CANASTOTA, NY – JUNE 6, 2005 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced today reigning WBA lightweight champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz will attend festivities planned for the 16th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend set for June 9-12th. While in Canastota, Diaz will conduct two public workout sessions for the fans..
“Juan Diaz is an exciting young star in the boxing world,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “The fans will really enjoy seeing him workout as he prepares for his next title defense.”
Diaz will hold public workout sessions at 1 pm on both Friday, June 10th and Saturday, June 11th. The sessions will include heavy bag, speed bag, jump rope and ring work.
Fighting out of Houston, TX, the 21-year-old “Baby Bull” won the WBA lightweight title on July 17, 2004 with a 12-round win over Lakva Sim and has successfully defended his championship twice. His most recent win came against the tough Billy Irwin, who Diaz stopped in 9 rounds in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Houston’s Reliant Center. While fighting, the undefeated Diaz (27- (13KOs)) is pursuing a political science degree at the University of Houston and plans on attending law school in two years.
The June 9-12th Hall of Fame Induction Weekend will feature over 20 exciting events including a banquet, parade, golf tournament, boxing autograph card show, breakfast, cocktail party, professional boxing show, and the official induction ceremony honoring the Class of 2005. New inductees to be honored are featherweight champion Bobby Chacon, junior welterweight champion Duilio Loi, featherweight champion Barry McGuigan, junior middleweight champion Terry Norris, matchmaker Don Fraser and writer Bert Sugar. Posthumous inductees will also be honored.
Over 50 boxing stars, including Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Ken Norton, Emile Griffith, Aaron Pryor, Leon Spinks, Alexis Arguello, Michael Carbajal, Angelo Dundee, Alan Minter, and Canastota’s Carmen Basilio and Billy Backus are scheduled to participate in weekend festivities.
For more information on the Hall of Fame’s 16th Annual Induction Weekend please call (315) 697-7095 or visit www.ibhof.com.