Diaz, 68, is a cult figure along cauliflower row. He has trained 11 world champions and worked with 27 other titlists. Among Diaz’ protégés were Roger Mayweather, Pedro Decima and Johnny Tapia.
"I love Bautista," said Diaz who was recently in Manila to work Oscar Larios’ corner as a cutman in the fight against Manny Pacquiao. "He’s young, only 20 years old. He has a lot of power and a lot of promise. He’ll go far in his career. I can see him becoming a world champion."
Diaz was the cutman in Omar Niño Romero’s corner when the Mexican challenger dethroned Brian Viloria for the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightflyweight title at the Orleans Arena here Thursday night.
"That wasn’t the Viloria I know who fought Romero," said Diaz. "Something was wrong. I thought maybe, he was injured or had a problem mentally. I’m happy for Niño but I’m sad for Viloria because he didn’t fight like he could’ve fought."
Las Vegas Review-Journal writer Kevin Iole said Diaz was shocked by Viloria’s disappearing act.
"I didn’t know how good Niño was because this was the first time I worked with him," said Diaz, quoted by Iole. "But Viloria was really flat. He didn"t have anything."
Diaz said he was once tapped by Filipino manager Gabriel (Bebot) Elorde Jr. to work Filipino fighter Catalino Flores’ corner in a California fight in 1972. That was when he learned what the Pilipino word "tubig" meant. He recalled Flores winning the bout.
Diaz said the most technically proficient fighter he’s ever worked with was not a world champion.
"He was a Nigerian named Kid Akeem," said Diaz. "He was my best fighter even if he never won a world title. He fought when fighters could still use six-ounce gloves. When he retired, he went back to Nigeria and got involved in drugs. Apparently, he had been a drug user even during his fighting days and I never knew it."
Bautista, by the way, arrived in Los Angeles from Cebu last Friday night with trainer Edito Villamor and superflyweight prospect A. J. Banal.
Viloria is now arranging how to transport over 40 over-sized boxes of new clothing and footwear, donated by Urban Outfitter, to Manila.
"The boxes are being delivered to my friend’s garage every month and there’s no space left for more," said Viloria. "They’re brand new stuff–clothes, sneakers, jackets. They’re being given away by a generous outfitter who wants me to help find poor people who can make use of the donations."
Viloria said he wants to personally distribute the goods to the underprivileged people in the countryside, perhaps to the displaced residents living near Mayon Volcano. The first shipment will probably arrive in Manila late this year, if Viloria can find a sponsor to foot the bill for transporting the cargo in a container.
Viloria and his parents are planning to visit the country anytime now.
"Brian wants to think things over and set his priorities for the future," said his father Ben. "His mother and I will support whatever he decides."
Viloria’s parents are thinking of buying a condominium unit in Makati where they can stay during visits.
"We’re looking at some possibilities but we’ve been told there are cases of a unit being sold to three different people who end up holding three different titles so we’re a little concerned about that," said Viloria’s father.
Only Viloria’s parents were at ringside to watch the championship change hands.
Viloria’s younger brother Gaylord stayed in Hawaii with his wife Doris and their one-year-old son Isiah because of his work as a car salesman. His sister Roxanne, the youngest in the brood of three, also stayed in Hawaii where she is a sophomore dentistry student.
Finkel, a karate black belter, said his favorite fights were Sugar Ray Robinson’s knockout over Gene Fullmer with a perfect left hook, the first and third Ali versus Joe Frazier fights, Bob Foster’s knockouts over Dick Tiger and Mike Quarry which were classic one-punch knockouts, Ali-Foreman, Foreman versus Ron Lyle, Salvador Sanchez versus Wilfredo Gomez, early Larry Holmes fights, James Toney at his best, Pernell Whitaker and Evander Holyfield.
Pacquiao still hasn’t earned a spot in Finkel’s list. Finkel is probably waiting to include Pacquiao’s rubber match against Erik Morales on Nov. 18.