Joseph Diaz Jr. vs Oscar Duarte Preview April 27th, 2024
Former IBF Junior Lightweight Champion Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz Jr of Downey, California returns to the ring this Saturday, April 27thwhen he takes on Mexico’s Oscar Duarte. The 10-round junior welterweight tilt from Fresno, California, can be seen live in most nations on DAZN. Diaz dropped a 10-round split decision to Jesus Campos in his last outing in February. He had beaten Jerry Perez by a 10 round unanimous decision in July in previous outing to snap a three-fight losing skid as he lost a 10-round split decision to Mercito Gesta, a 12-round unanimous decision to William Zepeda and a 12-round unanimous decision to Devin Haney in a shot at the WBC Lightweight Title. Duarte last fought in December when he was stopped by Ryan Garcia in the eighth round.
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Diaz Jr. vs Duarte Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Joseph Diaz Jr +275
- Oscar Duarte -375
My Pick
The 31-year-old southpaw Diaz Jr. lost his first world title shot when he dropped a unanimous decision to WBC Featherweight Champion Gary Russell Jr. in May, 2018. He then beat WBA Titleholder Jesus Rojas by unanimous decision three months later but came in overweight for the fight and wasn’t able to win the belt. It was third time lucky for him though when he beat Tevin Farmer for the IBF Super Featherweight Title via unanimous decision in 2020.
He then lost the belt when he failed to make weight against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in February, 2021 and ended up fighting to a 12-round draw with him. In his following fight he won the WBC interim belt with a unanimous decision over Javier Fortuna but lost it against Devin Haney and was then beaten by Zepeda and Gesta before rebounding with the win over Perez and the defeat to Campos in his last outing to bring his pro record to 33-5-1 with 15 Ko’s. He’s lost four of his last five fights and won just two of the past seven.
As an amateur, Diaz was a member of the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team at the 2012 Games in London, England where he went 1-1 as a bantamweight. He also reached the quarterfinals of the 2011 World Amateur Championships. He turned pro in 2012 and has fought 305 rounds since. Diaz has average power at best in his fists with 45.5 per cent of his wins coming by way of stoppage and and has gone the distance in 12 of his last 13 fights.
He stands 5-feet-6-inches tall with a 64-inch reach and has also captured the NABF and WBO-NABO Featherweight Titles and the WBA Gold Super Featherweight Crown. He also has wins over Jesus Cuadro, Freddy Fonseca, Victor Terrazas, Rafael Rivera, Manuel Avila, Horacio Garcia, Jayson Velez, Hugo Partida, Rene Alvarado, Roberto Castaneda and Ruben Tamayo.
The 28-year-old Duarte enters the fight with a mark of 26-2-1 with 21 Ko’s and has fought 137 rounds since turning pro as a teenager back in 2013. He has quite a bit of power in his fists as 80.8 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage including his last 11. The last time Duarte was taken the distance was by Adrian Estrella over 10 rounds in 2019 with Estrella taking a split decision to capture the vacant WBC Continental Americas Lightweight Title.
Duarte’s lone draw was a four-round split decision with Roberto Garcia in 2014. At 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 71-inch reach, Duarte has a three-inch height advantage over Diaz as well as seven inches in reach. His best wins have come against Juan Jose Montes, Rey Perez, former world champion Roger Gutierrez, Nestor Armas Hernandez, Humberto de Santiago and Javier Franco. He also stopped Andres Garcia in the fifth round in 2020 to win the vacant NABF Lightweight Title.
Prediction…
Diaz appeared to get his career back on track with his win over Perez in July after suffering three straight defeats but he was then beaten again by Jesus Campos in his last outing and has won only two of his last seven fights. Duarte has plenty of power and looked impressive against Ryan Garcia before being stopped. Diaz gives up a lot in height and reach and will need to work his way inside against Duarte, but based on his latest performances I just don’t see this happening. Diaz has plenty of experience and a great chin but I’m going with Duarte to win this fight.
Duarte’s size and power should be the difference.
Play: Duarte -375 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Joseph Diaz Jr. betting • Oscar Duarte betting