Photos by Chris Cozzone
In the first bout of the PPV telecast, former title challenger Antonio Diaz (46-5-1, 29 KOs) banged out a steady workmanlike unanimous decision over late sub Javier Castro (19-2, 17 KOs). Originally slated to face off against two-time lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo, Diaz had instead to battle the hard-hitting, less-experienced Castro.
The first round was one of study between Diaz and Castro although the Ciudad Juarez native was able to land a nice left hook to the body, fallowed with an overhand right. Near the end of the round, Diaz had his payback with a right hand that seemed to stun Castro but “Zorro” answered right back with his own solid left hook to the chin that wobbled the former world title challenger. The pace slowed in the second and third round as both fighters tried to land power punches but to no avail. Midway thru the third, Diaz landed a quick combination of straight punches to the face of Castro. Soon after, Castro connected with a low blow which prompted Diaz to take a minute rest.
It became apparent by the fourth round that one of the fighters had to take the initiative and turn the sparring session into a fight. With a minute in, Diaz landed a straight right hand counter that got the attention of the once defeated Castro. Castro began to inch forward trying to go to the body but missing his mark and landing a low blow which Diaz complained about. In the fifth, things began to get ugly for Castro. As both fighters began to fight more on the inside landing their own series of uppercuts, Diaz’s experienced rose to the surface as he coupled his punches with with a looping left hook that began to find its mark more consistently. Slowly but surely, the tide seemed to turn for Diaz.
Castro began the sixth round landing a sequence left/right hand combinations that found their mark upon the face of Diaz. Diaz was not deterred as he continued his attack on the body of Castro, landing hard uppercuts with either fist and his trusted weapon of choice, the left hook to the jaw.
Diaz began to throw and land more punches in the seventh seemingly slowing down and tearing down Castro with a constant body attack of power punches. Castro had his moments with straight right counter punches and his own set of left hooks but the less experienced began to show worry on his face.
More of the same in the eighth as it became apparent that Diaz’s overwhelming ring experience over Castro was the
difference in the bout. Castro continued to connect his own set of power punches to the body to slow down Diaz but his aim was off as he hit his opponent once again with a low blow, this time prompting referee Juan Morales Lee to deduct a point.
The tenth was a rough and tumble one as Castro behind on the card, made a final push to land something meaningful to stop Diaz. Near the end of the round, it seemed as Castro might of been on the same track but simply run out of time as he was able to finish the round with a flurry of punches.
Judge Jose Cobian saw it 95-94 while Juan Carlos Pelayo and Jose de la Mora saw it 96-93.
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