Columnist Dean Juipe: Manfredy says he will be ready for Diaz

Dean Juipe

Thursday, Sept. 20, 2001 | 11:15 a.m.

Dean Juipe's boxing notebook appears Thursday. His sports column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or 259-4084.

It's a familiar pattern within the boxing industry: Promising fighter steps up in class to take on a veteran who is perceived to be fading.

The scenario will be repeated Oct. 6 in Corpus Christi, Texas, when 20-year-old Julio Diaz, a lightweight with a record of 20-0 and 17 knockouts, meets one-time contender and highlight-reel regular Angel Manfredy on HBO.

Manfredy, 29, is 38-5-1 with 29 KOs and has faced a bevy of first-rate opponents in his career.

He said Wednesday during a conference call that he's not about to roll over for Diaz and that he expects to win the fight and re-establish himself as a legitimate contender.

The winner of the scheduled 12-round fight has been promised the No. 1 ranking at 135 pounds by the International Boxing Federation and a future fight with its champion, Paul Spadafora.

"If they're looking at me like that, it only motivates me more," Manfredy said of being labeled as shopworn and past his prime. "This is no last chance for me. I still feel I'm the up and comer."

While he has won his last five fights and gotten comfortable as a lightweight after fighting as a junior lightweight for most of his career, Manfredy may not be able to neutralize Diaz's speed and power.

He does, however, hold a tremendous advantage in the experience department and owns important wins over Arturo Gatti, Ivan Robinson, Jorge Paez, John Brown and Lamar Murphy (Aug. 3, in his most recent outing). He has also fought and lost to world champions Floyd Mayweather Jr., Stevie Johnston and Diego Corrales.

"I'll show my explosiveness, power and accuracy," Manfredy predicted. "I'm more determined than ever.

"I've been crying for this hunger to return to me, and it's back."

Promoter Bob Arum, who is sharing duties on this card with former world champion Ray Leonard, said the fight was made not because Arum saw Manfredy as easy pickings for his man Diaz, but because of TV.

"HBO is paying good money and expects and wants a competitive fight," Arum said, adding that he would have found someone else for Diaz to fight if the prominent network was not involved.

Diaz, the younger brother of welterweight contender Antonio Diaz, has never faced anyone of Manfredy's stature although he is coming off two very impressive wins over fellow highly regarded prospects. Last time out Diaz stopped Colombia's Dario Esalas in four tough rounds, and prior to that Diaz handled New York's Justo Sencion in nine combative rounds.

In both instances, Diaz handed his opponent his first professional loss.

But the task figures to be greater with Manfredy talking a good game, if nothing else.

"I was real excited (to get this fight) because Manfredy has been on my mind for some time," Diaz said. "I won't get intimidated. I know he's going to come prepared ... but it'll take a lot of hard work for Manfredy to take everything away from me."

While Arum regularly espouses his view that Diaz is a certain future champion and perhaps a budding superstar, that opinion is widely shared within the sport. And a win over Manfredy would advance Diaz's career proportionately.

"He's a terrific talent and a fine young man," Arum said of Diaz. "This is a very significant bout."

Leonard, who is aligned with Manfredy, praised his born-again fighter as "someone who dodges no one and fights everyone" while noting that this time "he is fighting a young, hot prospect."

Manfredy said not having to struggle to make weight has meant a great deal to him of late.

"I'm not killing myself anymore (to make 130)," he said. "I'm a true 135 and feel I'm the best fighter in the division.

"I'm a mature fighter and I'm not going to hold anything back during this fight with Diaz. To me, this is a title fight."

Diaz will have to see it that way as well.

"I'm real focused and real ready," he said. "I've been sparring with bigger guys and feel I'm going to be a lot more powerful, and I've been proving that to myself."

HBO took an interest in the fight when its originally scheduled fight for Oct. 6 -- Mayweather vs. Jesus Chavez from the Paris Las Vegas -- was postponed.

The Felix Trinidad vs. Bernard Hopkins card in New York City is back on for Sept. 29. ... The Stratosphere's first card is set for Oct. 20 and will have super bantamweights Junior Jones (48-5) and Mike Juarez (23-10-2) in its main event. ... The Avi resort in Laughlin will have an Oct. 27 card. ... The Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Erik Morales featherweight rematch is official and set for March 2. ... Luther Mack has been named acting chairman and Dr. Flip Homansky acting vice-chairman of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Mack, of Reno, and Homansky, of Las Vegas, are expected to be named chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, at the next commission meeting.

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