Don King hosted a press conference this week in Chicago attended by Juan Diaz and Julio Diaz formally announcing their lightweight world championship unification match (WBA, WBO, IBF) at Sears Centre in nearby Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Oct. 13.

Both proud Mexicans were respectful of one another, but said and reiterated the fight is of tremedous personal importance to each of them.

Juan Diaz: “I think this will turn out to be the fight of the year and maybe the fight of the century because both Julio Diaz and I want to win so bad. They will have to take me out of the ring on a stretcher for me to lose this fight.

“This is going to be a great, action fight. I’ve got a bull’s-eye on my head. Everybody wants what I have. Many consider me to be the best lightweight boxer out there so everybody wants to fight me.

“Both of us have the first name of Diaz. We had no choice when we were born. It’s just the name our parents gave us, no matter how much people want to make of all that.

“In February, Julio asked me to put my books down to fight after he became the IBF champion. In April, I picked up the WBO lightweight belt by defeating Acelino Freitas to go with the WBA championship I have held for a long time. Now is the time for a unification fight.

“We are getting very close to having an undisputed lightweight world champion. I give all my respect to Julio Diaz but on October 13, I will be the one leaving the ring with three of those world titles.

Julio Diaz: “I’ve been asking for Juan Diaz for a long time. This is something that has been important to me and I didn’t want to let it go. He is the biggest star in the lightweight division today. He’s undefeated, a unified world champion with the WBA and WBO belts.

“I’ve won some big fights. I am a two-time world champion and the current IBF champion but I haven’t gotten the attention that Juan has. I want what he has and I’m coming to get it. I want to be a unified world champion.

“Juan and I have a lot in common. We have the same last name and I see his parents cry when he goes in the ring just like mine do. We’re also both Mexican warriors. We will put on a great fight and the best man will win.”

Click to read more boxing articles by Boxing Press

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Boxing Preview: Diaz vs. Diaz For World Lightweight Title

  Tonight at the Sears Center in the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates, IL, Don King Productions puts on a big bill headlined by WBA/WBO Lightweight Champion Juan Diaz clashing with >
  
  

• Boxing Weigh-In: Juan Diaz vs. Julio Diaz

  Don King Productions in association with Sears Centre puts on the "El Dia de los Diaz" fight card at Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, IL tonight featuring the lightweight world >
  
  

• Diaz in Non-Title Fight Soon.

  Texas-based WBA lightweight champion of the world Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz will get back into action on July 16 when he faces Arthur Cruz in a non-title fight. Diaz sustained >
  
  

• Boxing Prospect Futrell Calls Out Julio Diaz

  Newly crowned WBC USNBC light welterweight champion, Don Juan Futrell, 22-3-2 (10), is issuing a challenge to former two-time world champion Julio "The Kidd" Diaz. Futrell, who's unbeaten in >
  
  

• Diaz Gives up IBF Title.

  Former IBF lightweight champion Julio Diaz has chosen to give up his title in order to facilitate a fight with Julio Luis Castillo. The fight will happen later this year >
  
  

• Boxing Result: Julio Diaz Continues Comeback With Win Against Fernando Trejo

  Former two time IBF Lightweight Champion Julio Diaz kept on track for a return title bout by outpointing Texas veteran Fernando Trejo over ten rounds last night at the Hard >
  
  

• Boxing Result: Juan Diaz Belts Out Julio Diaz, Adding IBF Belt To Collection

  The 135 lb steamroller that is Juan Diaz continued to move forward last night, grinding out another punishing victory to retain his WBA and WBO Lightweight titles and also gain >
  
  

• Boxing Weighin Photo: Juan Diaz - Fernando Angulo

  

  From left to right: Challenger Fernando Angulo (left) and WBA Lightweight Champion Juan Diaz (right) both weighed in at 134 pounds today at Tradiciones >
  
  

• Don King Boxing: Tickets On Sale Today For Juan Diaz vs. Julio Diaz Title Unification

  Tickets go on sale today, Wednesday, Aug. 29, to see the highly anticipated lightweight world championship unification match pitting undefeated World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Juan >
  
  

• Sycuan Boxing: Former IBF Champ Julio Diaz Faces Fernando Trejo On Halloween

  Former lightweight champion Julio Diaz, 35-4 (26), will spend Halloween night inside a ring as he takes on the grizzled veteran Fernando Trejo, 30-14-4 (18), on Friday, October 31, from >
  
  

---