Antonio Diaz Now Fights Explosive Javier Castro In TJ

Led by Antonio Diaz, Indio’s pro boxing team has an extremely busy week with many of the gym’s fighters taking part in important bouts throughout North America.

Talk about being busy and in demand.

Diaz (45-5-1, 29 KOs) faces knockout punching Javier Castro (19-1, 17 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico at the Plaza de Toros in Tijuana, Mexico on Saturday, March 28. The fight will be televised on pay-per-view.

The Indio boxer is not alone. His stable mate Steve Quinonez is the main event at the Quiet Cannon Golf Course on Friday, March 27 in Montebello. His brother Julio Diaz is scheduled to fight in Austin, Texas on April 4, and on this same date, another stable-mate Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley, defends his WBC junior welterweight world title against WBO titleholder Kendall Holt in Montreal, Canada.

All four desert fighters are on hyper drive.

Antonio Diaz was scheduled to meet former lightweight world champion Jose Luis Castillo in a welterweight bout. But the Mexicali-based fighter pulled out due to injuries.

“I wanted to avenge my brother’s loss to Castillo,” said Diaz about his brother Julio Diaz losing to Castillo in 2005. “This guy I’m fighting has the same style so that’s OK.”

The new opponent for Diaz is Castro, who has 17 knockouts in 20 fights. The only loss on the Mexican slugger’s record was due to disqualification.

“He’s only fought a couple of times outside of Mexico,” said Diaz, who is contracted to fight at 145 pounds. “He likes to slug.”

Castro was first offered to fight Julio Diaz, a lightweight boxer on the April 4th card in Texas. But he opted to fight in Tijuana.

“They told my brother Joel that fighting me was easier than fighting Julio,” said Antonio Diaz with a chuckle. “I’m going to knock him out.”

Meanwhile, Julio Diaz is hoping his fight in Texas will still take place. His original opponent, Cuban Joel Casamayor, was forced to withdraw because of a back injury.

“Julio was ready for any southpaw in the world,” said Antonio Diaz. “Too bad.”

No opponent has been selected for Julio Diaz to date.

Bradley is still ready to unify the junior welterweight world titles on April 4 in Canada.

“I’ve been sparring with Timothy,” said Antonio Diaz. “He’s ready, Julio is ready, we are all ready.”

The desert boxing team has been working hard since early February anticipating this coming week when most of the club is participating on fight cards. Only quicksilver Dominic Salcido is without a fight.

“I’m going to take care of business on Saturday,” Diaz said. “On Monday, I’m going to get a on a plane and go to Texas for my brother Julio’s fight. I don’t want swollen eyes or cuts when I help him on his fight.”

Tijuana fight card

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. headlines the strong fight card in Tijuana, Mexico on Saturday that includes Humberto Soto, and Fernando Montiel. It will be televised on pay-per-view.

Fans can get in the fight by bringing a can of goods or they can buy tickets at the Plaza de Toros in Tijuana.

Chavez (38-0-1, 29 KOs) faces Argentina’s Luciano Cuello (23-0, 10 KOs) in a junior middleweight bout in the main event. The oldest son of the great Julio Cesar Chavez really wanted Oscar De La Hoya, but is resigned to the fact that it will probably not take place in this lifetime. Still, there are many other fights he can take after running out of mediocre opponents. The kid is a junior middleweight and can anybody spell Paul Williams or Vernon Forrest? Those fights are out there. Of course Williams needs to pass a severe test on April 11 against Winky Wright.

Fernando Montiel (38-2-1, 28 KOs) fights for the interim WBO bantamweight title against Diego Silva (24-1-3, 12 KOs). Montiel has cranked up the power lately in the past year. Ever since losing a close battle to Jhonny Gonzalez a few years back, the dapper fighter from Los Mochis has decided to go out with guns blazing. He’s got a slickster in front of him but Silva can crack. It should be exciting in the four or five rounds it lasts.

Humberto Soto (46-7-2, 29 KOs) fights against Antonio Davis (26-4, 13 KOs) in a junior lightweight bout. No other fighter has fought as many interim title belts as Soto. At one time he was considered a good match for Manny Pacquiao. Those days are long gone. When he allowed Joan Guzman to out-box him that spelled the end of Soto’s big dreams. Now he’s hoping for fight against someone like Jorge Linares. Tha would be a great fight. Or maybe even Rober “The Ghost” Guerrero? Soto needs a showdown.

Fights on television

Fri. ESPN2, 6 p.m., Samuel Peter (30-2) vs. Eddie Chambers (33-1)

Sat. pay-per-view, 6 p.m., Julio Cesar Chavez (38-0-1) vs. Luciano Cuello (23-0); Fernando Montiel (38-2-1) vs. Diego Silva (24-1).

Sat. Showtime, 10 p.m., Ronald Hearns (21-0) vs. Harry Yorgey (21-1).