What's the ceiling for boricua featherweight prospect Christopher "Pitufo" Díaz?

In the long bright spot on last night's Top Rank on ESPN card - otherwise cringe-worthy, for one reason or another, from the very top down - Pitufo (whose nickname, inherited from and in tribute of his late father - literally means "Smurf" in Spanish... yes, like the lovable diminutive cerulean humanoids in the cartoon, but also in Latino slang can mean "cop" or, more loosely, enforcer/thug, which is how the police are often viewed by the general public in many countries in the Caribbean and Central & South America...) dissected late sub Bryant Cruz in three progressively more brutal rounds of action before Harvey Dock mercifully stepped in. Everybody watching let out a low whistle of appreciation, but of course any talk of Díaz has since been drowned out in favor of the bigger stars that occupied the ring after him.

The other names on the undercard - former heavyweight contender Bryant Jennings chasing the wisps of his evaporated glory, along with erstwhile amateur stars and featherweight hopefuls Mick Conlan and Shakur Stevenson, both very green in the pro ranks and seeming to be major "works in progress" - all struggled more than expected given their level of competition, or at least failed to really impress and put a stamp on their respective performances. In the main event, Lomachenko dazzled as usual but with Rigondeaux not living up to his own half of the billing as "the most competitive pure boxing match between world class elites in years" and ultimately quitting after six inconsequential, anticlimactic frames.

Díaz alone took care of business in an unimpeachable manner and with a game and willing opponent in front of him. Cruz was a short notice replacement for Casey Ramos - a downgrade to be sure, through no fault of Díaz's ...but not a bum, either. Cruz, the naturally larger man, soaked up as much as he could but tasted canvas in all three rounds.

This wasn't his biggest step up in class pound for pound to date; that was Ray Ximenez Jr., in a somebody's 0 must go eight-rounder in April 2016, where Pitufo took a clear UD. It was his first time scheduled for ten or challenging for a title of any import (the WBO North American super featherweight strap), however, and he did what he was supposed to do versus the man they put in front of him. This belt, having already insinuated himself into the WBO's top-ten rankings, could position him for some big opportunities in the new year.

How far can he realistically go, however? From his native P.R. alone there are two men I would pick confidently on ten-of-ten occasions to annihilate him: Alberto Machado and Jose Pedraza, both giants at 130lbs, and both very talented. Globally, you look at the entire top 15 and you'd be hard pressed to find somebody that Díaz has a strong chance with. If he were to return to 126lbs, glory might be a little easier to come by. His countryman Jesus M. Rojas, the current interim WBA featherweight champion, is pretty ordinary. All the world champs at the weight are by no means invincible. With a little polish, that is a path down which he could march to enter the history books. SFW is too fraught at the moment, IMO.

Either way, he will continue to steal the show for Top Rank - effectively his promoter for most of his career, though he was technically a free agent until they officially signed him two years ago - whenever they elect, wisely, to give him air time. He is by nature aggressive enough to keep most audiences happy while still being a "thinking man's fighter" the purists can appreciate, setting intricate traps and patiently seeking a route to land the payload of his signature left hook.

 

Do you agree the odds are slimmer at 130 and better at 126?

 

Incidentally, does anybody know why Casey Ramos pulled out?

I think Pitufo would've stopped him.