Former Pacquiao foe David Diaz suffers d?j? vu brutal KO loss
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 20 Aug 2011
Hammond, Indiana - David Diaz credits his return to the ring tonight to his wife Tonya who encouraged him to try the sport he once excelled at. Seven months after his UD win victory in his hometown of Chicago, Diaz is once again back in the spotlight as he opens ESPN's Friday Night Fights season finale at the Horseshoe Casino in nearby Hammond, Indiana. It seems though that he should have also listened to his body a little bit longer. Diaz bloodied and battered went down with a single shot to the chin in a gallant stand against a top prospect in Henry "Hank" Lundy, 20-1-1 (10 KOs) against a top prospect Hank Lundy, 20-1-1 (10 KOs).
Lundy started the fight sharp and precise as he found his range early with his jabs against the pressing former lightweight champion in Diaz. He counterpunched successfully as Diaz brought the fight to Lundy by being the busier fighter from the opening bell. Diaz's perseverance paid off in the 4th as he caught Lundy with a series of big right hooks that floored the NABF lightweight titlist. He caught Lundy with a couple more shots after Lundy got up from the knockdown but the Philadelphia native weathered the storm and survived what could have been another upset in this upset filled season of Friday Night Fights. He also scored a left that produced a nasty cut in Diaz's right eye in the closing seconds of the round. The cut has clearly impaired Diaz's vision and chances in the fight as he bled profusely from every punch that Lundy lands. He was looked at by the ringside physician at the behest of the referee. Diaz convinced the doctor and referee Gerald Scott that he can continue to fight and was given the round to prove it. He did prove it by boldly attacking Lundy as they figure in heated exchanges to end the round. He was cheered loudly by the crowd who is favoring the underdog from neighboring Chicago as he put up a gutsy performance while being bathed in his own blood.
That gritty showing proved to be his last as he got drilled by a straight left in the opening seconds of the 6th round from Lundy. He fell flat on his back, reminiscent of his knockout loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2008. Referee Scott waved the fight off as Diaz laid motionless in the canvass. The official time was 0:37 of the 6th round. With the win, Lundy scored his 21st win against a named boxer and a former titleholder in Diaz. He also retained his version of the lightweight belt of the NABF and might possibly find his opportunity fight for a world title after this impressive win. For Diaz, the thoughts of retirement might make its way to his mind yet again as he sits in a stool in the ER of a local hospital in Indiana as he gets his cut treated and stitched up. He turned down a sizable offer to fight Juan Manuel Marquez last month in Mexico in what is supposed to be Marquez's tune up fight before his November 12 fight with Paccquiao. Diaz apparently demanded more money for the fight which Marquez refused. Tonight, he ended up making less money in a brutal loss to a prospect looking to score a win on his expense. Maybe next time the old warrior gets encouraged to fight yet again by his wife or somebody else's, he should give it a long hard thought as knockouts like this can become detrimental to his health and wellbeing.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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