Devin Haney vs. Jo Jo Diaz WBC MGM Grand DAZN Card Preview
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Las Vegas, NV (December 3rd, 2021)– Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz, the southpaw interim World Boxing Council World Lightweight champion, feels he’s arrived and it is his time. Devin “The Dream” Haney, the current full World Boxing Council World Lightweight champion, will be fighting his ninth consecutive regional and world title bout, and is not likely to be moved by Diaz’ war of the words. Haney, 26-0 with 15 knockouts, Las Vegas, Nevada, will defend his WBC title against Diaz, 32-1-1 with 15 knockouts, Downey, California (known to music fans as the home of The Carpenters) in the main event of a nine bout card at MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday evening, December 4, 2021, promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Mathcroom Boxing, televised on DAZN.
According to Haney, “He (Diaz) can’t outbox me, I’ll show him he can’t out bang me, I have the size advantage, (and) all the tools to win. If he wants to try and box, I’m just going to hunt his ass down! If he (Diaz) wants to come and bang (exchange serious punches with me), I’m just going to bang it out (with him) as well. Whatever he wants to bring to the table, I’m going to bring it (too).”
It will be the first fight at the MGM Grand for both combatants, where Haney has the theoretical hometown advantage, but Haney still has to prove himself. Diaz has been cut from accidental head butts on the left eye in his last two bouts, and has lost two points for hitting behind the head. In August 2018 against Jesus Rojas Diaz, and in February 2021 against Shatkatdzhon Rakhimov, showed up overweight and could not win either title because of the weight issue. Diaz was cut on the left eye from an accidental headbutt in the Rakhimov bout. In Diaz’ next title bout with Javier Fortuna, Diaz was cut on the left eye from an accidental headbutt, and also lost a point for hitting behind the head.
While remaining world class, Diaz has been cut on the left eye numerous times involving headbutts, and has seen a number of point deductions for rabbit punches. Haney is an elite fighter, and fights clean, and will outwork Diaz en route to a unanimous 12 round decision to settle the WBC lightweight division. As for Diaz’ statement Haney is not fighting the top fighters, Haney is fighting him, and Haney will undoubtedly look upwards to who’s the best of next when this bout is history because the money and promotion are there to go for.
MGM Grand Undercard Predictions
Montana Love Win 10 Carlos Diaz, Super Lightweights. Cleveland, Ohio southpaw 16-0-1 Love defeated dangerous Ivan Baranchyk with seventh round stoppage in the previous bout, and was ahead on all scorecards. 19-1 Mexican Torres had a No Contest in the previous bout in Tijuana after unintentional blow to head against opponent Elvis Torres, as was ruled.
Jessica McCaskill TKO 7 Kandi Wyatt, Welterweights, Two Minute Rounds. Chicago’s McCaskill holds WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO World Welterweight titles. Canada’s Wyatt has lost three of last five bouts, and ii unlikely to go the distance in a title bout. Wyatt might fight a survivor type bout, but if so is unlikely to win any rounds.
Filip Hrgovic TKO 9 Emir Ahatovic, heavyweights. 13-0 Croatian Hrgovic has yet to fight a main event fighter. Hrgovic, apparently an elite heavyweight fighter, has beaten Eric Molina and Kevin Johnson (Win 8) but remains untested at the elite level. 10-0 Ahatovic could be hungry enough to go the distance. Hrgovic hits hard though.
Austin Williams Win 8 Quatavious Cash, Middleweights. 8-0 Texas southpaw prospect Williams could be tested by Cash, 14-2 Atlanta, Georgia, whose last bout in August 2021 in Georgia ended in the first round due to an accidental headbutt.
Rodolfo Gomez Jr. Win 8 Alexis Espino, Super middleweights. 14-5-1 Texas Mexican Gomez is predicted to win here in an upset. The record of Gomez includes an eighth round stoppage of former world champion Ricardo Mayorga in 2018. 9-0 Las Vegas prospect Espino likely will not go quietly. Interesting matchup. This reporter does not always go with the favorite of the bookies.
Marc Castro Win 6 Ronaldo Solis, Super Featherweights. 4-0 California prospect Castro will be tested by 4-2-1 Solis, who beat a 7-0 in 2019 but who is 0-2 with one No Contest in his last three pro bouts.
Ricardo Rafael Sandoval Win 10 Carlos Buitrago, Flyweights. 19-1 California prospect Sandoval will fight a thriller against 32-6-1 Nicaraguan Buitrago, a four-time world title challenger at minimumweight and light flyweight. An upset could occur here. It depends which fighter is hungrier and wants it more. The winner should get a flyweight world title shot. The bout could also go off at eight rounds.
Las Vegas 4-0 super welterweight prospect Amari Jones is also scheduled to appear in a four-rounder to open the card and is predicted to win, opponent as yet undetermined.
Haney vs. Diaz Jr Odds
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