Jojo Diaz defeats Javier Fortuna in lightweight debut
Jojo Diaz had his hands full with Javier Fortuna. Things went back-and-forth all night, but Diaz found a way to break Fortuna down for the victory.
Jojo Diaz told FanSided a week before this fight with Javier Fortuna that he surpassed his personal problems outside the ring. He backed up his words with a unanimous decision victory over Fortuna.
Even though the scores were in Diaz’s favor, Fortuna didn’t give him an easy night on Friday, July 9, from the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
A clash of heads in round 3 caused a cut over Diaz’s left eye. Fortuna seemed emboldened by the cut and went after Diaz. While Fortuna got the better of Diaz in that round, Diaz came back in round 4.
Diaz and Fortuna went back-and-forth, winning rounds until round 8. Diaz caused damage under Fortuna’s left eye. He hurt Fortuna in round 9 after a three-punch combination. Fortuna danced away from Diaz to avoid further punishment.
The end of Round 10 from #DiazFortuna 💥 pic.twitter.com/QjKixMYsPh
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 10, 2021
Jojo Diaz made the most out of a late call to fight Javier Fortuna and won his first fight as a lightweight ad re-entered the title picture
Diaz controlled the action for the remainder of the contest. The fight went a full 12 rounds, and the judges returned scores of117-110, 116-111, and 115-112, all for Diaz giving him a unanimous decision win and the interim WBC lightweight title.
Diaz came into the fight in shape and looked strong in his new division. Originally, Fortuna was supposed to fight Ryan Garcia, but Garcia pulled out of the fight citing mental health problems. Garcia was stripped of the WBC title as a result allowing Diaz to fight Fortuna. He made the most out of his opportunity and overcame his past problems in the process.
After the fight, Diaz said he would like a major matchup with Garcia. Time will tell who he draws next.
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