South El Monte’s Joseph Diaz sees boxing dream end short of a medal

LONDON -- Teenage bantamweight Joseph Diaz Jr. saw his Olympic dream come to a premature end Wednesday when he was outpunched by classy Cuban world champion Lazaro Alvarez, 21-15.

Diaz, who boxes out of a tiny community center in South El Monte, wanted to turn pro two years ago to help out his father, who had lost his job as a truck driver. But his family persuaded him to take a once-in-a-lifetime shot at the Olympic Games instead.

Diaz, a pro-style boxer, fought an active fight and appeared to rock Alvarez with shots to the head in the first and second rounds. But the Cuban, who boxes in a more classic amateur style, piled up points with the judges with his counterpunching.

“I thought the scoring should have been closer. But the judges didn’t see that way,” Diaz said. “He’s a really great counterpuncher, man. He’s very long so it’s hard to get in on him. Once you get in, he puts his whole body weight on you [so] either you can be tired or you can’t put shots on him.

“He’s really smart and he’s a really great fighter. So I hope he gets the gold medal.”

Diaz, who wants to follow in the footsteps of Olympic and world professional champion Oscar de la Hoya, said he plans to stay in London through the conclusion of the Games before returning to South El Monte to begin the pro career he delayed two years ago.

“It’s all good, man,” he said. “I’ve just got to go back home and train like I never trained before.”

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