It's this story of survival that explains why people in Coachella Valley's east side are drawn to him. Joel Diaz Training Camp LLC Company Profile | Coachella, CA 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. The reach for glory finally within their grasp. Indio boxing gym of world-renown trainer Joel Diaz nearing completion All he had to do was win and he'd fight for a world title. 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. The facility also has locker rooms and restrooms for men and womenand willeventually include saunas, a laundry room and massive office space. "Cordova was a tough opponent," Acosta says. Fighters who, for a variety of reasons, reached their level here, among the desert's drab colors, instead of the bright lights of places like Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York. And if all that weren't enough, there's always someone calling his phone. "The doctor says if you want to go to the hospital, they can take you," a member of the team translates for Acosta. That his young boxer was able to have the kind of homecoming fight that he. We dont treat her any differently than we do the men, said Joel Diaz. The Diaz coaching staff suddenly became world famous too and their gym began filling up with more boxers from not just the Coachella Valley region but from other parts of the country as well. The sudden result stunned the audience. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Email The doctor looks at Acosta's hand as he hears the story. Watch. Acosta walks down the hall, surrounded by about a dozen people. Around the turn of the 20th century, the Colorado River was diverted, and water flowed into what was barren desert. Joel Diaz helping put Indio front - Indio Senior Center | Facebook Diaz, 48, said he plans to open the gym up to the community for a grand opening in September. A painter offered to paint the inside for free and others offered to handle the plumbing at no charge. Back then, to raise funds for travel, Lee sold raffle tickets where the prizes were pigs and cows and TVs. He was big and tall and had a beard. And, like Manny, he did and he also pursued a career in politics. He and Gracia have known each other for nearly 40 years. "It's fine," he says. Waiting for his time just like a scorpion in the desert heat. But Im really excited for (Joel and Antonio) to get their own place and to do it the way they want to do it. The building, which boasts 10-foot ceilings, is around three timesthe space the Diaz brothers had at the Boys & Girls Club. "You're going to lose your eye," the doctor warned. Indio District Office. The Vaseline and the cotton swabs. ET. Flores wins his fight in the first minute. "The gallo is the bravest animal in the world," Diaz answers when I ask him why the gamecock is in the middle of his gym's logo. How a gym in California's Coachella Valley became an international destination for boxing. Directions Advertisement. Everybody would win, I would lose," Too says. Everlast, a boxing appareland equipment company, has offered to outfit his gym with bags for free. 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. You gave somebody too much authority of your life,'" Diaz said. They were looking for new talent and Diaz brought forth some of his boxers, including Bradley. At various times during his tenure, Dickie Cole held high executive posts with the World Boxing Council and North American Boxing Federation. So he made the best of it, and built a life with his wife and four kids. How Indio Boxing Trainer Joel Diaz Helped Dmitry Bivol Secure Victory Flores is 18 and has boxed since he was 7 years old. Maybe it was the cheat meal from a few weeks ago. 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. Divisional rankings: Where do Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia land after their megafight? IBA upset by 'rogue' boxing group as U.S. quits, Sources: Anderson-Kossobutskiy to meet July 1. Freitas looked out of shape coming in to the Diaz fight and that proved to be the case as he was so gassed at the end of the eighth round that he quit on his stool. "I got to get these guys ready," Diaz says. A lot of the boxers are just like me.". When WBA/WBO super featherweight champion Acelino Popo Freitas met Jorge Rodrigo Il Hiena Barrios in Miami on August 8, 2003, there was more on the line than just the titles. He admitted to being in the middle of a whirlwind that is spinning beyond his expectations. The brothers have been training boxers over the last eight months at the Indio gym of longtime friend Cub Swanson, a UFC featherweight. The goal for many was always to work here, for a season or two, maybe longer, then return. Were going to do that with this gym.. More. "What's going on?" Diaz believes this building will be the cherry on top of a great career in boxing. While still yelling instructions, Diaz is organizing who'll fight next. The place looked so brittle, everyone worried that if an earthquake hit, it all would collapse. He dabs away the blood and looks at everyone. He found his purpose in a strange world where he didn't even speak the language. He simply moves, resets and continues yelling. He's on the main ring, next to the banner with his logo on it, a gamecock wearing boxing gloves, circled by the gym's name: Joel Diaz Training Camp. The super lightweight fight will take place at the Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California. How a gym in California's Coachella Valley became an international 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. Hence the watch list, which is designed to call attention to egregious errors in scoring by judges and unacceptable conduct by referees.. Gracia asks him in Spanish. And right now, Diaz is sitting behind the ring's red corner, giving instructions to Leonardo Sanchez, a young southpaw, also from the Coachella Valley, who everyone calls Bazooka. The building boasts 10-foot ceilings and the design for the space is expansive. Photos: Indio boxing gym of world-renown trainer Joel Diaz nearing completion Skip to . In the fifth round, Marquez sustained a cut on his forehead from an accidental head butt. Joel Diaz regularly shouts booming instructions to fighters across the lengthy gym. The idea that it was easier to show the separation of Mexican farmworkers, than to explain it, was something that'd been happening for decades. One of those guys is Bek The Bully, who'll rematch against Gabe Rosado on April 22. He would fight one more time before retiring as a fighter and continuing as a trainer. 2,235 Followers, 54 Following, 49 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Diaz Brothers (@thediaztrainingcamp) Advertisement. It's his father's birthday; the victory is part of his gifts. He'd just gotten paid $20,000, the most he ever made boxing. a voice among the many in the dressing room yells. It would not be safe, he wastold. Its slowly made the transition from training strictly local boxers to international mega stars in this past decade. 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. His opponent hung on for dear life. "We're waiting for the doctor.". It was Mosleys first defense after taking the title from Oscar De La Hoya and was held in New York City. Bradley was groomed by the Diaz brothers into a professional style that was pleasing to boxing fans in the Southern California area. The documentary is co-produced by Joel Diaz, his son, Joel Diaz Jr., along with former UFC fighter & Coachella Valley native, Cub Swanson and his brother, Steve Swanson. "It's a different place, and a different world, within the same community." When Joel built his gym, Flores' father, a carpenter, did the framing. Diaz, 47, said he expects the new gym to open in March. Palmdale's Joel Diaz, Jr. (26-2, 22 KOs) and San Diego's Mercito "No Mercy" Gesta (32-3-3, 17 KOs) hosted a media workout today ahead of their 10-round lightweight fight on Thursday, April . 2,187 likes. At the screening, coach Diaz was enjoying the moment with his friends and family. The Boys & Girls Club has been a great place for us for so many years, Antonio Diaz said. Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio has grapefruit trees on its compound alongside the plush hotel swimming pool. In a fight he'd been dominating, Bek dropped his guard for a literal second and suffered a sudden and violent knockout. Decades ago, when this part of Coachella, the city -- right next to Indio -- looked abandoned, the building housed a crumbling boxing gym. "I'm your dad. In two rings beside each other, there are two fights going on at the same time. He shouts some instructions in Spanish to the youthful father of an infant just recently born who is being held by the mother. Bad Bunny, as the most streamed artist on Spotify for three consecutive years and who might be the biggest musical act in the world, will be headlining. Photos: Boxing trainer Joel Daz to open new gym in Indio Skip to main content "Nobody pushed me, I pushed myself," he says, remembering how he'd wake up to run hours before school. As Gracia wraps Acosta's left hand, and Flores shadow boxes, Diaz returns to the dressing room. In Joel Diaz gym Indio CA | esnews - YouTube 0:00 / 3:46 Future champ hits mitts fast but his nick name is "turtle"? A member of Ring 10, and Ring 4s Boxing Hall of Fame, he was recently cited by Hannibal Boxing as one of three Must-Read boxing writers. "One minute!" Over the past few years the benefits of desert training are evident in the overwhelming success of those sweating and grinding in the sweltering desert gym in Indio. Celebrities such as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and William Powell had homes here. Another donated an ice machine. Until then the Diaz boys had been raised by their grandparents. In the second fight on the card, another one of his fighters, Grant Flores Jr., is warming up for his second career fight by stretching and jumping around. In his last fight, things were going well. His manager asked me what I thought of his last fight and we agreed, said Diaz of Vargas. After a year building his own boxing gym in Indio, doing much of the work by himself, trainer Joel Diaz is close toopening it to the community. "Joel, do you have adrenaline?" From an administrative standpoint, boxing in Texas during the reign of Dickie Cole was frequently described in terms befitting a banana republic. The boxer, a 2016 Olympic silver medalist from Uzbekistan named Bektemir Melikuziev -- everyone calls him Bek The Bully -- nods. To them this was a Mega-Fight; this was BIG. Golden Boy Promotions, which has a business relationship with the Diaz brothers and many of the boxers who train with them, has offered help as well. Antonio Diaz, the younger brother of Joel, works well with the fighters and their combined knowledge gives them insight not often found in many gyms. On April 4, 2012 Barrios was declared guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced to four years in prison. He built his camp from the ground up, starting with a twice-burned-down building he bought ten years ago for $230,000 dollars. But I was like, Wait, I have a building. Indio Councilman Glenn Miller volunteered his help. 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. The Diaz brothers are currently training Avni Yildirim for his Feb. 27 bout versus middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, and Bektemir Melikuziev for his fight later this month in Russia against former world champion Sergey Kovalev. For this indiscretion, Cole was prohibited from working a significant fight in Texas for the next six months. "Those types of values and principles are instilled in the kids many times. Since Bazooka won his fight, Diaz is happy. Kenshiro Teraji TKOs Late Sub Anthony Olascuaga; Inoue Wins Too, Avila Perspective, Chap. 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. Even if they share just a few words of a common language, they understand each other. EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: "Joel Diaz: A Hard Knock-Life" Documentary by Theres enough room for two boxing rings, a section with mats for wrestling, treadmills and elliptical machines, heavy bags, speed bags and an area for yoga and other activities. I was a little upset when they told us we had to leave the Boys & Girls Club. No matter what obstacles get in the way, you have to find a way to get through the hard times and keep fighting to overcome those obstacles., CONGRESSMAN RAUL RUIZ AWARDS JOEL DIAZ WITH CONGRESSIONAL HONOR. We always have a lot of things going on, said Joel Diaz. They've been married for two years, splitting their time between Mexico, where she's from, and Puerto Rico, where he's from. Mucio walks beside him. COVID-19: Antonio Diaz's Indio boxing club moves outdoors to California As for the Hyena, on April 8, 2005, he won the WBO junior lightweight title with a fourth round stoppage of undefeated but overweight Mike Anchondo. What time is the Joel Diaz Jr vs. Mercito Gesta fight tonight 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. Professional boxing trainer Joel Diaz has recently opened his boxing gym in Indio, Calif., on July 23, 2021. desertsun.com Photos: Indio boxing gym of world-renown trainer Joel Diaz nearing completion At the screening, were friends and family of Joel Diaz, along with important members of the community, like Congressman Raul Ruiz. The thermostat says the gym is 75 degrees, but it feels hotter. "Every time I went to a show or to a tournament, Lee would take five, six of us. I appreciate what people are doing. Let us know. 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? At the screening, coach Diaz was enjoying the moment with his friends and family. Daz, along with two of his brothers, Joel and Julio, are former professional boxers who fought for world titles after being raised in Coachella. Later, Freitas tarnished his image with a No Mas against Diego Corrales, but he had gone down three times and knew there was no way out. Joel Diaz worked for a while with Lee Espinoza at the Coachella Boxing Club before opening up his own gym. 7 Questions With Joel Diaz - NY FIGHTS The day after Diaz is gone, Mucio and Acosta will leave too. He served 27 months and never fought again, retiring with a record of 50-4-1. HBO will televise. The community, in turn, has helped Diaz make this project a reality. But it's just not the reality of the working families.". 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. As the fists and shoulders of fighters brush by him, it looks as if their violence might spill over. Now seven casinos have opened their doors in the desert region and most of them have held boxing cards at one time or another. He returns to the dressing room that not even an hour before had been so full of excitement. "Tengo que ir?" So this former champ moved it out to the desert, Riverside County reports 3,901 additional coronavirus cases, 53 new deaths Wednesday, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. boxing gym for the good words. There's a lump on the back of the right side of his head. Migrant workers come each year to the desert region to pick crops: primarily dates, grapes, peppers, and citrus fruits in the area. His chief second bullied him into coming out for another round. The inference was that Marquez was free to quit right then without tarnishing his record. He says he will because next time he just might cut off Acosta's finger. "His speed, his power and his footwork!" they say. "WE STARTED WITH THIS," says trainer Librado "Lee" Espinoza, pointing at a yellowed newspaper article taped to the wall of his gym. And because boxing is everywhere here, he still follows it, especially when there are ties to this place. How a trainer in California's Coachella Valley built one of the most important boxing gyms in the world - ESPN Skip to main content Skip to navigation Search You have come to the Philippines Edition, for other ESPN editions, click here. Joel and Antonio began telling people about the project and many began offering to help for free. Theres still a lot of work to be done, Diaz said, but its amazing the work that weve already put into this. Kids come after school to hit the bag and spar, too. During his post-fighting years, Diaz worked as a bodyguard for the type of men Chalino wrote songs about. Then came the coronavirus, forcing one of boxing's most respected trainers to put a plan into action. He put them in his truck and they drove the long way home out by the fields. They'll run their daily miles and their feet will feel as if they're on fire. Dedication was never a problem for Joel. People like 2020 Olympic gold medal winner Bakhodir Jalolov and former welterweight champion (and soon to be Hall of Famer) Timothy Bradley Jr., to name a few. Theyve built relationships with several youth boxers whose dads are either plumbers, painters or work with concrete and have offered their services. His promoter told him he'd soon fight for millions but that didn't happen. As was his career overall, maybe not well enough where he could quit his construction job, but things were getting better. This was yet another shocker, but others (including Kostya Tszyu, Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and even Ali) had done so and the criticism this time seemed disproportionate. Watch Mercito Gesta vs Joel Diaz Jr. Live Stream Fight on - Now Boxing That night the cruiserweight southpaw Usyk bored audiences with his slap happy style until lowering the boom on South Africas Thabiso Mchunu in round nine at the Inglewood Forum. With his right eye gone, so too went his dreams. Questions ahead of Paul vs. Diaz: Can Diaz box? But also, you can see up close what devotion looks like and learn how to overcome obstacles that would break less hearty souls. Order Online. "Work! Another boxer training with them, world super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev, will defend his two titles in March. How to Watch Joel Diaz Jr. vs. Mercito Gesta Fight Live - Now Boxing Joel worked in construction for years before he became a trainer, and they have a contractor who has helped. On Mercito Gesta/Joel Diaz Jr. undercard, Coachella boxer puts on show where the gym will be located. Joel Diaz hosts a pre-screening of his documentary at his boxing gym in Indio, CA. Since they understood the discipline and sacrifices required to make a living from fighting, they became fast friends. To comment on this article at The Fight Forum, CLICK HERE. More recently, Cole worked the 2014 fight between Vasyl Lomachenko and Orlando Salido at the San Antonio Alamodome. 232: Fundora Mendoza and More on a Deep Saturday of Boxing, Why Tapales vs Akhmadaliev Promises Fireworks This Saturday, Tank Davis Stops Ryan Garcia with a Near-Invisible but Lethal Body Shot, Literary Notes: Last on His Feet: Jack Johnson and the Battle of the Century, Brian Mendoza KOs Sebastian Fundora in a Shocker. INDIO, Calif.-Deep in the Coachella desert tiny scorpions come out at night so its best not to walk in sandals. Photos: Boxing trainer Joel Daz to open new gym in Indio - The Desert Sun The type of place that looks as if the things happening there are kept secret. The last time Pacquiao knocked out a welterweight was in 2009 against Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas. DAZN will show Joel Diaz Jr. vs Mercito Gesta tonight exclusively around the world.. And yet, the professionals, who aren't from here, will return because, despite the heat, they come to train with Diaz. Fifty years ago here, around the time when a farmworker's average life expectancy was 49 years old, the Coachella Grape Strike's picket lines turned violent. Im about helping the community, Diaz said. 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. . "It's just a nick.". I would sit at that table and eat, drink, write and sleep, Diaz said. "It's a small, surface level cut.". Until last year, Joel Diaz hadnt given much thought to building his own boxing gym. At its worst, a yell of desperation. It was panic time in the Barrios corner, as the blood continued to flow like lava, and he was bleeding from his ear (due to a ruptured ear drum). As he explains it now, a few months after that experience, Joel walked into the boxing gym in downtown Coachella. Diaz says, then immediately corrects himself. Hes put in so much work on that place, said Diazs adult son, Joel Diaz Jr. Now, when hes in that building, you can tell that hes at home. Motivated because he'd discovered what he was good at, even if, when he first started, he'd come home with his shirt full of blood. Diaz sings again, only stopping to tell Gracia to visit an optometrist. With the fight over, he saw a doctor about his right eye that'd been giving him problems. It's now a restaurant. It's a stepping stone to potential greatness in the profession. When Im not here, thats gonna be a legacy that is gonna stay behind because its the story of my life. It dives into everything from growing up in Coachella to winning world titles with the fighters he trained and a few things in between. Claim this business. It's where the snowbirds live in million-dollar homes and car dealerships sell Rolls-Royces and Lamborghinis that glisten in the sun. Andrew John covers sports for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Gracia just raises his eyebrows and gives the slight shrug of "I don't know.". The documentary will be available very soon on a streaming platform, no date for release has been specified at this time. Diaz said that he's rarely seen a boxer who works as hard as Flores, who is as dedicated to the gym and to the sport. Even more ironic was that two Inland Empire fighters were forced to fight 2,000 miles away instead of in California. The Coachella Valley has long been an area where the center inflatable garden slide of activity is Palm Springs. With the boys gathered around me, I want to find out what they admire most about their trainer and pro fighter. Recently Diego De La Hoya has emerged as a budding young star who is just about ready to enter the big time. It happens. Diaz teamed up with Yildirim (21-2 12 KOs) late in October 2019 but due to . These later wins, though against lower level opposition, somewhat softened the memories of the Corrales and Diaz fights, both of which this writer attended at the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut. If you enjoy honest and heartfelt talk about life and boxing then read on, you won't be disappointed. Last year, the event drew 750,000 attendees. "Let me go grab my gun," he says, "I'll shoot that thing off.". Diaz most notably trained Timothy Bradley Jr, a five-time world champion, and with Antonio as his trainer partner has helped guide others to titles in more recent years before they wereforced out of the Boys & Girls Club last year when it shut down to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. Theres no wasting time. In a couple of months, the heat will be so unbearable those who can buy their way out will. He trains about 20 professional boxers, and with three of them fighting the next day, tomorrow will be busy. Its not getting a large amount of attention in my neighborhood but this unification clash between WBA and IBF cruiserweight titlist Murat Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs) and WBC and WBO cruiserweight titlist Oleksandr Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs) has historic ramifications tagged all over it. Find Related Places. Hes enjoying everything right now, and he wants everyone who trains and visits there to have that same feeling.. Though Joel's brother, Antonio, remains employed by the Indio Boys & Girls Club and works with about 20 kids now that the facility has re-opened, an era of professional boxing at the club came to a close whereboxing history runs deep.
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