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Photo © German Villasenor
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Main Event - WBA lightweight champion Juan Diaz versus Billy Irwin
Houston native and undefeated WBA lightweight champion Juan Diaz, 26-0 (12), will light up the Texas skies January 21st in his hometown when he defends his title against old schooled fight veteran Billy Irwin, 42-5 (30), at the Houston Texans Reliant Stadium. After compiling an amateur record of 105-5 and many amateur titles, Diaz stepped into the professional ranks in June of 2000 and knocked out his opponent in round one and has gone on to do the same to five victims since then. The fast brash boxer stepped in the ring with Lakva Sim in July of 2004 for the WBA lightweight title and for twelve rounds handed out an L to his opponent and strapped on the WBA belt, making Diaz the youngest champion in the world of boxing at twenty years of age. Diaz will be stepping in the ring with savvy fight veteran Irwin and will defend his title for the second time. The hard-hitting Canadian isn’t a push over and is coming off of six straight victories by the way of knockout. This should prove to be a good match-up and test for the youngster and will hopefully pave the way for future match-ups against the likes of Castillo (WBC) Corrales (WBO and Julio Diaz (IBF).
Co-feature - Calvin Brock versus Clifford Etienne (Heavyweights, ten rounds)
With the heavyweight division wide open, hard-hitting undefeated heavyweight Calvin Brock, 23-0 (19), looks to capitalize on the situation when he faces Clifford ‘The Black Rhino’ Etienne, 29-2-2 (20), in the co-feature bout of the night. Brock had an exceptional career as an amateur battling out a 147-38 record. After turning pro in 2001 the ’Boxing Banker’ has banged out wins over Jim Strohl (1st round TKO), Terry Smith (UD 10) and recently a win over Wesley Martin (2nd round KO), who was also beat by Etienne in 1999 (6th round TKO) The 2000 US Olympian looks to make his mark on the division while Etienne tries to get back up the ladder and either way a win for either fighter will certainly help out the victor to get a crack at the top ten.
The Entire Card
Fight Night will be featured on ESPN and is presented by Main Events and the card will also feature some of the brightest young stars in the Houston area.
Jose Diaz, 5-0 (2), featherweight and younger brother if Juan Diaz
Benjamin Flores, 7-0 (2), junior lightweight
Akondayne Fountain, 3-0 (1), middleweight
Chris Tamayo (pro debut) featherweight
Lucy Contreras, 1-0, junior featherweight
Jesus Rodarte (pro debut) lightweight
Raul Martinez, 5-0 (4), bantamweight
Stay tuned for a ringside report and post-fight interviews.
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© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2005
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By "Big Dog" Benny Henderson Jr. (January 19, 2005)
