Joel Diaz Jr. gained wisdom from defeat headed into Mercito Gesta bout

Joel Diaz Jr. has a big test in Mercito Gesta on April 21, but the knockout artist feels that he has learned a great deal during his career as a boxer. 

Joel Diaz Jr. has a rare quality that tends to make a boxer a star, and that’s natural knockout power, but he has learned the hard way that strength isn’t enough to become a champion.

Diaz (26-2, 22 KOs) was an electric prospect early in his career. He won his first 23 fights with 19 knockouts. He looked unbeatable, but he hit a major obstacle in the form of Regis Prograis, who became a world champion.

Prograis dropped Diaz four times to force the round 2 stoppage. That loss derailed Diaz’s momentum and sense of invincibility.

Diaz hoped to put the memories of the Prograis fight behind him but suffered another loss two bouts later to Cristian Coria via round 3 KO. After disappointing losses, Diaz knew something had to change if he wanted a shot at accomplishing his championship aspirations.

“Just don’t take nothing lightly,” Diaz told FanSided. “Don’t go out looking for that knockout punch, Joel.”

Diaz learned from his defeats that he couldn’t fall too in love with his power. He feels he made that mistake against Prograis and Coria.

He looks back on those moments with regret, especially the Coria fight.

“Man, this last defeat was a tough one,” Diaz said. “It was a tough one for myself, and it was tough one for my family. You know, for one, I didn’t like the way that they seen me, you know, with that defeat. The way that they seen me on TV, you know? That wasn’t good.”

Watch Joel Diaz Jr. vs. Mercito Gesta on Thursday, April 21, on Golden Boy’s DAZN boxing card at 9 p.m. ET

Having his family watching him get hurt in the ring left a bitter taste in Diaz’s mouth. He doesn’t want them to have to see him like that again.

When Diaz turned professional, he was an 18-year-old kid demolishing every opponent with his fists. He had all the confidence in the world but could have been over-confident.

“Once I hit the Junior Olympics, Nationals, that’s when I was stopping everybody,” Diaz explained to FanSided about the source of his confidence in his punching power.

“I can do it with these two hands,” Diaz added. “Yeah, man. That’s when I noticed [my power] when I was just stopping everybody and, you know, giving them eight counts and whatnot. And sure enough, just took it to the pro leagues and started knocking out everybody you know.”

Diaz made the same mistake a lot of young boxers make. He felt unconquerable and had to be proven that he was not.

Today, Diaz is 30 years old. He has learned a lot over the years and from his two losses.

Diaz meets Mercito Gesta on Thursday, April 21, at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, CA. Gesta is in a similar position to Diaz.

He too, is a formerly heralded prospect who has taken on losses in recent years. Gesta is also hoping to prove that his former accolades were warranted.

If Diaz is going to best Gesta, he knows that he has to approach him differently than he did against Prograis or Coria.

Here’s what he’s learned from his past:

“Just staying chill,” Diaz said. “Like I said, staying, just stand on my feet, you know. Stand and Stand on my feet and just, ah man, just trying to chill out on the whole first-round knockouts.”

It sounds easy. Relax and don’t get dragged into a firefight, but old habits and instincts die heard.

If Diaz wants to realize his dreams, he’ll have to prove that he’s in control of his emotions in the ring. Gesta has a way of starting a fight, but Diaz hopes to stay measured and prove that he’s a boxer first.