Joel Diaz: “If Mayweather-Pacquiao happens, it’s an even fight, it’s a 50-50 because Mayweather slowed down a lot!”

Boxing trainer Joel Diaz has been part of more than a few big fights in his career. Not only is he a former world title challenger as a fighter, but he has trained many fighters to championship belts and twice trained Timothy Bradley to face boxing star, Manny Pacquiao, going 1-1 in the two encounters. In part 2 of my interview with boxing trainer Joel Diaz, I get his thoughts on a big fight and hot topic, Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. Joel shares his thoughts on how he thinks that fight with go and which fighter has more left at this point in their career. Additionally Joel Diaz gives his final prediction for tonight’s Bradley vs. Chaves fight and also talks about the stable of fighters he has going into 2015. Here is what Joel Diaz had to say.

Jenna J: How important do you think it is for Tim Bradley that he moved past the Pacquiao fight?

Joel Diaz: It’s very important because Tim had a big weight on his back since the first fight. Sometimes in life you have to deal with a defeat, at one point there was somebody who said, “I’d rather have you lose a fight and have people like you than win a fight and people don’t like you.”

We lived with a dark cloud since 2012 after that fight with Manny Pacquiao and he feels after this last fight with Pacquiao, okay we lost but we gained more from that defeat than from the first one. He more relieved, he’s happy, the approaches from the people are different.

Jenna J: I want to get your views on the boxing scene a little bit. Manny Pacquiao recently returned with a win over Chris Algieri and now the talks about Mayweather-Pacquiao has started again. Do you think we will ever see that fight and if it happens who would you favor?

Joel Diaz: I’m gonna be very honest with you, if Manny Pacquiao and Mayweather fight, just through my experience and my knowledge, I can tell you that right now Mayweather is between the sword and the wall, he’s cornered. He either has to step it up and fight Manny Pacquiao or he’s gonna lose a lot of credibility because I can hear it and I can see it, Mayweather is already at the point where people are not believing in his ability anymore because he hand picks his opponents.

I saw Mayweather in his last two fights and he diminished a lot, his ability diminished a lot. You can tell when with Maidana after the third round, Mayweather became a different Mayweather.

If two years ago that fight had would have happened, I would go Mayweather because Mayweather is very slick, he has great reflexes, he’s a great counter puncher and Mayweather waits for you to make a mistake and makes you pay for it. On the other hand, Manny Pacquiao is reckless, when he unloads he’s reckless, he opens up a lot and those particular areas Mayweather is real smart at.

Right now if that fight would happen, it’s an even fight, it’s a 50-50 because Mayweather slowed down a lot. I don’t know if age is catching up to him and Manny Pacquiao is at that point where it’s whoever wants it the most.

Even though Pacquiao is a heavy hitter and he’s strong and fast but Mayweather has fast reflexes, especially with the right hand. Mayweather catches every southpaw with the right hand but like I said, once Manny Pacquiao is in the ring with Mayweather, Mayweather is gonna feel that speed and power and things can change. Right now I have it 50-50, it can go either way.

Jenna J: Out of Mayweather and Pacquiao, who do you feel has more of their abilities left?

Joel Diaz: Mayweather because he’s more of a technician, he has less wear and tear on his body because he’s a boxer and Manny Pacquiao is a brawler, he comes to fight. Pacquiao takes a lot of punches before he gives you punches. If I had to give somebody more, it would be Mayweather because he’s more conserved; he doesn’t have that wear and tear like Manny has.

Manny has fought basically everybody at the top, every top fighter in the boxing world, Manny Pacquiao has fought them and Mayweather has not. Mayweather has conserved himself to basically win decisions by using strategy, technique and movement.

Jenna J: Let’s turn things back to the fight you have this Saturday with Tim Bradley. How do you expect his fight with Diego Chaves to go?

Joel Diaz: All I can tell you is this, it’s gonna be a great fight. Styles make fights but Timothy is very stubborn, he can get in there and try to be smart and box but at points, me as a fighter, I understand Tim Bradley and when things get tough in there, he’s gonna make it tough.

We’re gonna see a fight because I know Tim’s ability and I know what he feels inside when he gets hit. Once he gets hit with that heavy punch, you’re gonna spark him up and he’s gonna make it a brawl. I’m pretty sure that me controlling Tim Bradley in there, we’re gonna have a great fight but if he goes out of control on his own like he did with Provodnikov, we’re gonna see a war.

Jenna J: In closing, you work with a lot of boxers out there, are there any fighters that you’d like to mention that have upcoming fights?

Joel Diaz: I got Jesse Magdaleno, he’s a superstar in the making, I got Diego De La Hoya (8-0, 6KO’s) another superstar in the making. I got Jose Roman, Artemio Reyes, they’re part of my camp and they’re great. This year they all won, Artemio just won a seventh round knockout, Jose Roman just won a third round knockout a couple of weeks ago.

Diego Magdaleno just won a third round knockout in Texas, and Diego De La Hoya knocked out a kid in six rounds. I got a great stable and you guys are gonna see a lot of my fighters because we’re taking it slow, we’re taking it a day at a time, a fight at a time. In the near future you guys are gonna see a lot of great talent, great fighters and soon to be world champions.