Diaz Goes Distance With Gonzales, but Loses Decision

A bloodied, dazed Javier Diaz took flyweight Paul Gonzales of East Los Angeles the distance before losing a unanimous 10-round decision Monday night in the main event of a five-fight card at the Irvine Marriott hotel.

It was Gonzales’ first bout since a controversial loss to United States Boxing Assn. champion Ray Medel June 17 at San Antonio. Gonzales was eager to rebound from a fight he said he thought he won, but he struggled at times against the smaller but quicker Diaz to keep the fight off the ropes.

“His quickness really gave me problems,” said Gonzales, a 1984 Olympic gold medal winner. “The way he was bobbing up and down, he was able to make me hit his head instead of his body, and after 10 rounds, that wore on my hands. His height (5 feet, contrasted to the 5-9 Gonzales) really gave him an advantage. When he came in, I never had a clear shot at him. And when he stood away and I would jab, he would be able to bob away.”

Said Al Stankie, Gonzales’ manager: “He wasn’t as sharp as I wanted. I think he probably gave me 75% of what he’s got. He’s got to do better, but this was pretty good.”

In the early rounds, Gonzales (9-1) appeared tentative. Diaz (40-18) was able to force him to the ropes, where he scored most frequently in the last 30 seconds of each round. But in the seventh, Gonzales launched a crushing right to Diaz’s right eye, leaving his opponent stunned and his eye bloodied.

“I thought maybe that was it,” Gonzales said. “He was staggered. But he kept coming, he kept bringing the fight to me.”