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Steve KimESPN
Sharp and focused Christopher Diaz defeated Jason Sanchez by unanimous decision in a 10-round featherweight contest for scores of 98-92 (twice) and 97-93 on Tuesday night at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
From the start, Diaz (26-2, 16 KOs) was faster and more accurate than Sánchez (15-2, 8 KOs), who had trouble hitting Diaz, who came in and out quickly while throwing quick combinations and moving. . away unharmed. Diaz got off to a good start and built an early lead before showing great precision throughout the night.
Finally, Sánchez settled in and had some good times as he started to release his hands more freely in the second half of the fight. But while he got his share of punches, he got more from Diaz. Although Sánchez threw more punches (443 to 372), Díaz surpassed him by one hit (116-115). The cleanest, most accurate job belonged to Diaz.
It was a good win for Diaz, whose only professional losses have been for Masayuki Ito in 2018 (for the vacant WBO 130-pound title) and last year for current WBO Featherweight World Champion Shakur Stevenson. Despite those setbacks, Díaz looks like he could be a world-class fighter.
“I will try again for the world title. Bring me the names you want and I will be world champion,” Diaz said after the fight.
And fighting as a featherweight, reaching 124 pounds for this contest, he has designs to compete at junior featherweight.
“I can fight at featherweight, or I can do 122 pounds,” Diaz said. “Whatever Top Rank wants, but I’m ready for a great fight in any weight division. I’m a completely different and improved fighter than the one who fought Shakur Stevenson last year.”
“I’m ready for a great fight now. Whether it’s 126 or 122, I’m ready. This is a new Christopher Diaz.”
Contreras dominates Vargas to win the decision
Miguel Contreras defeated Rolando Vargas in a solid undefeated junior welterweight battle that had a fast pace from the start. After six rounds, all three judges had Contreras up by scores of 58-56.
The shorter Contreras (11-0, 6 KOs) used his stature to his advantage for much of the night by entering and unleashing a two-fist attack on the taller Vargas (5-1, 5 KOs), which was cut in the third round of a head butt. Vargas was constantly hit by the blow inside, and although he felt more comfortable and started to land his long right hands, supporting Contreras, it was not enough to stop Contreras’ activity and consistency.
Olguín highlights Stewart
Helaman Olguin (8-3, 2 KOs) defeated Adam Stewart (8-1-1, 5 KOs) by majority decision after six relatively slow-paced rounds. Olguin won the heavyweight fight with scores of 57-57 and 58-56 (twice),
There weren’t many clean punches thrown by either fighter, but there were plenty of rivets between the two throughout this contest. The greatest damage sustained by any of the boxers was a cut under Stewart’s right eye after a first-round head-butt collision. If there was a hit that was effective, it was Olguin’s long and wide sweep. In the end, Olguin did enough to raise his hand in victory for the seventh consecutive time.
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