Diaz Cruises Past Masvidal
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Joshua Garcia – Staff Writer
Anaheim California – Evolution in anything you love is sometimes frustrating, tedious and tumultuous, but undoubtedly leads to the growth of a sport. Last Saturday night, while fans at the Prudential Center walked out on Newark’s own Shakur Stevenson, a boxer who would’ve easily been as popular as Floyd Mayweather in another era, was upstaged by a UFC fighter in only his second professional fight, who completely sold out a raucous Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
As Nate Diaz, a wildly popular star in the UFC, took his ring walk to face UFC champ Jorge Masvidal, the crowd erupted to a level no other boxer has received this year. You would never know Diaz lost his professional boxing debut, because the applause was that of an undefeated champion who’s been around decades. And thus, underscores the grand change in the sport of boxing.
Popularity and followers have replaced wins, losses and championship belts when it comes to status and importance in the sweet science. As Shakur Stevenson struggled to keep fans in seats during another tactically perfect bout on network television, Nate Diaz sold numerous pay-per-view buys and had a sold out arena locked in until after his post fight comments in the ring.
Popularity aside, Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz provided the enamored audience with a back and forth battle which saw each take control at points and in others, find themselves on the ropes hanging on for dear life. What the two fighters lack in professional boxing talent, they quickly make up with raw determination, street fighting endurance, and pure dislike of each other. Often in UFC, the rivalries are a little nastier due to the nature of the sport, and bringing that element into the boxing world is greatly welcomed.
After a dramatic reading of the cards by Jimmy Lennon Jr., Nate Diaz found himself with his first win in professional boxing, earning a majority decision in which the two judges who gave him the nod, had him winning decisively (98-92, 97-93). Following his big win over Jorge Masvidal, Diaz was asked what’s next in his career, to which he responded, “Next, I’m gonna beat Jake Paul’s ass. I’m down to fight the highest rated boxer I can find. My main objective is to be the best fighter in the world.”
Recent Comments