Still beaming over his newfound recognition, Munguia has grand plans for his future including challenging all of the other champions in his weight category and the next weight division. He would fight one more time before retiring as a fighter and continuing as a trainer. The pain of losing a child during pregnancy. He won another fight in 2015 and though by now he was visibly paunchy, he still managed to go 10 rounds to beat Gabriel Martinez in 2017 with occasional flashes of his old explosive volleys. By law in Texas (and in most other states), a boxing promoter must purchase insurance to cover medical costs in the event that one or more of the fighters on his show is seriously injured. His job was irrigation. Joel Diaz Jr. gets boxing bug again - The Desert Sun In round eight, another accidental head butt widened and deepened the gash. 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. Lead announcer Barry Tompkins went further, calling it the worst decision he has seen in his 40 years of covering the sport. One to keep track of rounds. With this loss, that now becomes more difficult. "It's a different place, and a different world, within the same community." Work!" Step it up Vergil, he shouts to one of the fighters Vergil Ortiz Jr., a welterweight from Dallas, Texas. 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. Joel Diaz 18: 3: 0: 4 KOs 2 KOs; wiki. In about a week from Acosta's fight, the Coachella music festival will start. While wrapping his hands, Oscar Gracia, who helps train fighters at Diaz's gym, accidentally cut Angel "Tito" Acosta, their boxer on the main event. No loss is good, but Diaz says he's learned from it. But when it's time to fight, they train in Diaz's gym, in part because his strong personality reminds them of Mucio's father. Make of that what you will. Coach Diaz is one of the top boxing trainers in the world who has worked with many top boxing and MMA fighters. In his first bout, a promoter paid him $400 then filed for bankruptcy as soon as the fight ended. Celebrities such as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and William Powell had homes here. JOEL DIAZ STANDS on the ring apron while there's chaos all around him. At the screening, were friends and family of Joel Diaz, along with important members of the community, like Congressman Raul Ruiz. Since they understood the discipline and sacrifices required to make a living from fighting, they became fast friends. The idea that it was easier to show the separation of Mexican farmworkers, than to explain it, was something that'd been happening for decades. He was big and tall and had a beard. But at the end of round seven he was a thoroughly beaten fighter.. I appreciate what people are doing. Other talents have learned from Joel's assertive style of fighting. 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. She has to do the same work as the guys. Hes comfortable. "Tengo que ir?" Acosta walks down the hall, surrounded by about a dozen people. Diaz has trained professional fighters for more than a decade out of his gym at Indio Boys & Girls Club. The rest is history. It's the sameness of a daily routine, made a bit easier by a few inside jokes at the gym. A lot of the boxers are just like me.". As one of the more well-respected and well-known members of the Coachella Valley, because of his success in boxing and his friendly yet direct nature, many in the neighborhood already knew of Joel and also have offered to help. They aren't sure yet whether they'll go to Mexico or Puerto Rico first. Laurence Cole is the son of Richard Dickie Cole. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com. "Vamos Tito!" Joel Diaz Jr. - Boxing News Too says at that point, in his early teens, he just wasn't dedicated enough. If hotel rooms are even available, some will double their usual price. Analyst Steve Farhood, who was been with ShoBox since the inception of the series in 2001, called it one of the worst decisions he had ever seen. Photos: Indio boxing gym of world-renown trainer Joel Diaz nearing "One day, I'll make money," he told her. In Joel Diaz gym Indio CA | esnews - YouTube 0:00 / 3:46 Future champ hits mitts fast but his nick name is "turtle"? He says this side of Coachella is where fighters come from, and he swells with pride whenever he sees them on television. The goal for many was always to work here, for a season or two, maybe longer, then return. 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. Forty-five seconds into round eight, after being knocked down for a third time, Velasco spit out his mouthpiece and indicated to Cole that he was finished. ref: Rudy Battle Alfred Buqwana 110 . 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. Theyve built relationships with several youth boxers whose dads are either plumbers, painters or work with concrete and have offered their services. Joel Diaz regularly shouts booming instructions to fighters across the lengthy gym. Boxing Pro 21 bouts date w-l-d last 6 result; 1997-04-26: Jose Luis Montes: 9 17 0: Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio W-TKO. Their relationship grew, brought closer by pain and uncertainty. 445 East Florida Ave. 2nd Floor. It became a case of brawler vs. boxer/puncher and when the brawler caught the more athletic Popowho could slip and duck skillfullyand decked him with a straight left in the eighth, the title suddenly was up for grabs. In his last fight, things were going well. To make the hurt worse, he was one round short of qualifying for California's boxer pension. Diaz and Gracia put away the tools used to help their boxers fight. 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. 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. The documentary will be available very soon on a streaming platform, no date for release has been specified at this time. From all the rage he'd pass out in his car during the middle of night. Questions ahead of Paul vs. Diaz: Can Diaz box? Boxing is a sideline for Laurence Cole who runs an independent insurance agency in Dallas. 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. EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: "Joel Diaz: A Hard Knock-Life" Documentary by Joel Diaz hosts a pre-screening of his documentary at his boxing gym in Indio, CA. Joel is on Twitter @JoelDiazBoxing and Instagram @coachjoeldiaz. Until then the Diaz boys had been raised by their grandparents. It was Mosleys first defense after taking the title from Oscar De La Hoya and was held in New York City. Located about 24 miles southwest of Indio, Palm Springs is still home to many celebrities. Also planned is an area for boxing memorabilia from the history of the Coachella Valley and the boxers whove trained and lived here. 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. The day after Diaz is gone, Mucio and Acosta will leave too. It's a stepping stone to potential greatness in the profession. His manager asked me what I thought of his last fight and we agreed, said Diaz of Vargas. That his young boxer was able to have the kind of homecoming fight that he. It's the old gym that's now a restaurant, the place where every day he and his fighters swept away plaster and pieces of concrete that fell from the walls. : Thank you head trainer Joel Diaz of the Indio, Ca. 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. It's the stomach pain from hunger while trying to make weight. The inference was that Marquez was free to quit right then without tarnishing his record. In the fifth round, Marquez sustained a cut on his forehead from an accidental head butt. Joel Diaz helping put Indio front - Indio Senior Center | Facebook The type of place that looks as if the things happening there are kept secret. How a gym in California's Coachella Valley became an international At the screening, coach Diaz was enjoying the moment with his friends and family. Diaz teamed up with Yildirim (21-2 12 KOs) late in October 2019 but due to . The air is full of questions and the quiet confusion of trying to figure out what went wrong and what they could have done different. Adjoining states in the west host a number of boxing cards including a world title contest that features a newcomer who, before knocking out a world champion, was erroneously categorized by a Nevada official as unworthy of a title challenge. He put them in his truck and they drove the long way home out by the fields. 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. 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. All he had to do was hang in there and the title would change hands on points. 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. And because boxing is everywhere here, he still follows it, especially when there are ties to this place. Once a highly touted prospect he states his biggest loss was to Regis Prograis in 2017 when he fought the soon to be light welterweight world champion and was stopped in the second round. I know you from the heart. From an administrative standpoint, boxing in Texas during the reign of Dickie Cole was frequently described in terms befitting a banana republic. Powered by IBofP 2021 Inside there's a plaque from when Garcia was mayor, listed beneath "Lee Espinoza Coachella Valley Boxing Club." And if all that weren't enough, there's always someone calling his phone. Last year, the event drew 750,000 attendees. Monroe St Indio CA 92201. Let us know. 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. Diaz Brothers (@thediaztrainingcamp) Instagram photos and videos But here my son can just focus on boxing and only boxing and sharpen his skills.. Andrew John covers sports for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Around the turn of the 20th century, the Colorado River was diverted, and water flowed into what was barren desert. 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. Everyone else, including Mucio -- whose voice is hoarse from yelling throughout the fight -- stands around, trying to process the loss. Elite boxers began showing up such as Terence Crawford, Omar Figueroa, Lucas Matthysse and others. Diaz throws up his frustrated hands. 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. It reminded me of George Foremans obliteration of Joe Frazier back in the 1970s. He would fight one more time before retiring as a fighter and continuing as a trainer. What changed? It was a high-crime area, known for drugs and prostitution. To save money, so they could buy a house back home on the other side of the border. He couldn't risk losing the money or the opportunity, so he waited until after the fight. Barrios wanted to turn the fight into a street fight and was reasonably successful with that strategy. Yet, against Barrios, he had proven without a doubt that he possessed the heart of a warrior. he yells at a Mexican boxer, imploring him to attack. 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. Back at home in Dallas there are too many distractions. After a year building his own boxing gym in Indio, doing much of the work by himself, trainer Joel Diaz is close toopening it to the community. And because of that, this place also has a long history of farmworkers fighting for their rights. "Let me go grab my gun," he says, "I'll shoot that thing off.". The sense of urgency every boxer lives with was replaced by uncertainty. The facility also has locker rooms and restrooms for men and womenand willeventually include saunas, a laundry room and massive office space. "You're going to lose your eye," the doctor warned. In the murals around downtown Coachella, like the one showing endless rows of fields along with the words, "Lucha Sin Fin." As he explains it now, a few months after that experience, Joel walked into the boxing gym in downtown Coachella. Way too many distractions. One of the more crowded gyms, Indio Boys and Girls Club, has blossomed into a powerhouse. And it sometimes translates to the actual, literal fight that is presented to us when we grow up in places like Coachella.". They're kids with parents who are agricultural, construction or service workers. Freitas went down early from a straight right. As Gracia wraps Acosta's left hand, and Flores shadow boxes, Diaz returns to the dressing room. "This is a bad area." Waiting for his time just like a scorpion in the desert heat. It hangs near the old newspapers next to photos of some of the fighters who have visited the gym. It's Friday and that means it's sparring day for his pros. It was panic time in the Barrios corner, as the blood continued to flow like lava, and he was bleeding from his ear (due to a ruptured ear drum). Joel trains WBO champion Timothy Bradley and Timothy Bradley Sr. also helps train the amateur kids at their Indio gym. where the gym will be located. Every day and every year, he'd turned so many spigots that his palm blistered then calloused. Car share apps charge $40 for a two-minute ride to the festival grounds. Indio boxing gymnasium of world-renown coach Joel Diaz nearing Its isolation eliminates distractions. He'd bought his parents used cars and earned enough for a down payment on a modest house where all nine of them -- five brothers, two sisters, his mother and father -- could live. So he did what his brother did, he even won a minor world title. After eight months of work, the building remains a work in progress. During the fight, Salido made a mockery of the Queensberry rules for which he received no point deductions and only one warning. "What's going on?" Hes so happy.. One of those guys is Bek The Bully, who'll rematch against Gabe Rosado on April 22. Another offered to pay for all the new matting going on top of the concrete floors. She looks calm even if her stomach is full of nerves. He asks if he must go. The anonymous architect of In Boxing We Trust, a web site that went dormant in 2010, wrote this description: Near the end of round 11, about a milli-second before the bell rang, Freitas landed a ROCK HARD right hand shot flush on Barrios chin. Ironically both Mosley and Diaz were from the Inland Empire and ended up training in the same Big Bear training camp. Im going to keep that table here forever.. Who has the edge? The brothers have been training boxers over the last eight months at the Indio gym of longtime friend Cub Swanson, a UFC featherweight. 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. 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. It's been almost 40 minutes since the sun set on Coachella Valley, and now it's Acosta's turn to fight. Not all prizefighters can adapt to the remoteness and solitude and end up moving on to urban locations like Jessie Magdaleno did recently. He's wrapping hands and tying gloves. The Swanson brothers were trained by Diaz Training Camp and make several cameos in the documentary. Joel's retina was almost entirely detached. This is where the Diaz brothers learned to fight. He simply moves, resets and continues yelling. And yet, the professionals, who aren't from here, will return because, despite the heat, they come to train with Diaz. Indio District Office. The last time Pacquiao knocked out a welterweight was in 2009 against Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas. Another boxer training with them, world super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev, will defend his two titles in March. "You'll see." Hes poured his blood sweat and tears, he says, into the project knowing that he was on a deadline. He says he won the fight and wants a rematch. Acosta laughs along. How to Watch Joel Diaz Jr. vs. Mercito Gesta Fight Live - Now Boxing 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. "I'm going to call the doctor," says Larry Ervin, an inspector with the California State Athletic Commission. Beginning in 1999, it has showcased acts as diverse as Guns N' Roses, Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar. HBO will televise. When Joel built his gym, Flores' father, a carpenter, did the framing. Joe Joyce vs Zhilei Zhang Full Fight Replay April 15, 2023 ; Andrew John is a reporterfor The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Trainer Joel Diaz to build his own boxing gym in Indio - The Desert Sun (Marquez elected to continue and stopped Jaca in the next round.). On top of supporting his longtime friend, Congressman Ruiz awarded Coach Diaz a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for all the work he has done providing underprivileged kids in the valley with an outlet like boxing. "I accidentally cut Tito," Gracia tells him as Diaz hands over the small dark bottle with a yellow label. In this age of PEDs there was no mention of testing for the Pacquiao/Matthysse fight. 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. Heavy bags, speed bags, weights, chin-up bars and two boxing rings are all used simultaneously by the different boxers. He's looking at a boxer's pinkie to see how badly it's hurt. And right now, Diaz is sitting behind the ring's red corner, giving instructions to Leonardo Sanchez, a young southpaw, also from the Coachella Valley, who everyone calls Bazooka. THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON Diaz leaves for San Antonio where he'll join his brother. Until last year, Joel Diaz hadnt given much thought to building his own boxing gym. As the fists and shoulders of fighters brush by him, it looks as if their violence might spill over. Later, Freitas tarnished his image with a No Mas against Diego Corrales, but he had gone down three times and knew there was no way out. Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio has grapefruit trees on its compound alongside the plush hotel swimming pool. When he was active as a fighter Antonio captured the IBA world welterweight title and fought many of the best fighters in the world including Sugar Shane Mosley for the WBC welterweight world title in November 2000. They then cleared out five trailers full of junk and reframed the space, secured the roof and began bringing new material. Hed sit, often by himself, in the early stages of the project drawing designs from his ideas for the space. Diaz believes his training camp will be as well. Right now we have Maricela Cornejo and Vergil Ortiz getting ready to fight in Cancun, Mexico on Nov. 16.. ACOSTA LOST. Theres no wasting time. Find Related Places. The other to keep track of his day. 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. a voice among the many in the dressing room yells. If he wins tonight, against Angelino Cordova, who has never lost and is five years younger, they want to fight for the world championship next. He served 27 months and never fought again, retiring with a record of 50-4-1. There's a lump on the back of the right side of his head. The super lightweight fight will take place at the Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California. "Even when he's dead, he's still fighting.". That, along with intelligence, is how he trains everyone here to fight. One entire section was filled by Russian supporters and Gassiev did not disappoint in winning by stoppage that night. He's showing fighters how to pivot their feet to maximize their leverage. 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. As soon as the doctor says all's well, everyone's able to joke. He trains about 20 professional boxers, and with three of them fighting the next day, tomorrow will be busy. In English it means "fight with no end.". It dives into everything from growing up in Coachella to winning world titles with the fighters he trained and a few things in between. "The doctor says if you want to go to the hospital, they can take you," a member of the team translates for Acosta. For this indiscretion, Cole was prohibited from working a significant fight in Texas for the next six months. The thermostat says the gym is 75 degrees, but it feels hotter. So, it is something that we really admire, not just as a professional but as a human being and that is why doing the documentary was something like just an achievement because we already wanted to know more about his life.. 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. Im going to put in the work. And I did.. "We're waiting for the doctor.". 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 . After10 years, its now paid off, Diaz said. Social media influencers will be there too, charging thousands of dollars for a single post. 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. The building, which boasts 10-foot ceilings, is around three timesthe space the Diaz brothers had at the Boys & Girls Club. Fighters who, for a variety of reasons, reached their level here, among the desert's drab colors, instead of the bright lights of places like Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York. 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. While the Coachella Valley is a perfect winter escape for those with money, it's also home to some of the country's most fertile lands. In January 2010 he was involved in a hit and runaccident in which a 20-year-old pregnant woman was killed. Maybe a thousand other things and it would've been different. "I'd wake up the next day, go home and try finding something to do," he says. Vergil Ortiz Sr., the father of welterweight prospect Vergil Ortiz Jr., said he urged his son to choose Indio because of the desert location. "Those types of values and principles are instilled in the kids many times. The Vaseline and the cotton swabs. "It's just a nick.". He built his camp from the ground up, starting with a twice-burned-down building he bought ten years ago for $230,000 dollars. Its not getting a large amount of attention in my neighborhood but this unification clash between WBA and IBF cruiserweight titlist Murat Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs) and WBC and WBO cruiserweight titlist Oleksandr Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs) has historic ramifications tagged all over it. Across the street from that mural, there's an old fire station on the corner of 6th Street and Vine Avenue. Im excited to give this building life, Diaz added. Ted Sares is one of the oldest active full power lifters in the world. "This is all I know how to do.". Ive always wanted to be a world champion since I was old enough to fight.. 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. Hes almost there, said Joel Diaz. . If he weren't watching men fight, he'd look like an appraiser examining a piece of art. He admitted to being in the middle of a whirlwind that is spinning beyond his expectations. ON A THURSDAY night in early April, when the valley's mornings and evenings are still cool, there's a growing tension in the last place where Diaz fought as a professional. The doctor looks at Acosta's hand as he hears the story. Diaz says, then immediately corrects himself. His last bout ever was a knockout win over the veteran Jos Luis Montes. On Saturday, June 18th, NBC Palm Springs had an exclusive first look at a documentary on the life of local boxing trainer, Joel Diaz. More than anything, he looks relieved. "It hurts me," she says of watching her husband fight. Bennett claimed that the slender Mexican fighter had not proven worthy of contesting for the championship though the tall Mexican wielded an undefeated record of 28 wins with 24 coming by knockout. As the water supply diminishes, some of those golf courses consume up to a million gallons a day. He was the first and only inductee into the inaugural class of the Texas Boxing Hall of Fame, an organization founded by El Paso promoter Lester Bedford in 2015. When I'm not here, that's gonna be a legacy that is gonna stay behind because it's the story of my life. Recently Diego De La Hoya has emerged as a budding young star who is just about ready to enter the big time. The first time I ever saw Russias 24-year-old Gassiev was three years ago when he made his American debut at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello. Diaz believes this building will be the cherry on top of a great career in boxing. When Im not here, thats gonna be a legacy that is gonna stay behind because its the story of my life. To sacrifice, doing backbreaking work, while being apart from the ones they loved. 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.