Joseph Diaz (31-1-1, 15 KOs) steps up to fight Javier Fortuna (36-2-1, 25 KOs) at 135 pounds after Ryan Garcia had to pull out of the bout due to mental health issues.
The fight, which serves as the co-main event on the Zurdo vs. Barrera card will take place at the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles on July 9th.
South El Monte’s Diaz last fought in February against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in which he lost his IBF junior lightweight title for not making weight and endured a majority-decision draw. The failure of making weight carries an undesirable image in the sport and at times it can unfairly overshadow the abilities of a fighter who misses weight. Despite not looking his best against Rakhimov, Daiz is still a solid fighter with strength and skillful combinations on his side. However, to emerge successful from his fight with Fortuna, Diaz will need to let his talents flow and ensure that his Olympic-level skills are on full display. Fortuna, who is ranked by The Ring at no.6 at 135, is a tough and gritty fighter who has beaten noteworthy opponents like Bryan Vazquez and Jesus Cellular. He’s a bit of an awkward fighter, which makes him dangerous, and is comfortable with applying pressure and working on the inside.
