Bad Left Hook Fight Night: Juan Diaz v. Michael Katsidis

I don’t know if I can fully enjoy tonight any longer

*A slight exaggeration . . .

I think Diaz’s workrate will pile up some points on Katsidis, and I just don’t think Rocky can beat a guy as good as Barrios. He never has before.

It’s 10:16. GET TO HOUSTON

Buffer is REALLY off tonight.

“47 wins, 37 by way of knockout” — no, 34. Also “one no-decison” — no, one draw and one no-decision.

“With a perfect — pardon me, professional record of…”

Juarez with a jab, Barrios throws three in quick succession. Stiff jab from Juarez. Both are trying to establish that punch over the first minute, no winging. I expect we’ll see some at some point in this fight.

Barrios lands a sloppy left to the body, and both guys are staying busy. Rocky seems a little tight, given that he’s trying to loosen his arms. Barrios keeps throwing big shots that Juarez gets away from. Rocky’s just boxing, doing his thing.

Buffer might be off, but Lennox is on: “No, you need both eyes to see in there.” You don’t say!

Short left by Juarez ends the round. Pretty tight first round, tough to score.

Juarez 10-9

Both corners want more uppercuts on the inside. Lederman gave the first to Barrios. No argument from me — I thought about going 10-10.

Barrios is throwing a lot of wide shots, missing a lot, but he is looking like the aggressor. Hook to the body, followed by one upstairs by Barrios. Jorge looks like he’s done with the jab and wants to slug. Barrios warned by Rafael Ramos for a low blow.

Barrios has some swelling near his right eye. NICE uppercut from Barrios. Uppercut falls barely short for Juarez, does land but doesn’t sting. Barrios backs Juarez down again, and he’s having a very nice round as we near the finish.

Barrios 10-9
19-19

Fans trying to rally their boy on, chanting “Rocky” as you might expect. They’re already talking about whether or not Juarez is being too patient, the usual criticism of Juarez and the reason he hasn’t reached the upper echelon of the sport. The dude can fight and no one disputes that.

Juarez is looking to get more aggressive, but Barrios is more than happy to engage in that sort of fight with Juarez. Lennox notes that Juarez still looks tight, and he’s correct. Rocky isn’t moving his head, seems very stiff, and is punching a jab at a time.

Barrios loses a point for a low blow. Frankly I’m not seeing them as being anything major.

Juarez is cut, it appears. Juarez with a nice right, Barrios counters. Another fairly close round.

Barrios 10-9
-1 for the low blow
9-9
28-28

Barrios gets warned again for…something? I think for Juarez getting out of position and low during a punch. Rafael Ramos is the pits.

Here’s the thing. Juarez is doing fuck all. Even when Barrios’ stuff isn’t really landing, it beats NOTHING, you know? Barrios is currently winning this fight just by working. Juarez hurts Barrios with a right, and goes to the body! Crowd gets a brief rise, but Barrios settles it down. Ramos warns again. He’s getting pretty goddamn annoying.

Juarez is kind of beating himself. He had some moments this round, but still loses it.

Barrios 10-9
Barrios 38-37

Bob notes that CompuBox has Juarez throwing 44 punches a round. It’s hard to win like that.

Barrios keeps winging, Juarez keeps waiting. Rocky Juarez is so frustrating. He’s got legitimate talent, is very tough, punches hard enough to be a damn good fighter, and he lets himself get beaten. He’s lost only to good or great fighters. But this is just the way he is. A guy like Barrios, he should be able to technically beat on and win convincingly. Instead, he’s screwing his own case.

Barrios presses the action for another three minutes, and Juarez loses another round. Barrios is working his ass off to make this worth watching, because Rocky isn’t helping in entertainment value.

Barrios 10-9
Barrios 48-46

Barrios should have this fight easy.

If Ramos don’t end it first

Well, Juarez went borderline low there and nothing from Ramos.

Juarez gets a portion of a right hand to stick upstairs. There are so many chances for Juarez to land good counter shots, but he’s just not working that way. I REALLY like Rocky Juarez, but this is why it’s hard to be a fan of his.

Barrios warned AGAIN by Ramos. This is getting to be obvious favoritism from Ramos and hometown bullshit refereeing. This is shitty officiating, plain and simple.

Juarez did better this round, managing to keep Barrios at bay a little better. No round has been obvious except the second, I don’t think.

Juarez 10-9
Barrios 57-56

in front of Holyfield?

Barrios backed into a corner, and Juarez doesn’t really take advantage of this. Goddamn it, Juarez. Barrios scoots out of danger with relative ease.

Juarez clips Barrios with an uppercut, and I think he might be finding a punch. Barrios uses his defense to make Juarez miss, but Juarez is the predator this round. Still, though, Barrios is sloppily outboxing Juarez this round and landing jabs, scoring points, doing a good job.

That’s not to say Juarez isn’t having a nice round, because he is. He’s picking off Barrios’ shots and scoring more. Right now, I have this one even.

Juarez 10-9
66-66

Kellerman seems to think this is a Barrios runaway. It’s really not. It’s a competitive fight.

Barrios springs in with a couple of shots, but a Juarez right backs him down. Barrios is starting to look a little tired and lazy with his punches, perhaps a result of his struggles with weight. Barrios trying to go to the body, Juarez with a right, then gets caught reaching too far. Rocky’s lack of body work is really notable.

Barrios 10-9
Barrios 76-75

Barrios’ corner thinks they’re losing the fight. The momentum has definitely lowered. Hurrld has it 78-73 for Barrios.

That nose-picking moustache guy just stood up.

Barrios warned again. “Oh come on, come on!” Oh come on indeed.

And that one WAS low. Another point taken from Barrios. Lennox says he didn’t see that one. That was about the only one I HAVE seen. Max says “borderline.” Really did look low.

Barrios presses Juarez against the ropes and goes to town on him. Barrios throwing in flurries now, winning another round where a point is taken. Juarez literally throws nothing back at him before the bell sounds.

Barrios 10-9
-1 point for the low blow
9-9
Barrios 85-84

On the belt. And that was the lowest I’ve noticed.

Ramos is ending this and I’m gonna lose my money.

ughhh

Lederman is PISSED about the refereeing. I am, too, frankly. Ramos has been awful. Or “atrocious” — good word. Thanks, Hurrld.

Stiff shot from Juarez, but it’s in the middle of several unanswered punches from Barrios. Not many land, but they’re being thrown and Juarez is still not fighting back. Barrios is working overtime now, and wants to finish Juarez. He’s throwing punches in bunches and might be wearing himself out. Left hook hurts Barrios, but Barrios keeps throwing.

Barrios is tired. Juarez is working the body some, and getting caught randomly upstairs. We might be seeing quite a turnaround, and if Barrios gets knocked out it’ll be his own fault.

This is the stupidest fighting you’ll see. Juarez is UNLOADING on a dead tired Barrios, who won’t stop punching! Ramos stops them, then re-starts. Lennox theorizes that Barrios is worried about the lost points and he probably came in worried about the hometown advantage.

Hell of a brawling round. Barrios threw 160 punches. Juarez had nice moments, but Barrios was a punching machine.

Barrios 10-9
Barrios 95-93

We’ve got an interesting last couple of rounds on our hands, I think. Barrios is dog tired and Juarez seemed more confident last round. He also did hurt Barrios.

Barrios bleeding from the mouth, and Juarez is going to the body. Left hurts him! Right hurts him! Barrios just keeps going! Barrios with a long right! They’ve turned this into a fucking Arturo Gatti fight.

Left hook from Juarez. Juarez is hurting Barrios a lot. HARD hook to the body. Barrios is throwing wild, looping, slow shots. Barrios is hurt and throwing and throwing. Two shots to the head from Juarez! Two more!

Blood flying from Barrios mouth! Barrios getting drilled! RIGHT HAND PUTS BARRIOS DOWN! His mouth is fucked up bad. Good Lord.

The doctor is in the ring. Bad, bad nasty cut — and they’re fucking stopping it. They have to. His mouth is ripped open. He would’ve turned into the fucking Joker.

What a finish!

ROCKY JUAREZ TKO-11 – MEDICAL STOPPAGE

I’m pissed

one even
one with Juarez up for
one with Juarez up two

Here’s Max imposing his weird opinions on Rocky. “Rocky, halfway through the fight you looked like an OLD 28.” He really didn’t. That’s his style.

Max: “Why are you still fighting, for how much longer…”

He’s 28!

is exactly why morons get on the internet and talk about fights being fixed.

This is gonna be a fuckin’ war.

Goddamn it, it’s Laurence Cole. I hate Texas.

Diaz looks a bit less pudgy. Not a lot, but a little.

Katsidis throws an uppercut, misses. They’re both jiving to start, throwing jabs to test distance. Cole warns them to watch their heads. We’re 50 seconds in.

Katsidis is winging power shots, and Diaz works the jab. Long right touches from Katsidis. Diaz with a hook, Katsidis ties him up. Heavy hook from Diaz is picked off. STIFF jab from Katsidis. Right hand from Katsidis follows a missed left. Diaz blocks a two-punch combo.

Katsidis is definitely more interested in mixing it up, but neither man is rushing into battle. Tough round to score, but I’m going with Diaz on jabs landed.

Diaz 10-9

Katsidis’ 28 jabs in the opening round are the most he’s ever thrown in a round.

Katsidis clearly wants to muscle Diaz and push him around.

This might be about ready to pop off. They’re throwing leather now, but Diaz doesn’t seem too anxious.

Katsidis is already cut outside of his left eye.

Diaz throwing, but Katsidis makes him miss. Diaz with a left to the body, uppercut misses, and they’re starting to dig into each other inside now. Katsidis with some shots, Diaz fires back. Really gritty round.

Nice combo by Diaz, right hand chops into the cut, and now he’s opening up. He’s quickly circling as Katsidis tries to bull him, and that’s working really well. Katsidis’ flurry is blocked, and Diaz wins another round. This one feels like a powder keg right now.

Diaz 10-9
Diaz 20-18

Katsidis throwing heavy, straight shots, but Diaz blocks them. Katsidis with a shot, Diaz with answers, and they’re going a little now. Tie-up and break.

Two shots from Diaz. Diaz with a flurry. He’s probably not hurting Katsidis much, but he’s scoring. Nice uppercut from Diaz. Body shot from Katsidis, and Diaz is working inside really well when Katsidis crowds him. Everything Katsidis is trying, Diaz is doing.

Katsidis warned for shoving with his shoulder.

Right now, this is a boxing match. And Juan Diaz is taking Katsidis to school. Katsidis will have to turn it up.

Diaz 10-9
Diaz 30-27

I can’t stop noticing A.C. Slater in the crowd.

They’re inside, and Katsidis wants to use the power shots. Diaz just isn’t letting him gain any steam. Nice left counter from Diaz. Two digging body shots from Diaz. Diaz hurts him with a left, and now he’s letting it go. He’s throwing sharp, fast combinations and just wailing on Katsidis. Left hooks, sharp rights. He’s doing it all. This is a controlled, focused Diaz, and he’s pretty much dominating Katsidis right now. Through the first third, this isn’t the exciting barnburner we expected, but rather a great performance from Diaz.

Could’ve said the same about Cotto-Margarito, though.

Diaz 10-9
Diaz 40-36

Diaz with a left hook that catches Katsidis. Katsidis is really going to have to find a way to throw on Diaz, because he’s getting schooled.

Lennox says Katsidis has not thrown one body shot yet. I’d like to wager money.

Uppercut and left hook by Diaz. He’s making Katsidis look like a chump. A durable, marketable, well-conditioned chump with a stupid fucking hat, but a chump all the same.

And now they trade in the center, with Katsidis getting the best of that trade. That’s the best Katsidis has looked all night. Katsidis is cut near the other eye now, too.

Diaz 10-9
Diaz 50-45

Katsidis is a mess.

Diaz OPENS THE HELL UP on Katsidis, just pummeling him at center ring. Katsidis is lost.

Everything he’s trying is picked off or just misses. Diaz is looking world-class; Katsidis is looking like a slugger without any real, tangible skills to back him up. Which is, of course, the thought of many.

Katsidis with a slapping right to the body. Diaz with another uppercut. Diaz again turns up the heat. He’s the guy that forces those exchanges, and he’s won almost all of them. He is kicking Michael Katsidis’ ass all over the Toyota Center.

Diaz 10-9
Diaz 60-54

Diaz landed 32, Katsidis landed 7

Katsidis now seems confused, unsure of himself, unsure of what to do. Diaz is just pounding this out. Katsidis with a hard right to the body. Diaz comes back with a left to the body and then another uppercut. RIPPING right hand from Diaz. Katsidis has a right blocked, then in astonishment, stands there and eats a right hand from Diaz. That has happened plenty.

Bottom line: if anyone was worried about Juan Diaz after his first loss, stop worrying.

Diaz 10-9
Diaz 70-63

Katsidis is scared to be himself in there.

It’s his only hope

Pop-pop-pop from Katsidis. He HAS to do something big. This is not the fight we expected. Actually, it’s fairly dull, because Diaz is just smoking him.

Katsidis is visibly daring Diaz now, and Juan isn’t biting. Bob keeps saying “round sex.”

Diaz has not abandoned the jab at all. Katsidis is trying to work the body, and this might be his best round. He needs to abandon caution and just go for the jugular, man. It’s his only hope. He’s dropped seven rounds already.

Diaz with a right, Katsidis responds to the ribs. Back to the body again before the bell. Finally, Katsidis takes one.

Katsidis 10-9
Diaz 79-73

Katsidis is doing some more good work in the first minute, but now Diaz comes with an uppercut and a jab. Katsidis’ tape is loose and we pause to fix it.

BIG flurry of lefts from Katsidis, seven straight punches unanswered. Katsidis to the body again. Diaz chops with the right, and stings him with yet another uppercut. Katsidis with a flurry, and Diaz ties him up.

Flurries give Katsidis another round. I just wonder if he’s turned it on too late.

Katsidis 10-9
Diaz 88-83

So they start the tenth and Cole immediately pauses to check Katsidis’ eyes, which they check with a snake light.

Diaz is back to business in the first minute, throwing combinations. And Katsidis is back to looking like the breaking tough guy he was for seven rounds.

Diaz’s left hand has been a great weapon. Uppercut from Diaz, uppercut from Katsidis. Cole warns Katsidis for grabbing behind the back. Cole also does it without speaking — as if Katsidis does not speak English, being from the wilds of Australia and all.

Diaz 10-9
Diaz 98-92

Katsidis’ corner really thinks they’re winning this fight. “Do what you’re doing! Don’t do anything silly!” No, he needs something silly. “It’s very close!” No, it’s not. Your guy has won, at best, two rounds, and you’re making him think he’s Mayweather against Baldomir in there. Kellerman dumps on Brendon Smith just after I type this. Katsidis needs a real trainer and not his friend. I haven’t seen such bad corner work since Mike Arnaoutis’ dad against Kendall Holt.

Another loose tape stoppage, again Katsidis. Diaz pumping the jab, throwing after it, and then blocking most of Katsidis’ stuff. BUT, when Katsidis lets his hands go, he’s doing OK. That’s been the story. He’s just not being himself, he’s being coached terribly, and he walked into Juan Diaz’s hometown with a losing gameplan.

Here they brawl again, and again Diaz takes the better of it. We’re 11 in, and this has been a mismatch in every manner.

Diaz 10-9
Diaz 108-101

Immediately after the bell, stop again for the tape. This is obnoxious. Laurence Cole has been very nice about it, to be fair. It’s not their fault, really.

Diaz gets caught off balance, but Katsidis can’t follow up. The commentators are stunned about how Katsidis is fighting, and the corner instruction he’s received. They’re totally right, too. Brendon Smith has been awful.

Bob Papa, though, the annoying bum, is acting like it’ll be an awful travesty when Katsidis raises his arms after this fight. As if losing fights don’t always raise their arms. What’s he supposed to do? He’s tried.

30 seconds left and they just start warring, like we expected much earlier. Diaz slips, and Katsidis celebrates without throwing a punch. Fight’s over. This was one-sided. If Katsidis complains, I’ll let him go watch the fight.

Diaz 10-9
Diaz 118-110

I realize you also had it 118-110, but I just can’t agree with much of Lederman’s scoring these days.

Hurrld has it 118-110, too.

115-113 Katsidis
116-112 Diaz
115-113 Diaz

JUAN DIAZ VIA SPLIT DECISION

What the fuck fight were these judges watching? Almost everything Katsidis threw DID NOT LAND. Horrible, horrible, horrible judging. Absolutely fucking atrocious. The deciding judge had a one-round difference. Amazing. Katsidis’ glove punching must have been damn impressive at ringside.

Apparently Glen Hamada, who scored for Katsidis, gave him the 8th through 12th.

Punch stats:

Diaz 296/801, 37%
Katsidis 149/868, 17%

This fight was not close.

And Brendon Smith is a cock. He was awful tonight.

Katsidis, though, is taking it well as he did against Joel Casamayor. He’s an ace dude.

“Is it time to take an easier fight?”

“Nah. Go big or go home.”