Fight card features two veterans searching for a title

By Case Keefer (contact)

Thursday, May 13, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

Four years ago, Julio Diaz felt invincible.

Diaz, a boxer from Coachella, Calif., held the IBF lightweight world title and thought he was destined to become one of the sport's stars. Then, it all crashed down.

The 30-year old Diaz has lost three of five fights since and often hears people refer to him as "washed up" or "old." And, although Diaz thinks the detractors are wrong, he understands their concerns.

"To know where I've been and see the experiences I've had, I feel like I'm in the gutter," Diaz said. "I feel like I'm at the bottom of the line. But I have a shot to put me back where I belong."

That shot will come at 5 p.m. Friday in Primm at the Star of the Desert Arena where Diaz (36-6, 26 KOs) will meet Herman Ngoudjo (17-3, 9 KOs) as part of ESPN2's Friday Night Fights card. It's scheduled as a 10-round junior-welterweight fight.

Diaz has not won a bout since 2008, but said he rededicated himself in the 10 months since his last loss.

"You get caught up in the basic daily life of boxing after a couple of years," Diaz said. "It becomes a routine, and it just becomes train and fight, train and fight. I lost focus of why I was doing what I was doing. I needed some time for myself to find out why I wanted to do what I do."

A feeling that kept creeping back in Diaz's head was being a champion. He would do anything to recapture that glory.

It's something Ngoudjo has never experienced. Despite being a top contender for years, the 30-year old Ngoudjo has never held a belt.

Ngoudjo, a Montreal native, is not worried about it being too late. He said he thought the winner of Friday's fight eventually would get a title opportunity.

"We have the same ideas," Ngoudjo said. "The winner of the fight wants to show he is the best, and now we are going to get that chance."

Ngoudjo is no pushover. He had a light welterweight title fight in 2008 against Paul Malignaggi and fought in the 2000 Olympics.

Although his résumé might not be as decorated, Ngoudjo considers himself a favorite against Diaz.

"He was a champion and I respect that," Ngoudjo said. "But he has never fought a guy like me. He will give me a good fight. I will leave it at that."

Diaz said he was prepared not to have a good fight, but his best fight. The combination of his short break from boxing and recent training camp has reinvigorated him.

"I'm back mentally," Diaz said. "I've got my mind right. I'm very excited to fight."