping Diaz in the later rounds after a competitive fight. The winner should be able to pick up another big fight but the loser is going to become an named opponent for the rest of his career.
