Legendary coach Miguel Diaz has cornered some of boxing’s most precocious talents.
During an illustrious career stretching back to 1974, Diaz lent his services to modern greats Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, and Miguel Cotto in varying capacities from trainer to cutman.
But when asked to pick the most talented fighter he ever worked with he went with former three-weight world champion and first-ballot Hall of Famer James ‘Lights Out’ Toney.
“It’s tough! Toney had everything, he was the total package, he was aggressive, he was a tactician,” he told Ring Magazine of the boxing icon who beat Evander Holyfield, Iran Barkley and Mike McCallum.
Diaz also reserved the distinction of the strongest and smartest fighter he ever trained for the Michigan technician.
Speaking about his ring IQ, Diaz said: “Steve Johnston was very clever in the ring. Floyd was clever.
“James Toney was a very smart fighter. Everything in boxing was easy for him, he was natural.”
Then touching upon Toney’s brawn, he added: “You’ve got to consider James Toney that kind of fighter, you could not push him back.
“Also, Mike McCallum a very strong fighter.”
The first boxer Diaz ever guided to a world title was Roger Mayweather in 1987.
Through Roger, Diaz was introduced to his talent-laden nephew Floyd.
He worked with Floyd as a co-trainer and cutman for a stretch alongside rising star Diego ‘Chico’ Corrales.
But he was forced to pick between ‘Money Mayweather’ and Corrales when they were booked to face each other in a much-anticipated super featherweight clash in 2001.
Diaz chose to work in Corrales’ corner for the fight instead of staying with Mayweather, with whom he had a longer relationship.
“It wasn’t easy working with Corrales because of his alcoholism, and if Mayweather’s camp would come up just a little he would have worked with them, but they would not budge.”
Corrales was subsequently dropped five times and stopped inside 10 rounds by Floyd.
It marked the end of Diaz and Floyd’s partnership.
