Diaz Fights Head Games

It would appear that no matter what Javier Jauregui throws at him tonight in his first shot at a world title, Julio Diaz has already faced a more formidable foe -- the fighter that is his own mind.

Because while Diaz, the pride of Coachella, is the challenger to Jauregui’s International Boxing Federation lightweight championship belt, he was also once a can’t-miss prospect whose mind played tricks on him on the bumpy road to a title.

“Now that it’s here ... I’ve got to close the deal,” said Diaz, who is 29-2 with 22 knockouts and has won five consecutive fights, four by knockout. “I’m anxious to get there and see the result.

“I’m having a hard time trying to beat myself in the head. Right now, I’m just trying to keep my head together and walk in the ring.”

Upset losses tend to throw off highly regarded prospects, especially when the defeats are so devastating.

The nature of Diaz’s first defeat after 23 victories -- a controversial 12-round decision to Angel Manfredy on Oct. 6, 2001 -- angered Diaz more than hurt him, as many ringside observers said they thought Diaz won the fight.

Still, not only did Diaz lose his unblemished record, he also lost a multimillion-dollar deal with HBO.

But it was Diaz’s second loss, two fights later, against then-unheralded Juan Valenzuela, that seemed to doom Diaz.

Valenzuela knocked out Diaz in the first round.

“They’re motivation,” Diaz said of the defeats, later referring to them as learning experiences. “Manfredy, that wasn’t a loss. And Valenzuela, that was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”

Jauregui, who weighed in Wednesday at 134 1/4 pounds, feels Diaz’s pain.

Though the Guadalajara-born Jauregui was never the bright prospect, the 135-pound champion has always been a tough guy who often took fights at the last minute.

He, too, has been the victim of a first-round knockout, Acelino Freitas dropping him March 18, 2000, in Brazil.

“We seem to have a lot in common,” said Jauregui, whose record of 47-10-2 with 34 KOs is more reflective of a journeyman than a world-class fighter. He won the vacant title Nov. 22, 2003, with an 11th-round stoppage of Levander Johnson at Grand Olympic Auditorium.

“He’s a good fighter, a tough combatant, and it will be a good test for me,” Jauregui said of Diaz, who weighed in at 134 1/2. “He’s from Coachella, so he should have a lot of people there rooting for him.”

Initially scheduled to take place in El Cajon at the Sycuan Casino’s parking lot, which would have seated about 1,500, the bout was moved to the San Diego Sports Arena to meet heavy ticket demand.

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In the semi-main event, Jhonny Gonzalez (22-4, 20 KOs) of Mexico City will fight Alejandro Montiel (47-6, 27) of Los Mochis, Mexico, for the North American Boxing Organization bantamweight title.