Another boxer training with them, world super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev, will defend his two titles in March. "It hasn't stopped bleeding," Ervin adds. Decades ago, when this part of Coachella, the city -- right next to Indio -- looked abandoned, the building housed a crumbling boxing gym. Boxers walk around trying to catch a breath and get a drink for their burning throat. It was a high-crime area, known for drugs and prostitution. Ive seen my dad train fighters my whole life, Joel Diaz Jr. said, but I havent seen that happiness, that comfort, that peace, that look in his eyes until now. From noon until past midnight, they'll listen to emerging artists and superstars alike. Acosta laughs along. While still yelling instructions, Diaz is organizing who'll fight next. Not just them, but everyone here. The goal for many was always to work here, for a season or two, maybe longer, then return. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com. Flores is 18 and has boxed since he was 7 years old. The doctor looks at Acosta's hand as he hears the story. With his right eye gone, so too went his dreams. "These guys" were the coyote and his family -- his wife, mother and kids -- who drove them for over a day from their rancho in the mountains of Michoacan, Mexico to an unincorporated part of eastern Coachella Valley. For six days, festival goers from across the country, and world, will pack into the 250 acres of the Empire Polo Club's immaculate green fields. "You got to come in like this," he says, as he moves side to side while throwing punches. It's not a serious cut -- a notch above a paper cut, on the meaty part of the palm closest to the thumb -- but it hasn't stopped bleeding. Led by the Diaz brothers Joel (in the white shorts) and Antonio, the roster of professional boxers can match any other gym in the world in terms of talent. It's where Garcia once got punched in the face so hard he understood that boxing wasn't for him. When Joel built his gym, Flores' father, a carpenter, did the framing. He put away every trophy, plaque and medal he earned. He dabs away the blood and looks at everyone. You gave somebody too much authority of your life,'" Diaz said. Joel Diaz Jr. - Boxing News Find him on Twitter: @Andrew_L_John. They've been married for two years, splitting their time between Mexico, where she's from, and Puerto Rico, where he's from. Hed write down his plans, his goals, his schedule to make it happen, and would occasionally put his head down on the tableand rest for a few minutes. I want to be a great champion, said Munguia. Im going to put in the work. And I did.. After eight months of work, the building remains a work in progress. He built his camp from the ground up, starting with a twice-burned-down building he bought ten years ago for $230,000 dollars. Joel was close to delivering on the promise he made to his mother, who didn't want him fighting. Seldom are cruiserweight matchups as enticing to watch as this one. "I'd wake up the next day, go home and try finding something to do," he says. His job was irrigation. When he got up, he had no idea where he was but his corner worked furiously to get him ready for the final round. It's where the snowbirds live in million-dollar homes and car dealerships sell Rolls-Royces and Lamborghinis that glisten in the sun. As he explains it now, a few months after that experience, Joel walked into the boxing gym in downtown Coachella. Photos: Indio boxing gym of world-renown trainer Joel Diaz nearing Directions Advertisement. That amount shocked him, considering $5,000 was the most he'd been paid until then. To be fair, Bennett has seen many fighters in the past with undefeated records who were not up to challenges, especially against the likes of Golovkin. He's still in the ring, talking into a microphone, saying he wants to fight for a world championship next. Right now we have Maricela Cornejo and Vergil Ortiz getting ready to fight in Cancun, Mexico on Nov. 16.. The area has some of the most prestigious golf courses in the world. I would like to thank him, said Munguia about Bennetts refusal to allow him to fight Golovkin. The super lightweight fight will take place at the Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California. Barrios was like a madman pounding Popo with a variety of wild shots, but with exactly one half of one second to go before the bell ending the round, Freitas caught La Hiena with a monster right hand that caused the Hyena to do the South American version of the chicken dance before he went down with his face horribly bloodied. He was the first and only inductee into the inaugural class of the Texas Boxing Hall of Fame, an organization founded by El Paso promoter Lester Bedford in 2015. That, along with intelligence, is how he trains everyone here to fight. Joel Diaz helping put Indio front - Indio Senior Center | Facebook His opponent hung on for dear life. Contreras and Sinnett, residents of Omaha, were singled out for their scorecards in the match between lightweights Thomas Mattice and Zhora Hamazaryan, an eight round contest staged at the WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa on July 20. He says this side of Coachella is where fighters come from, and he swells with pride whenever he sees them on television. Once a highly touted prospect he states his biggest loss was to Regis Prograis in 2017 when he fought the soon to be light welterweight world champion and was stopped in the second round. The Brazilian fans urged their hero on but to no avail as Barrios rendered a pure beat down on Popo during virtually the entirety of the 11th roundone of the most exciting in boxing history. DAZN will show Joel Diaz Jr. vs Mercito Gesta tonight exclusively around the world.. He's talking about where his gym is, on the eastern side of the Coachella Valley. The building boasts 10-foot ceilings and the design for the space is expansive. (Marquez elected to continue and stopped Jaca in the next round.). That gave Diaz a dateto get an abandoned building he owned, whichhad been damaged by a fire, ready to open to his boxing clientele. Were going to do that with this gym.. JoJo Diaz, an Olympian from the Los Angeles suburb of South El Monte, beat Tevin Farmer last February to secure the International Boxing Federation's super featherweight title in Miami. After10 years, its now paid off, Diaz said. Stars like Argentinas Lucas Matthysse to UFCs Cub Swanson have walked through the doors of the gym that is run like the United States Marine Corps recruiting depot. Eduardo Salazar hopes that those who watch this documentary are inspired to better their lives, even when times are tough, just like Joel Diaz has done. Even the transients who I asked to leave, when they see me, they ask, Hey Coach, hows the gym coming along?. Boxing Techniques; Boxing Gym; Latest Fight Replays. More than anything, he looks relieved. How a gym in California's Coachella Valley became an international Bradley won world titles as a super lightweight and welterweight and ultimately became one of the best pound-for-pound prizefighters in the world. The sense of urgency every boxer lives with was replaced by uncertainty. In 1987, when the U.S. Supreme Court decided that neither the state of California nor Riverside County could dictate authority over the various American Indian tribes, it changed the landscape for good and brought professional boxing to the forefront. Mercito Gesta vs Joel Diaz Jr at Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio Filipino boxer Mercito 'No Mercy' Gesta will take on twice beaten Joel Diaz Jr in a 10 round Lightweight bout. Looking for something to do in a desert where it's easy to get lost. ET. When Mucio fights and Acosta watches, he feels the same. he shouts at no one and everyone at once. Otherwise any future fights for the Philippine great will not be forthcoming. Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio has grapefruit trees on its compound alongside the plush hotel swimming pool. But Im really excited for (Joel and Antonio) to get their own place and to do it the way they want to do it. Andrew John is a reporterfor The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Monday Morning Cornermen (Nov. 6 edition), The Hauser Report: Wilder-Stiverne and More from Barclays Center, In an unprecedented development, the Boxing Writers Association of America has started a watch list to lift the curtain on ring officials who have screwed up. Veteran Texas referee Laurence Cole and Nebraska judges Mike Contreras and Jeff Sinnett have the unwelcome distinction of being the first honorees., Boxing is a sport where judges and referees are rarely held accountable for poor performances that unfairly change the course of a fighters career and, in some instances, endanger lives, says the BWAA in a preamble to the new feature. Thank you head trainer Joel Diaz of the Indio, Ca. boxing gym for the Key Principal: Joel Diaz See more contacts Industry: Physical fitness clubs with training equipment Printer Friendly View Address: 49375 Jazmin St Coachella, CA, 92236-3210 United States Phone: Employees (this site): Actual Employees (all sites): Actual Revenue: Modelled Year Started: ESG ranking: ESG industry average: What is D&B's ESG Ranking? From an administrative standpoint, boxing in Texas during the reign of Dickie Cole was frequently described in terms befitting a banana republic. We dont treat her any differently than we do the men, said Joel Diaz. He said that he expects the gym to live on long after he one day retires. The brutal sun will make the gym in that once-bad place, so hot that in between rounds, boxers will drink their water and stand beneath the air conditioning vents that work best. What changed? He was big and tall and had a beard. The boxer is one of several Eastern European and Central Asian boxers -- from Uzbekistan and Russia mostly -- who train here. What time is the Joel Diaz Jr vs. Mercito Gesta fight tonight Last May, Bivol beat Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, a boxer many considered the best in the world. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com. Thirsty for liquid, the burning desert absorbed each drop of blood. That's how state Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia describes the contrasts within Coachella Valley, part of the district he represents. JoJo Diaz's boxing approach altered by becoming a dad - The Desert Sun Diaz, 47, said he expects the new gym to open in March. Whether he makes it into the Hall will depend on how much a No Mas can count against one, but he warrants serious consideration when he becomes eligible. Gracia just raises his eyebrows and gives the slight shrug of "I don't know.". "No, you don't have to go," the man tells him, "Only if you want to." In the fifth round, Marquez sustained a cut on his forehead from an accidental head butt. Joel Diaz 18: 3: 0: 4 KOs 2 KOs; wiki. ON A THURSDAY night in early April, when the valley's mornings and evenings are still cool, there's a growing tension in the last place where Diaz fought as a professional. We are excited and honored to have coach Joel Diaz join us to teach a boxing class next Wednesday November 20th at 6pm at KBX Fitness Indio. Theres no wasting time. Joel Diaz: Yildirim going to shock the world - Fightnews.com . KBX Fitness, 82545 Showcase Parkway Suite 107, Indio, CA (2023) In about a week from Acosta's fight, the Coachella music festival will start. He simply moves, resets and continues yelling. Advertisement. While wrapping his hands, Oscar Gracia, who helps train fighters at Diaz's gym, accidentally cut Angel "Tito" Acosta, their boxer on the main event. Mucio has a fight sometime in June or July, so in a few weeks, they'll return to train again in the Coachella Valley. In a couple of months, the heat will be so unbearable those who can buy their way out will. The building has remained empty for years. Hence the watch list, which is designed to call attention to egregious errors in scoring by judges and unacceptable conduct by referees.. "She'd have beat the s--- out of me," he answers while smiling. Palm Springs Desert Sun Subscription Discount | Subscriber Services, Olympics more important than major titles for some women golfers, Strong and silly, Sarah Robles of Desert Hot Springs, is off to Tokyo, hoping to lift her way to another medal, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He doesn't go. In boxing and in life, it is always better to give than to receive. As soon as the doctor says all's well, everyone's able to joke. He'd bought his parents used cars and earned enough for a down payment on a modest house where all nine of them -- five brothers, two sisters, his mother and father -- could live. : Thank you head trainer Joel Diaz of the Indio, Ca. And, like Manny, he did and he also pursued a career in politics. The air is full of questions and the quiet confusion of trying to figure out what went wrong and what they could have done different. "The doctor says if you want to go to the hospital, they can take you," a member of the team translates for Acosta. He and Gracia have known each other for nearly 40 years. It's the stomach pain from hunger while trying to make weight. Diaz Brothers (@thediaztrainingcamp) Instagram photos and videos It's been almost 40 minutes since the sun set on Coachella Valley, and now it's Acosta's turn to fight. While hes had some help, Diaz has done the majority of the work himself. It's the old gym that's now a restaurant, the place where every day he and his fighters swept away plaster and pieces of concrete that fell from the walls. She has to do the same work as the guys. "It's fine," he says. In this age of PEDs there was no mention of testing for the Pacquiao/Matthysse fight. Joel Diaz fought for the IBF world title against South Africa's Phillip Holiday in 1996 and lost by decision. Boxing is a sideline for Laurence Cole who runs an independent insurance agency in Dallas. Joel Diaz "I told him when he came to the gym [last week], 'The problem is not you. They'll come and leave along with the part-time residents that make this place their part-time home. When Acelino Freitas turned professional in 1995, he streaked from the gate with 29 straight KOs, one of the longest knockout win streaks in boxing history. On October 19, 1996, Joel lost a twelve-round decision to undefeated IBF lightweight champion Philip Holiday in Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg. But when it's time to fight, they train in Diaz's gym, in part because his strong personality reminds them of Mucio's father. Hes just waiting for his time.. Dedication was never a problem for Joel. Diaz, 48, said he plansto open the gym up to the community for a grand opening in September. Indio boxing gym of world-renown trainer Joel Diaz nearing completion It's a welcomed distraction from the importance of this fight. This was improper. Every second is used by the prizefighters. he yells at a Mexican boxer, imploring him to attack. Bradley was groomed by the Diaz brothers into a professional style that was pleasing to boxing fans in the Southern California area. But by the time he got to high school, he'd won 55 of his next 57 fights along with two national titles and knew exactly what he was born to do. More recently, Cole worked the 2014 fight between Vasyl Lomachenko and Orlando Salido at the San Antonio Alamodome. He was just 23 years old when boxing took it from him. She looks calm even if her stomach is full of nerves. Make of that what you will. Munguia stopped by Los Angeles to meet with the media last week and spoke about Bennett and his upcoming first world title defense. He'd scream and yell. "It's a different place, and a different world, within the same community." And because there was nothing left to do, they all exit the ring and return behind the thick black curtain. This is what Diaz does throughout the day. It's Friday and that means it's sparring day for his pros. He couldn't risk losing the money or the opportunity, so he waited until after the fight. Claim this business. While the Coachella Valley is a perfect winter escape for those with money, it's also home to some of the country's most fertile lands. The community, in turn, has helped Diaz make this project a reality. But Cole insisted that the match continue and then, after another knockdown that he ruled a slip, let it continue for another 35 seconds before Velascos corner mercifully threw in the towel. I barely slept for a year while I was working on this, said Diaz, who has wonworld titleswith 13 differentboxers during his two decades as a trainer. I can imagine what its going to look like when were done.. Women's boxing divisional rankings: Ryan shakes up welterweight division after impressive win, Arrest warrant issued for Nate Diaz after brawl, Sources: Smith-Eubank rematch set for June 17, Gervonta Davis says he's the face of boxing and he's right, Inside fight week for a boxer and his trainer: A miner's vest, a bean dip can and plenty of fruit salad, Bivol no longer an afterthought after beating Canelo -- and lots more superfights are ahead, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Joel wanted to become world champion, but of course, that didn't happen either. Whatever sense of peace they find, it comes from knowing they've done all they can to prepare. But that would just a short-term solution and Diaz had until July 1 to move into a new facility. He said he thinks about that often when hes pushing a broom and putting work into the gym that before last year he never really thought about building. He asks if he must go. When he was active as a fighter Antonio captured the IBA world welterweight title and fought many of the best fighters in the world including Sugar Shane Mosley for the WBC welterweight world title in November 2000.