HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (AP) — Juan Diaz added the International Boxing Federation championship to his World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization lightweight titles Saturday night when his unification fight with Julio Diaz ended a second into the ninth round.
The bout ended just as the bell to start the round rang. Julio Diaz’s brother, Joel, a cornerman, told the referee to stop it, bringing a fight that Juan Diaz (33-0, 17 knockouts) had dominated to a sudden conclusion.
Now, the only belt missing is the World Boxing Council title. That belongs to Chicagoan David Diaz, who was in the building Saturday.
Juan Diaz put together several solid combinations in the opening round and kept it going in the second. He landed a combo to the face with about a minute left, added a solid right and finished the round with another flurry.
Juan Diaz landed more combos to the head in the third, but his opponent remained standing. No surprise. Juan Diaz only had 16 knockouts entering the fight.
That pattern continued throughout the fight. Juan Diaz would land a flurry, the crowd would roar and Julio Diaz (34-4) would remain standing.
By the end of the seventh round, Julio Diaz’s left eye was swollen.