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Steve KimESPN
A sharp and focused Christopher Diaz defeated Jason Sanchez by unanimous decision in a 10-round featherweight contest by the scores of 98-92 (twice) and 97-93 Tuesday night at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
From the very beginning, Diaz (26-2, 16 KOs) was quicker and more accurate than Sanchez (15-2, 8 KOs), who had issues getting punches on Diaz, who darted in and out quickly while throwing fast combinations and moving away unscathed. Diaz got off to a good start and built an early lead before showing great accuracy throughout the night.
Eventually, Sanchez got settled and had some good moments, as he started to let his hands go more liberally in the second half of the fight. But while he landed his share of punches, he received more from Diaz. Though Sanchez threw more punches (443 to 372), he was outlanded by Diaz by one punch (116-115). The cleaner, more precise work belonged to Diaz.
It was a good victory for Diaz, whose only professional losses have come to Masayuki Ito in 2018 (for the vacant WBO 130 pound title) and last year to current WBO featherweight world titlist Shakur Stevenson. Despite those setbacks, Diaz seems like he could be a world-class fighter.
“I will try again for the world title. Bring me whatever names you want, and I will be world champion,” Diaz said after the fight.
And fighting as a featherweight, coming in at 124 pounds for this contest, he has designs of competing at junior featherweight.
“I can fight at featherweight, or I can make 122 pounds,” Diaz said. “Whatever Top Rank wants, but I’m ready for a big fight in either weight division. I am a completely different and improved fighter from the one who fought Shakur Stevenson last year.
“I’m ready for a big fight now. Whether it’s at 126 or 122, I’m ready. This is a new Christopher Diaz.”
Contreras dominates Vargas for decision win
Miguel Contreras defeated Rolando Vargas in a solid battle of undefeated junior welterweights that had a quick tempo from the very beginning. After six rounds, all three judges had Contreras up by the scores of 58-56.
The shorter Contreras (11-0, 6 KOs) used his stature to his advantage for much of the night by getting inside and unleashing a two-fisted attack on the taller Vargas (5-1, 5 KOs), who was cut in the third round from a clash of heads. Vargas was consistently beat to the punch on the inside, and while he became more comfortable and started to land his long right hands, backing Contreras up, it wasn’t enough to stop the activity and consistency of Contreras.
Olguin outpoints Stewart
Helaman Olguin (8-3, 2 KOs) defeated Adam Stewart (8-1-1, 5 KOs) by majority decision after six relatively slow-paced rounds. Olguin won the heavyweight fight by the scores of 57-57 and 58-56 (twice),
There weren’t many clean punches landed by either fighter, but there was plenty of clinching between the two throughout this contest. The most damage incurred by either boxer was a cut underneath the right eye of Stewart after a clash of heads in the first round. If there was a punch that was effective, it was Olguin’s long, sweeping left. At the end, Olguin did just enough to get his hand raised in victory for the seventh consecutive time.