Boxing

Rocky Juarez Remains Unbeaten With 10th-Round KO Over Chelo Diaz

Photos: Tom Casino/Showtime

HOUSTON, Texas (July 20, 2003) - Performing before a raucous, near-sellout crowd, hometown favorites Rocky Juarez and Juan Diaz kept their winning streaks intact Saturday on SHOWTIME, but both promising prospects had to fight hard to triumph in the exciting, crowd-pleasing fights. Rising featherweight Juarez, a 2000 Olympic Games silver medalist, registered a dramatic 10th-round knockout over Antonio "Chelo" Diaz in the main event. In the co-feature, Diaz, a stablemate of Juarez, scored a unanimous 10-round decision over Francisco "The Drowned" Lorenzo. The bouts, which aired at 10 p.m. ET/PT from Reliant Park, were promoted by Main Events Inc.

Juarez (17-0, 13 KOs), of the north side of Houston, knocked the tough, slick-boxing Diaz down and out with a single left hook 1:33 into the 10th and final round. After nine completed rounds, Juarez led by the scores of 89-82, 88-83 and 87-84 but many had it much closer. The victory was the fourth in a row by knockout for Juarez, who has won eight of his past nine bouts inside of the distance. A youngster regarded by some as the top boxer from the 2000 class was making his eighth appearance on SHOWTIME. During an outstanding amateur career, Juarez compiled a 145-17 record. A controversial decision in the championship bout cost the U.S. Olympian a gold medal and ended a 68-fight winning streak.

Antonio Diaz (24-4, 11 KOs), of New York, by way of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, dictated the pace for much of the match and had performed gallantly until getting knocked flat on his back. A former New York state featherweight champion, Diaz seemed to outbox and outwork the favored Juarez in several rounds, and fought back continually when hurt.

Juan Diaz (22-0, 10 KOs), of Houston, won a fast-paced, nonstop slugfest that featured numerous tremendous exchanges by the scores of 98-91 twice and 96-93, but there was never a moment the aggressive, superbly conditioned 19-year-old could relax. There were no knockdowns. Diaz was the youngest boxer (17 years old) to appear on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING when he won a six-round decision over Brad Jensen on Jan. 13, 2001.

Lorenzo (18-2, 11 KOs), of San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, had an 11-fight winning streak end. The FECARBOX 130-pound titleholder, Lorenzo lost a point in the fourth round for a low blow. His only other loss came on a 12-round decision to Victoriano Sosa (second cousin of Sammy) in a bout for the Dominican lightweight belt on April 30, 2001.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING's Steve Albert and Al Bernstein called the action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast was Jay Larkin, with David Dinkins Jr. producing and Bob Dunphy directing.

For information on upcoming SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and "ShoBox: The New Generation" telecasts, including complete fighter bios and records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at http://www.sho.com/boxing

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