Golden Boy Show- Fortuna-Diaz Takes Center Stage Friday

Coming up Friday night in Los Angeles, Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions will have a stand-alone fight card and a chance to showcase several of their talented fighters. And, probably the most intriguing bout will be a Lightweight showdown between veterans Javier Fortuna and Joseph “JoJo” Diaz.

The card is taking place at the Banc of California Stadium, home to the Los Angeles FC Soccer Club in Major League Soccer and in the shadow of the University of Southern California.

The Co-Main Event: @JosephDiazJr vs. Javier Fortuna 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OqXC9RLT3d

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 8, 2021

While the billed main event has unbeaten former WBO World Super Middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, 41-0, is fighting for the third time, as a Light Heavyweight against fellow veteran, Sullivan Barrera, 22-3,  the more intriguing about appears to be the Fortuna – Diaz fight that will solidify the winner for a possible WBC title shot.

We discuss the significance of Fortuna-Diaz on the most recent edition of the “Big Fight Weekend Podcast” out now with boxing insider Steve Kim, who will be in attendance in Los Angeles Friday night and Senior writer of bigfightweekend.com, Marquis Johns. You can hear more of our thoughts in the preview mode by clicking below.

Of course this flight was supposed to feature unbeaten, rising Lightweight contender Ryan Garcia facing Fortuna who comes in 36-2-1. However, as has been well-documented, Garcia chose to pull out of this fight citing, “mental health issues.” He is expected to resume fighting this Fall.

That’s where Diaz, 31 -1- 1, stepped in and literally stepped up in weight, as the former IBF Junior Lightweight champion is now competing at 135 lb. in this bout.

Also waiting in the distance is WBC World lightweight champ Devin Haney, who might very well be interested in fighting the winner of Fortuna – Diaz. The unbeaten Haney was in a tough tussle with another veteran contender, Jorge Linares, in late May scoring a 12-round decision to retain his version of the WBC’s titles.

Of course, Teofimo Lopez is still recognized as the Undisputed Lightweight Champion after he defeated Vasiliy Lomachenko last October in Las Vegas by decision. Lopez had to postponed his first Undisputed defense last month due to testing positive for Covid 19.

So, there is an interesting “log jam” at Lightweight that includes the two fighters facing off with each other tonight, plus, Garcia and Haney, who has the significant belt out of that group of fighters.

Now, we wait to see what unfolds.