That amount shocked him, considering $5,000 was the most he'd been paid until then. When Mucio fights and Acosta watches, he feels the same. Diaz throws up his frustrated hands. On Mercito Gesta/Joel Diaz Jr. undercard, Coachella boxer puts on show The sudden result stunned the audience. Step it up Vergil, he shouts to one of the fighters Vergil Ortiz Jr., a welterweight from Dallas, Texas. "I'm your dad. JoJo Diaz's boxing approach altered by becoming a dad - The Desert Sun Boxing trainer Joel Diaz is building his own gym in Indio after 18 years at Indio Boys & Girls Club Andrew L. John Palm Springs Desert Sun 0:00 0:24 Until last year, Joel Diaz hadn't. Questions ahead of Paul vs. Diaz: Can Diaz box? Thats what Im doing.. "You're going to lose your eye," the doctor warned. Cracks that looked like spider webs, spread across the cold floor in a place just big enough for a couple of heavy bags and a boxing ring where firetrucks once parked. Trainer Joel Diaz says his work with new charge Avni Yildirim will shock the world when he takes on WBC/WBA super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens in Florida on Saturday February 27, live worldwide on DAZN (except Mexico). Stars like Argentinas Lucas Matthysse to UFCs Cub Swanson have walked through the doors of the gym that is run like the United States Marine Corps recruiting depot. That's how state Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia describes the contrasts within Coachella Valley, part of the district he represents. "It's a small, surface level cut.". We knew that he came like from nothing, no connections, no money, and then after that he had troubles and it wasnt like easy at all for him, says Jorge Newman. But thats boxing. Theyve built relationships with several youth boxers whose dads are either plumbers, painters or work with concrete and have offered their services. "No, it's OK," Gracia says, trying to keep the doctor away. The festival is part of the valley's annual $7.5 billion tourist industry that attracts more than 13 million people a year. When he got up, he had no idea where he was but his corner worked furiously to get him ready for the final round. 232: Fundora Mendoza and More on a Deep Saturday of Boxing, Why Tapales vs Akhmadaliev Promises Fireworks This Saturday, Tank Davis Stops Ryan Garcia with a Near-Invisible but Lethal Body Shot, Literary Notes: Last on His Feet: Jack Johnson and the Battle of the Century, Brian Mendoza KOs Sebastian Fundora in a Shocker. He stands, sometimes with his hands on the top rope and other times holding them behind his back. The curtains part and the crowd chants Acosta's name. These are the fights away from the bright side of boxing; the big events with big money that attracts people from all over the country. Diaz, 48, said he plansto open the gym up to the community for a grand opening in September. "These guys" were the coyote and his family -- his wife, mother and kids -- who drove them for over a day from their rancho in the mountains of Michoacan, Mexico to an unincorporated part of eastern Coachella Valley. They also want to provide school supplies for less-fortunate families at the start of the school year and turkeys at Thanksgiving. He shouts some instructions in Spanish to the youthful father of an infant just recently born who is being held by the mother. IBA upset by 'rogue' boxing group as U.S. quits, Sources: Anderson-Kossobutskiy to meet July 1. Coles agency is purportedly in the top two nationally in writing these policies. The two met in 2018, at a boxing convention in Panama. "They'll spend weeks and months here and a lot of money, which is good for our economy and our communities. Although Mattice vs. Hamazaryan was a supporting bout, it aired live on ShoBox. How a gym in California's Coachella Valley became an international destination for boxing. For three days on consecutive weekends, some of the biggest names in music perform in the country's largest festival. Andrew John is a reporterfor The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Back at home in Dallas there are too many distractions. During the fight, Salido made a mockery of the Queensberry rules for which he received no point deductions and only one warning. Needing a space to traintheir boxers, including professionals and young amateurs, Joel and Antonio moved their operation to KBX Fitness, the North Indio gym of UFC featherweight Cub Swanson and his brother, Steve, also a mixed martial artist. There's a lump on the back of the right side of his head. IF YOU'VE HEARD of Coachella Valley -- that place 45 miles long and 15 miles wide, surrounded by the San Jacinto, Santa Rosa and Little San Bernardino Mountains -- chances are it's because of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the yearly music and arts exhibition held every April. He asks if he must go. The gym is clattering with noise from the various boxers working in the different stations. The boxer, a 2016 Olympic silver medalist from Uzbekistan named Bektemir Melikuziev -- everyone calls him Bek The Bully -- nods. The elder Cole, now 87 years old, served 21 years as head of the Texas Department of Combat Sports Regulation before stepping down on April 30, 2014. All he had to do was hang in there and the title would change hands on points. Whether he makes it into the Hall will depend on how much a No Mas can count against one, but he warrants serious consideration when he becomes eligible. Indio Councilman Glenn Miller volunteered his help. Everyone here has. This energy, this level of commitment, is also one of the things that draws fighters to Indio. Mexican migration increased. To comment on this article at The Fight Forum, CLICK HERE. ref: Rudy Battle Alfred Buqwana 110 . Hes poured his blood sweat and tears, he says, into the project knowing that he was on a deadline. Another offered to pay for all the new matting going on top of the concrete floors. If you enjoy honest and heartfelt talk about life and boxing then read on, you won't be disappointed. It was a high-crime area, known for drugs and prostitution. Its slowly made the transition from training strictly local boxers to international mega stars in this past decade. Across the street from that mural, there's an old fire station on the corner of 6th Street and Vine Avenue. As a World Class Trainer, I know by now what it takes to not only be a World Champion, but to be one of the Greats in the sport of Boxing. With the boys gathered around me, I want to find out what they admire most about their trainer and pro fighter. One of those guys is Bek The Bully, who'll rematch against Gabe Rosado on April 22. And if all that weren't enough, there's always someone calling his phone. Too fought too, even though he wanted to go to college, but that wasn't financially possible. Joel Diaz Jr. - Boxing News event bout wiki. But Cole insisted that the match continue and then, after another knockdown that he ruled a slip, let it continue for another 35 seconds before Velascos corner mercifully threw in the towel. No loss is good, but Diaz says he's learned from it. Now its Gassiev versus Usyk and four world titles are at stake. Hes still working to complete the entryway and his office inside the gym, off Indio Boulevard, but the rest of the 6,250-square foot space has been transformed from a gutted building to a gym that will soon host current and future world champions. Other fighters like Argentinas Matthysse have arrived too and will be living and training in the remote desert gym. Antonio Diaz, the younger brother of Joel, works well with the fighters and their combined knowledge gives them insight not often found in many gyms. Theres no wasting time. "If Arely knew about this, she'd drop you with a punch to the liver," Diaz tells Gracia. We dont have any women for her to spar so she spars with the men.. But Diaz said he couldnt be more excited about eventually having a training facility of his own, after 18 years of training boxers, including several world champions, at the Indio Boys & Girls Club. To them this was a Mega-Fight; this was BIG. Indio District Office. Joel Diaz will be in the opposite corner as his friend Randy Caballero Freitas had won a TKO victory in round 12, amazing!!!!. Two months ago Munguia put on a frightening display of raw power in knocking down then WBO super welterweight titlist Sadam Ali numerous times in front of New York fans. To be fair, Bennett has seen many fighters in the past with undefeated records who were not up to challenges, especially against the likes of Golovkin. Joel Diaz Boxing | Indio CA. On Saturday, June 18th, NBC Palm Springs had an exclusive first look at a documentary on the life of local boxing trainer, Joel Diaz. The crowd was divided between Brazilian fans and those from Argentina. The small cut on his right palm has long ago stopped bleeding, but that's the last thing on anyone's mind. Joel Diaz Boxing Academy, Monroe St, Indio, CA, Health Clubs & Gyms His chief second bullied him into coming out for another round. Andrew John covers sports for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. What time is the Joel Diaz Jr vs. Mercito Gesta fight tonight Another boxer training with them, world super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev, will defend his two titles in March. "Was a bad area.". Divisional rankings: Where do Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia land after their megafight? "What's going on?" Hes almost there, said Joel Diaz. She has to do the same work as the guys. It's one of the desert's last major tourist events before the population plummets in the summer. The fourth brother in the Daz dynasty, Jesus,. 2,235 Followers, 54 Following, 49 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Diaz Brothers (@thediaztrainingcamp) "Things happened for a reason," he says. Freitas went down early from a straight right. Joel Diaz fought for the IBF world title against South Africas Phillip Holiday in 1996 and lost by decision. "When I got here, I started sparring with men," she says. The last time Pacquiao knocked out a welterweight was in 2009 against Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas. He won. Since Bazooka won his fight, Diaz is happy. "You got to come in like this," he says, as he moves side to side while throwing punches. "Tijuana, linda frontera, cmo te podr olvidar," (or in English, "Tijuana, beautiful border how can I forget you?") The gym is located in California's Coachella Valley, in the desert town of Indio, roughly 120 miles away from Los Angeles. INDIO - When Joel Diaz Jr., returns to the ring for the first time in seven years, he said he hopes to have his world-class trainer and father in his corner at the Desert Showdown, which. Wherever it is, they'll rest and enjoy the things they've denied themselves for months. Welcome to the world of Mexicos Jaime Munguia (29-0, 25 KOs) the WBO super welterweight world titlist who meets Englands Liam Smith (26-1-1, 14 KOs) at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 21. Thank you head trainer Joel Diaz of the Indio, Ca.. 29 views, 2 likes, 0 loves, 1 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Chiropractor Indio, Ca. He's 32 years old and wants to be a world champion again. In January 2010 he was involved in a hit and runaccident in which a 20-year-old pregnant woman was killed. It was Mosleys first defense after taking the title from Oscar De La Hoya and was held in New York City. Last May, Bivol beat Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, a boxer many considered the best in the world. As was his career overall, maybe not well enough where he could quit his construction job, but things were getting better. ET. And in the cruel world of boxing, as he sits there and his team stands near, they can hear the voice of the man who just beat them. We are excited and honored to have coach Joel Diaz join us to teach a boxing class next Wednesday November 20th at 6pm at KBX Fitness Indio. Hed sit, often by himself, in the early stages of the project drawing designs from his ideas for the space. I want to make history.. Diaz surrenders to New Orleans police after brawl, Paul launches series for up-and-coming boxers, Ramirez to defend WBO title vs. Shimizu in July. "The doctor says if you want to go to the hospital, they can take you," a member of the team translates for Acosta. Barrios wanted to turn the fight into a street fight and was reasonably successful with that strategy. Bennett claimed that the slender Mexican fighter had not proven worthy of contesting for the championship though the tall Mexican wielded an undefeated record of 28 wins with 24 coming by knockout. Other talents have learned from Joel's assertive style of fighting. Heavy bags, speed bags, weights, chin-up bars and two boxing rings are all used simultaneously by the different boxers. Located about 24 miles southwest of Indio, Palm Springs is still home to many celebrities. It will mean a lot to Joel to finally have a place of his own, though. Later, Freitas tarnished his image with a No Mas against Diego Corrales, but he had gone down three times and knew there was no way out. You will not want to miss this class. The Brazilian boxing hero retired in 2007, but came back in 2012 and schooled and KOd the cocky Michael The Brazilian Rocky Oliveira. As he explains it now, a few months after that experience, Joel walked into the boxing gym in downtown Coachella. Its isolation eliminates distractions. Kids come after school to hit the bag and spar, too. Joel Diaz hosts a pre-screening of his documentary at his boxing gym in Indio, CA. The Diaz coaching staff suddenly became world famous too and their gym began filling up with more boxers from not just the Coachella Valley region but from other parts of the country as well. The gym is located in California's. Gracia asks him in Spanish. he shouts at no one and everyone at once. All he had to do was win and he'd fight for a world title. "Put him in the oven and slowly cook him, and when he's done, take him out.". "Let me go grab my gun," he says, "I'll shoot that thing off.". "This is where I work," the father told his sons. He's talking about where his gym is, on the eastern side of the Coachella Valley. The documentary is titled Joel Diaz: A Hard Knock-Life and was directed by Jorge Newman and Eduardo Salazar of Newman Studios. After10 years, its now paid off, Diaz said. On top of supporting his longtime friend, Congressman Ruiz awarded Coach Diaz a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for all the work he has done providing underprivileged kids in the valley with an outlet like boxing. Until he finds out Acosta's bleeding. Until last year, Joel Diaz hadnt given much thought to building his own boxing gym. Everything happens for a reason.. Bradley won world titles as a super lightweight and welterweight and ultimately became one of the best pound-for-pound prizefighters in the world. He's on the main ring, next to the banner with his logo on it, a gamecock wearing boxing gloves, circled by the gym's name: Joel Diaz Training Camp. To save money, so they could buy a house back home on the other side of the border. It was panic time in the Barrios corner, as the blood continued to flow like lava, and he was bleeding from his ear (due to a ruptured ear drum). "Mr. Diaz," the doctor said, "you can't fight anymore." Mercito Gesta vs Joel Diaz Jr Full Fight Replay | Boxing Video As the fists and shoulders of fighters brush by him, it looks as if their violence might spill over. EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: Joel Diaz: A Hard Knock-Life Documentary by Newman Studios. He purchased the building as an investment property about 10 years ago. You are overpowered. After seeing those fields, the man drove them home where the Diaz brothers met their mother, sister and another brother. "One minute!" Barrios got up at the count of 4, he didnt know where he was as he looked around towards the crowd like a kid separated from his family at a theme park, but Barrios turned to the ref at the count of 8 and signaled that he was okay, SAVED BY THE BELL. Sometimes things happen for a reason, Diaz said on a weekday in early January, inside a gutted 6,250-square-foot building on Indio Blvd. Hes just waiting for his time.. That, along with intelligence, is how he trains everyone here to fight. What happens when a boxer kills his opponent? When the anger got too much, he'd drive to the mountains, as if trying to find answers. Box-am Box-pro . Diaz Brothers (@thediaztrainingcamp) Instagram photos and videos It's like a light switch flipped. Professional boxing trainer Joel Diaz has recently opened his boxing gym in Indio, Calif., on July 23, 2021. desertsun.com Photos: Indio boxing gym of world-renown trainer Joel Diaz nearing completion Joel Diaz Jr. is the son of top trainer Joel Diaz Sr. and although his father doesn't work his corner he still carries the family name when he enters the ring. Joel Diaz "I told him when he came to the gym [last week], 'The problem is not you. And so, it's back to yelling commands and instructions. But by the time he got to high school, he'd won 55 of his next 57 fights along with two national titles and knew exactly what he was born to do. Diaz, 47, said he expects the new gym to open in March. He was hurt, and at this point it looked like it might be over. The documentary will be available very soon on a streaming platform, no date for release has been specified at this time. Looking for something to do in a desert where it's easy to get lost. I appreciate what people are doing. They both scored the fight 76-75 for Mattice, enabling the Ohio fighter to keep his undefeated record intact via a split decision. The inference was that Marquez was free to quit right then without tarnishing his record. Even more ironic was that two Inland Empire fighters were forced to fight 2,000 miles away instead of in California. Beginning in 1999, it has showcased acts as diverse as Guns N' Roses, Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar. For the curiosity of the media and the fans, someone should come forward with proof of testing. Now we have water, we have power. His promoter told him he'd soon fight for millions but that didn't happen. Contreras and Sinnett, residents of Omaha, were singled out for their scorecards in the match between lightweights Thomas Mattice and Zhora Hamazaryan, an eight round contest staged at the WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa on July 20. Despite having diminished vision, he sees everything, his single functioning eye darting in every direction. "Joel, do you have adrenaline?" Not far from an abandoned gas station with a fading sign for cold beer and cheap motels with pools that've been filled in with sand and covered. A well-known figure in the Coachella Valley, many have approached Diaz and asked how they can help. he sings. He would fight one more time before retiring as a fighter and continuing as a trainer. And right now, Diaz is sitting behind the ring's red corner, giving instructions to Leonardo Sanchez, a young southpaw, also from the Coachella Valley, who everyone calls Bazooka. Joel and Antonio began telling people about the project and many began offering to help for free. Theres nothing to do but focus on boxing, said Ortiz Sr. whose family is based in Dallas, Texas. "Vamos Tito!" Wondering why he'd need the bottle of adrenaline now, Diaz answers with a confused look. The bout was televised live on ESPN. Sincetheir typically rigorous training schedule has been a little slower over the last year because of how the pandemic has reduced the number of fights in the sport, the Diaz brothers have had time to spend preparing the new gym, doing much of the work themselves. Photos: Boxing trainer Joel Daz to open new gym in Indio Skip to main content Home. They'll come and leave along with the part-time residents that make this place their part-time home. He fought because he saw it as his path to escape from the desert where the harsh realities of life operate at high decibels. The anonymous architect of In Boxing We Trust, a web site that went dormant in 2010, wrote this description: Near the end of round 11, about a milli-second before the bell rang, Freitas landed a ROCK HARD right hand shot flush on Barrios chin. Get a head start on the mornings top stories. While hes had some help, Diaz has done the majority of the work himself. While Diaz was reluctant to accept any offers, many have insisted. There also will be an area for weight machines and a space at the front desk to purchase merchandiseof the world-famous boxers who train at the gym, including unified super bantamweight champion Murodjon MJ Akhmadaliev, Olympic welterweight silver medalist Shakhram Giyasov, Olympic flyweight gold medalist Hasanboy Dusmatov and Olympic middleweight silver medalist Bektemir Melikuziev. The building, which boasts 10-foot ceilings, is around three timesthe space the Diaz brothers had at the Boys & Girls Club. And it sometimes translates to the actual, literal fight that is presented to us when we grow up in places like Coachella.". Barrios stood dazed for a moment, frozen in time, and then down he went, WOW WOW WOW!!!! The Coachella Valley has long been an area where the center inflatable garden slide of activity is Palm Springs. But at the end of round seven he was a thoroughly beaten fighter.. And, like Manny, he did and he also pursued a career in politics. He served 27 months and never fought again, retiring with a record of 50-4-1. And though the festival is on the east side, about four miles from Joel's gym, most of the tourists will stay on the west side of Coachella Valley. "Tengo que ir?" JoJo Diaz, an Olympian from the Los Angeles suburb of South El Monte, beat Tevin Farmer last February to secure the International Boxing Federation's super featherweight title in Miami. The documentary is co-produced by Joel Diaz, his son, Joel Diaz Jr., along with former UFC fighter & Coachella Valley native, Cub Swanson and his brother, Steve Swanson. Diaz, 48, said he plans to open the gym up to the community for a grand opening in September. That his young boxer was able to have the kind of homecoming fight that he. It hangs near the old newspapers next to photos of some of the fighters who have visited the gym. The brothers have been training boxers over the last eight months at the Indio gym of longtime friend Cub Swanson, a UFC featherweight. A member of Ring 10, and Ring 4s Boxing Hall of Fame, he was recently cited by Hannibal Boxing as one of three Must-Read boxing writers. Photos: Indio boxing gym of world-renown trainer Joel Diaz nearing Since they understood the discipline and sacrifices required to make a living from fighting, they became fast friends. He tells a boxer what he wants by showing it with his own body, moving his legs as if he's evading punches. where the gym will be located. 81719 Doctor Carreon Blvd. He lost his first four amateur fights. Diaz comes from the Palmdale, California area and will be the hometown favorite over the Filipino Mercito Gesta who is based out of San Diego, California. Russian boxer. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com. It's this story of survival that explains why people in Coachella Valley's east side are drawn to him. In the nearly two years that followed, Diaz walked through nihilism's dark desert as a man angry at God. So, this is my land, my property. DAZN will show Joel Diaz Jr. vs Mercito Gesta tonight exclusively around the world.. The idea that it was easier to show the separation of Mexican farmworkers, than to explain it, was something that'd been happening for decades. COVID-19: Antonio Diaz's Indio boxing club moves outdoors to California More. With nothing else to do, Diaz stops singing and helps Flores warm up.