As Marquez was being examined by the ring doctor, Cole informed Marquez that he was ahead on the scorecards, volunteering this information while holding his hand over his HBO wireless mike. Every day and every year, he'd turned so many spigots that his palm blistered then calloused. Boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Did Gervonta Davis make the top 10? He'd just gotten paid $20,000, the most he ever made boxing. The goal for many was always to work here, for a season or two, maybe longer, then return. We begin with Joel's enforced retirement and the ups and downs that followed, before looking at his experiences as a trainer, taking us up to his current bunch of fighters. It's Friday and that means it's sparring day for his pros. When he got up, he had no idea where he was but his corner worked furiously to get him ready for the final round. A lot of people want to help, Diaz said. Fifty years ago here, around the time when a farmworker's average life expectancy was 49 years old, the Coachella Grape Strike's picket lines turned violent. The man hugged them tight then picked them up. 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. You are overpowered. : Thank you head trainer Joel Diaz of the Indio, Ca. After seeing those fields, the man drove them home where the Diaz brothers met their mother, sister and another brother. 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. When Mucio fights and Acosta watches, he feels the same. Palmdale's Joel Diaz, Jr. (26-2, 22 KOs) and San Diego's Mercito "No Mercy" Gesta (32-3-3, 17 KOs) hosted a media workout today ahead of their 10-round lightweight fight on Thursday, April . Work!" Hes so happy.. Boxers walk around trying to catch a breath and get a drink for their burning throat. "We're waiting for the doctor.". Antonio Diaz works with Vergil Ortiz Jr. inside one of the boxing rings on movement and punching accuracy. One of the more crowded gyms, Indio Boys and Girls Club, has blossomed into a powerhouse. Gracia asks him in Spanish. "This is a bad area." Celebrities such as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and William Powell had homes here. 2,187 likes. The area has some of the most prestigious golf courses in the world. The demand for labor followed. Joel Diaz "I told him when he came to the gym [last week], 'The problem is not you. ACOSTA LOST. With nothing else to do, Diaz stops singing and helps Flores warm up. Joel Diaz said that he is working with his attorney to make the gym a non-profit that will be open to the community and offer programs for kids to provide activities, fitnessand self-defense training. Mucio comes into the locker room to say a prayer and Diaz gives him some last-minute advice. Monday Morning Cornermen (Nov. 6 edition), The Hauser Report: Wilder-Stiverne and More from Barclays Center, In an unprecedented development, the Boxing Writers Association of America has started a watch list to lift the curtain on ring officials who have screwed up. Veteran Texas referee Laurence Cole and Nebraska judges Mike Contreras and Jeff Sinnett have the unwelcome distinction of being the first honorees., Boxing is a sport where judges and referees are rarely held accountable for poor performances that unfairly change the course of a fighters career and, in some instances, endanger lives, says the BWAA in a preamble to the new feature. From noon until past midnight, they'll listen to emerging artists and superstars alike. "Was a bad area.". He admitted to being in the middle of a whirlwind that is spinning beyond his expectations. The Diaz brothers want to use the building for more than just boxing. He tells a boxer what he wants by showing it with his own body, moving his legs as if he's evading punches. It's a stepping stone to potential greatness in the profession. Mucio walks beside him. In boxing and in life, it is always better to give than to receive. That side is where most of the Coachella Valley's tourist industry is centered. Maybe that would help show how much they sacrificed. He trains about 20 professional boxers, and with three of them fighting the next day, tomorrow will be busy. I can imagine what its going to look like when were done.. Im going to keep that table here forever.. In a fight he'd been dominating, Bek dropped his guard for a literal second and suffered a sudden and violent knockout. The building boasts 10-foot ceilings and the design for the space is expansive. 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. "No, you don't have to go," the man tells him, "Only if you want to." 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. Laurence Cole (pictured alongside his father) was singled out for his behavior as the third man in the ring for the fight between Regis Prograis and Juan Jose Velasco at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans on July 14. "Rosado, Rosado," other boxers tell him. Other talents have learned from Joel's assertive style of fighting. As the water supply diminishes, some of those golf courses consume up to a million gallons a day. He's showing fighters how to pivot their feet to maximize their leverage. The Swanson brothers were trained by Diaz Training Camp and make several cameos in the documentary. Decades ago, when this part of Coachella, the city -- right next to Indio -- looked abandoned, the building housed a crumbling boxing gym. Maybe a thousand other things and it would've been different. 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. Nothing escapes Joel Diaz who occasionally glances around the gym and notices Diego De La Hoya, the younger cousin of boxing great Oscar De La Hoya. This was a roughhousing 39-1-1 Argentinian fighting an equally tough 33-0 Brazilian. He said he thinks about that often when hes pushing a broom and putting work into the gym that before last year he never really thought about building. There were so many fighters, in 1996, the city built Espinoza a 9,000 square foot gym and named it after him. The thermostat says the gym is 75 degrees, but it feels hotter. Waiting for his time just like a scorpion in the desert heat. Hes just waiting for his time.. Everyone else, including Mucio -- whose voice is hoarse from yelling throughout the fight -- stands around, trying to process the loss. But also, you can see up close what devotion looks like and learn how to overcome obstacles that would break less hearty souls. 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 doctor says if you want to go to the hospital, they can take you," a member of the team translates for Acosta. . The type of place that looks as if the things happening there are kept secret. Inside the Special Events Center's dressing room, in the Fantasy Springs Casino Resort, a boxer is bleeding. Acosta laughs along. They aren't sure yet whether they'll go to Mexico or Puerto Rico first. What happens when a boxer kills his opponent? The wild swinging Hyena literally turned into one as he attacked from the beginning and did not let up until the last second of the eleventh round. 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. But those that remain like the focus on boxing and the solitude. 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. "It's just a nick.". When Joel built his gym, Flores' father, a carpenter, did the framing. At the screening, coach Diaz was enjoying the moment with his friends and family. Joel worked in construction for years before he became a trainer, and they have a contractor who has helped. 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. How good will the promotion be? The fourth brother in the Daz dynasty, Jesus,. Palm Springs Desert Sun Subscription Discount | Subscriber Services, Olympics more important than major titles for some women golfers, Strong and silly, Sarah Robles of Desert Hot Springs, is off to Tokyo, hoping to lift her way to another medal, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. More have arrived recently including the first female prizefighter to step in the gym full time in middleweight contender Maricela Cornejo. The crowd was divided between Brazilian fans and those from Argentina. "I'm going to call the doctor," says Larry Ervin, an inspector with the California State Athletic Commission. Recently former WBC super featherweight champion Francisco El Bandido Vargas has become part of the team and is preparing for a showdown against Englands Stephen Smith at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Dec. 9. Too says at that point, in his early teens, he just wasn't dedicated enough. Too knew about the problem because he'd been Joel's sparring partner and saw how his brother couldn't see the left hook. More. Also planned is an area for boxing memorabilia from the history of the Coachella Valley and the boxers whove trained and lived here. DAZN will show Joel Diaz Jr. vs Mercito Gesta tonight exclusively around the world.. A post shared by Jorge Newman (@jorgenewman13). He asks if he must go. Share. We had been there 18 years, JoelDiaz said. More than anything, he looks relieved. Located about 24 miles southwest of Indio, Palm Springs is still home to many celebrities. In two rings beside each other, there are two fights going on at the same time. Its helped everything come together.. Jorge Newman and Eduardo Salazar are from Cancun, Mexico, and first met Diaz while he was training a boxer for a fight in Mexico. The gym is located in California's Coachella Valley, in the desert town of Indio, roughly 120 miles away from Los Angeles. All he had to do was hang in there and the title would change hands on points. "You should tell someone," Too told Joel. 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. Diaz said that he's rarely seen a boxer who works as hard as Flores, who is as dedicated to the gym and to the sport. And because boxing is everywhere here, he still follows it, especially when there are ties to this place. Social media influencers will be there too, charging thousands of dollars for a single post. He won. While hes had some help, Diaz has done the majority of the work himself. Since Bazooka won his fight, Diaz is happy. Diaz says, then immediately corrects himself. "No, it's OK," Gracia says, trying to keep the doctor away. 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 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. 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. Not all prizefighters can adapt to the remoteness and solitude and end up moving on to urban locations like Jessie Magdaleno did recently. He built his camp from the ground up, starting with a twice-burned-down building he bought ten years ago for $230,000 dollars. Diaz knows it was an accident. Everything that was originally in the building was taken out to the trash except for a table and chair that he kept as a reminder. event bout wiki. In the beginning of round 12, Freitas was able to score an early knockdown, and as Barrios stood up on wobbly legs and Freitas went straight at him and with a couple more shots, Barrios was clearly in bad shape and badly discombobulated and the fight was stopped. Once they learned about how Diaz built his life in America as a Mexican immigrant, they wanted to know more. Thirsty for liquid, the burning desert absorbed each drop of blood. where the gym will be located. They'll come and leave along with the part-time residents that make this place their part-time home. Led by the Diaz brothers Joel (in the white shorts) and Antonio, the roster of professional boxers can match any other gym in the world in terms of talent. At its worst, a yell of desperation. . In Joel Diaz gym Indio CA | esnews - YouTube 0:00 / 3:46 Future champ hits mitts fast but his nick name is "turtle"? At the screening, coach Diaz was enjoying the moment with his friends and family. As a couple, one of Mucino and Acosta's goals was to be world champions at the same time. Diaz, 48, said he plans to open the gym up to the community for a grand opening in September. Motivated because he'd discovered what he was good at, even if, when he first started, he'd come home with his shirt full of blood. World champions are not supposed get battered like that but when someone packs that kind of power those can be the terrifying results. He's sitting in a foldable metallic chair, getting his post-fight medical examination. Until then the Diaz boys had been raised by their grandparents. The other to keep track of his day. And because of that, this place also has a long history of farmworkers fighting for their rights. Claim this business. People want to know who I am, people wanna know how I got to where Im at, Its gonna be right there.. 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. The building, which boasts 10-foot ceilings, is around three timesthe space the Diaz brothers had at the Boys & Girls Club. That's what ultimately led him to politics, becoming Coachella's first elected mayor in 2006. Diaz, 48, said he plansto open the gym up to the community for a grand opening in September. Indio Joel Diaz Boxing Academy. a voice among the many in the dressing room yells. "Joel, do you have adrenaline?" It hangs near the old newspapers next to photos of some of the fighters who have visited the gym. There will, of course, be speed and heavy punching bags, treadmills, weight machines and free weights along withan area with a padded floor designated for wrestling, martial arts and other activities. Though Bradley had speed and agility and could easily fight 10 rounds without getting touched, he was being sculpted into a fan friendly action packed fighter. But not before a full day of training. We dont treat her any differently than we do the men, said Joel Diaz. This is going to be a popular place for boxers to come and have training camp and be a part of that.. It's where the snowbirds live in million-dollar homes and car dealerships sell Rolls-Royces and Lamborghinis that glisten in the sun. Vergil Ortiz Sr., the father of welterweight prospect Vergil Ortiz Jr., said he urged his son to choose Indio because of the desert location. Joel Diaz regularly shouts booming instructions to fighters across the lengthy gym. Maybe it was the cheat meal from a few weeks ago. Gracia just raises his eyebrows and gives the slight shrug of "I don't know.". 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. Velasco fought courageously and as well as he could, noted Hauser. A well-known figure in the Coachella Valley, many have approached Diaz and asked how they can help. event bout wiki. Hes put in so much work on that place, said Diazs adult son, Joel Diaz Jr. Now, when hes in that building, you can tell that hes at home. 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. Last year, the event drew 750,000 attendees. Last March, as the ongoing pandemic surged throughout the country, Diaz was told by Indio Boys & Girls Club administratorsthat hecould not continue to train professional boxers at thepublic facility that would remain closed for a fewmonths. Another donated an ice machine. Hes comfortable. He said that he expects the gym to live on long after he one day retires. Order Online. In this age of PEDs there was no mention of testing for the Pacquiao/Matthysse fight. On the western side, it's greener and bluer because of the golf courses, pools and artificial lakes. Bethany Mollenkof for ESPN. Around the turn of the 20th century, the Colorado River was diverted, and water flowed into what was barren desert. Whenever there was a big fight in the Lone Star State, his son was the favorite to draw the coveted refereeing assignment. Its isolation eliminates distractions. Diaz throws up his frustrated hands. In the second fight on the card, another one of his fighters, Grant Flores Jr., is warming up for his second career fight by stretching and jumping around. They would be his only defeats in 43 pro bouts. It's now a restaurant. As the fists and shoulders of fighters brush by him, it looks as if their violence might spill over. Luckily, a new smaller promotion company had just started in the Inland Empire called Thompson Boxing Promotions. "Vamos Tito!" Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio has grapefruit trees on its compound alongside the plush hotel swimming pool. That amount shocked him, considering $5,000 was the most he'd been paid until then. Until last year, Joel Diaz hadnt given much thought to building his own boxing gym. His job was irrigation. In his first bout, a promoter paid him $400 then filed for bankruptcy as soon as the fight ended. 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. The super lightweight fight will take place at the Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California. He hopes the facility, which he wants to name Indio Athletic & Youth Center, will one day be a part of his legacy in the valley. 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 will have bathrooms and locker rooms for men and women, a sauna, a private space for ice baths and two boxing rings. Directions Advertisement. A couple of significant fights took place last weekend, but Manny Pacquiaos knockout win over Lucas Matthysse for the WBO welterweight world title heads the list. So he made the best of it, and built a life with his wife and four kids. One entire section was filled by Russian supporters and Gassiev did not disappoint in winning by stoppage that night. Im going to put in the work. And I did.. "Things happened for a reason," he says. Between rounds, Diaz keeps teaching. JOEL DIAZ STANDS on the ring apron while there's chaos all around him. He was fan-friendly and idolized in Brazil. Representative Ruiz and Diaz grew up in the same neighborhood in Coachella and were only a couple of years apart at Coachella Valley High School. All he had to do was win and he'd fight for a world title. So this former champ moved it out to the desert, More: Riverside County reports 3,901 additional coronavirus cases, 53 new deaths Wednesday. Golden Boy Promotions, which has a business relationship with the Diaz brothers and many of the boxers who train with them, has offered help as well. 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). Hes enjoying everything right now, and he wants everyone who trains and visits there to have that same feeling.. "What's going on?" I've been here so long, and I sent these guys to pick you up.". Joel Diaz 18: 3: 0: 4 KOs 2 KOs; wiki. In the summer the heat hits like a smack in the face yet it doesnt stop the various gyms from filling up with eager wanna-be fighters. Hence the watch list, which is designed to call attention to egregious errors in scoring by judges and unacceptable conduct by referees.. I barely slept for a year while I was working on this, said Diaz, who has wonworld titleswith 13 differentboxers during his two decades as a trainer. He sits on the couch, his face is disfigured and bruised. As Gracia wraps Acosta's left hand, and Flores shadow boxes, Diaz returns to the dressing room. Diaz teamed up with Yildirim (21-2 12 KOs) late in October 2019 but due to . "One minute!" 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. Advertisement. There's a lump on the back of the right side of his head. In 1987, when the U.S. Supreme Court decided that neither the state of California nor Riverside County could dictate authority over the various American Indian tribes, it changed the landscape for good and brought professional boxing to the forefront. How Indio Boxing Trainer Joel Diaz Helped Dmitry Bivol Secure Victory over Canelo Alvarez. It was Mosleys first defense after taking the title from Oscar De La Hoya and was held in New York City. But it's just not the reality of the working families.". Joel Diaz worked for a while with Lee Espinoza at the Coachella Boxing Club before opening up his own gym. Were working on some changes and well see on December 9.. It's the sameness of a daily routine, made a bit easier by a few inside jokes at the gym. Barrios was like a madman pounding Popo with a variety of wild shots, but with exactly one half of one second to go before the bell ending the round, Freitas caught La Hiena with a monster right hand that caused the Hyena to do the South American version of the chicken dance before he went down with his face horribly bloodied. Its a small venue near East L.A. and the fight was attended by numerous boxing celebrities such as James Lights Out Toney, Mauricio El Maestro Herrera and Gennady GGG Golovkin. Whatever sense of peace they find, it comes from knowing they've done all they can to prepare. In the nearly two years that followed, Diaz walked through nihilism's dark desert as a man angry at God. Theres so many memories at the Boys & Girls Club, and I hope were all still a part of their annual things because I think what they do is great, Swanson said. 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. "The Diaz brothers know what it takes to have a wonderful gym," said Brandun Lee, an unbeaten super lightweight (22-0) contender who has trained at the building. The best known is Dmitry Bivol. Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel. This used to be a junkyard. Professional boxing trainer Joel Diaz has recently opened his boxing gym in Indio, Calif., on July 23, 2021. Cole was the third man in the ring for the Nov. 25, 2006 bout in Hildalgo, Texas, between Juan Manuel Marquez and Jimrex Jaca. It's like a light switch flipped. How he works with the youth, he brings and trains them to show them what it takes to excel in this sport and in life and that is remarkable.. I want to be a great champion, said Munguia. The Coachella Valley has long been an area where the center inflatable garden slide of activity is Palm Springs. You gave somebody too much authority of your life,'" Diaz said. INDIO, Calif.-Deep in the Coachella desert tiny scorpions come out at night so its best not to walk in sandals. The bout was televised live on ESPN. What changed? Popo had grown old. Diaz Jr. (26-2, 22 KOs) is 30 years old and still has dreams of becoming a world champion and won't let two losses detract him from his dream. "Put him in the oven and slowly cook him, and when he's done, take him out.". Im about helping the community, Diaz said. Barrios stood dazed for a moment, frozen in time, and then down he went, WOW WOW WOW!!!! They make a fist, then give him a thumbs up. When Im not here, thats gonna be a legacy that is gonna stay behind because its the story of my life. Indio Councilman Glenn Miller volunteered his help. He's talking about where his gym is, on the eastern side of the Coachella Valley. Joel will often arrive at the building in the early morning hours and work on the space. Word was spreading that there was something going on in that desert gym in Indio that was making champions. Diaz shouts between sneaking looks at two clocks. 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. With the boys gathered around me, I want to find out what they admire most about their trainer and pro fighter. As was his career overall, maybe not well enough where he could quit his construction job, but things were getting better. Mucio has a fight sometime in June or July, so in a few weeks, they'll return to train again in the Coachella Valley. And so, it's back to yelling commands and instructions. He lost his first four amateur fights. 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. The brothers have been training boxers over the last eight months at the Indio gym of longtime friend Cub Swanson, a UFC featherweight. Munguia stopped by Los Angeles to meet with the media last week and spoke about Bennett and his upcoming first world title defense. Theres some freedom from that and there can be a lot of good energy from that.. Not just them, but everyone here. The building has remained empty for years. 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. "Ponle una putiza!" This is where the Diaz brothers learned to fight. It's the stomach pain from hunger while trying to make weight. They've sacrificed for all of this. Diaz is back in the dressing room and back to joking with Gracia. The gym is located in California's. In round eight, another accidental head butt widened and deepened the gash. More: Olympics more important than major titles for some women golfers, More: Strong and silly, Sarah Robles of Desert Hot Springs, is off to Tokyo, hoping to lift her way to another medal. He's worked with his younger brothers, Antonio and Julio, as they captured world titles. He could have left, opened a gym somewhere else, but he didn't. Back at home in Dallas there are too many distractions. We dont have any women for her to spar so she spars with the men.. Mercito Gesta vs Joel Diaz Jr at Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio Filipino boxer Mercito 'No Mercy' Gesta will take on twice beaten Joel Diaz Jr in a 10 round Lightweight bout. Diaz sings again, only stopping to tell Gracia to visit an optometrist. Joel Diaz fought for the IBF world title against South Africa's Phillip Holiday in 1996 and lost by decision. "Mr. Diaz," the doctor said, "you can't fight anymore." Daz, along with two of his brothers, Joel and Julio, are former professional boxers who fought for world titles after being raised in Coachella. His voice rises above the rhythmic sounds of speed bags thumping, above the jump rope slapping the floor, above the grunts of those who sound as if they're fighting for their lives. It's not a serious cut -- a notch above a paper cut, on the meaty part of the palm closest to the thumb -- but it hasn't stopped bleeding. Joe Joyce vs Zhilei Zhang Full Fight Replay April 15, 2023 ; He says he will because next time he just might cut off Acosta's finger. Wondering why he'd need the bottle of adrenaline now, Diaz answers with a confused look. The documentary will be available very soon on a streaming platform, no date for release has been specified at this time. Joel was close to delivering on the promise he made to his mother, who didn't want him fighting.
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