In what was one of the more inevitable things that was to happen in boxing happened on Tuesday as former Lightweight champion Juan Diaz retired from boxing to pursue a law degree according to Dan Rafael of espn.com
Two weeks after signing a contract to fight David Torres and announcing that he would end a one-year layoff, the former unified lightweight titlist withdrew from the fight Tuesday, telling promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing.
Diaz, a graduate of the University of Houston Downtown, had recently been accepted to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Law School. He has talked for years about someday going to law school, but the lure of the ring seemed like it was too much.
“I have the acceptance letter from law school and I look at it every day and question myself every day if I am making the right decision,” Diaz told ESPN.com two weeks ago when he announced his comeback fight. “I put it to the side and say law school can wait. What I really want is to become champion again, so I’ve been emailing back and forth with the university to see if I can work something out where they will let me defer for a year because I don’t think I want to go yet.”
Willie Savannah, Diaz’s manager, faxed a hand-written letter to Margules telling him of Diaz’s decision.
“He had trained 4-5 days per week for months in anticipation of once again becoming a world champion,” Savannah wrote. “He made this decision last Friday and I support it 100 percent. I hope that Warriors and ESPN will understand.
“Diaz does not have a history of pulling out of fights like a lot of boxers do. I apologize for the inconvenience this will cause all parties.”
“It’s been awhile and I am very excited and very pumped about being back in the ring,” Diaz said. “Last time I fought was July 31 last year, so it’s going to be a year. So I’m looking forward to fighting again and showing people what I still have.”
