Minor belt a big deal to Southland boxer Joseph Diaz

With each fight, the magnitude of Joseph Diaz’s professional boxing career increases.

The 2012 U.S. Olympian from South El Monte on Friday night will meet Hugo Partida at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio. Tickets are priced $25-$45.

The bout will be for the vacant NABF featherweight title, a lesser belt expected to improve Diaz’s bid to move up in the various sanctining bodies’ rankings.

“It’s the most important fight in my career to date,” Diaz said. “If I win that title, it opens up a lot of doors for me and will make for a very good 2016.”

Diaz, 23, is ranked the No. 12 junior featherweight by the World Boxing Organization, No. 17 by the World Boxing Council.

Diaz (18-0, 10 knockouts) is fighting at Fantasy Springs for the fifth time, following his Oct. 23 domination of lanky veteran Ruben Tamayo, when Diaz won by three scores of 100-90.

“I’m well prepared for this fight,” Diaz said. “It’s good to stay active, disciplined and motivated. A young, professional fighter, such as myself, it wouldn’t be good to only fight two or three times a year. Golden Boy Promotions and my manager are constantly getting me fights.”

He said after five bouts this year, he’s expecting “bigger names” over the course of at least four fights in 2016, to enhance his chances at getting a title shot by 2017.

“[The frequent work] benefits me to stay disciplined and grounded, and also gives me all this experience while building myself up with all of the fans so I’ll be ready for the biggest fights.”

Mexico’s Partida (21-6-2, 16 KOs) last fought Oct. 3, losing to another Southland top prospect, Julian Ramirez, at StubHub Center in Carson.

“He’s awkward in there and is from Mexico City, so he’s in top condition because of that high-elevation training,” Diaz said of Partida. “He’s going to have a lot of durability. So it’s a test for me to try to break him down, get him tired to either finish him or win a decisive decision.”

The card, to be televised by Estrella TV at 7 p.m. Pacific, will also include 7-foot Chinese heavyweight Taishan (5-0, three KOs) against Mexico’s Daniel Arambula in a four-round bout.