Juan Diaz talks scoring controversy and Ricky Hatton

Ben Thompson at FightHype interviewed Juan Diaz, and "The Baby Bull" touched on the scoring controversy that is all the talk coming out of his win over Paulie Malignaggi and Saturday, as well as a potential clash with Ricky Hatton.

Asked about Gale Van Hoy's moronic 118-110 Diaz card, Juan had this to say:

"I didn't get to see the fight until this morning and obviously I don't agree with that score myself. I know it was a real close fight and I gave myself seven rounds and I gave Paulie five rounds. I watched the fight and I think that was more of the accurate score: Seven rounds to five."

As for the fight being in Houston:

"This is what I want to tell all the boxing people. They say I've been fighting here in Houston and Paul Malignaggi accepted the fight here in Houston. I wasn't the one that said, 'Let's fight in Houston.' I've been fighting here in Houston because Golden Boy Promotions wants to put the fights out here. I don't care where I fight, you know? It doesn't matter if I fight in Vegas, New York, New Jersey; it doesn't matter to me. I don't beg for the promotional company to bring the fights out here. They just happen to do it."

Diaz said post-fight with Max Kellerman that he wants a rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez. Personally, I know it was a great, great fight, but that was a pretty conclusive finish and I simply think there are better and bigger fights out there for the 36-year old Marquez, but sure, I'd love to see them go at it again.

However, another name is coming up now:

"My manager mentioned Ricky Hatton. When Max Kellerman was interviewing me and he was asking me who I wanted next, him and Oscar shouted into my ear, 'Ricky Hatton!' I said, 'Is he still fighting?' I don't even know if he's still fighting, but that's a name he threw at me. If that's the case, then so be it."

When both were still undefeated and Juan was ruling (unofficially) at 135 and Hatton was the king at 140, Hatton-Diaz was a fight I thought looked phenomenal on paper. In the last couple years, we've seen both of them lose two fights, and we've seen Hatton's punch resistance probably drop a bit, while Diaz has shown some problems handling adversity.

And I still think that's a really good fight that I'd gladly watch. I wouldn't pay to watch it as a headliner, but I'd like to see where Ricky's at against an opponent that isn't Mayweather or Manny, but is sure as hell better than Juan Lazcano or the Paulie Malignaggi that showed up last November to fight Ricky in Vegas. Diaz isn't truly elite, cream of the crop, but he's a very good fighter and has a style that would test Hatton's resolve and see what he has left in the tank. I say bring that one on.