Jo Jo Diaz: ‘I feel like I’m at my prime’

Devin “The Dream” Haney (26-0 15 KOs), WBC Lightweight World Champion, and Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, Jr.  (32-1-1, 15 KOs), WBC Interim Lightweight World Champion and mandatory challenger, hosted a press conference today to launch their highly anticipated match on December 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, live worldwide on DAZN.

Below is what the fighters had to say:

DEVIN HANEY, WBC LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION

“I’ve been preparing for this fight for a while now, I’m so thankful that the fight finally came, and I just can’t wait to show JoJo Diaz that he can be a dog, but at the end of the day skills pay the bills. If that’s his only approach that he’s going to dog me, come on I’ve been seeing that my whole career, if that’s his Plan A and I’m going to let him dog me, it’s going to be a long night.”

“At the end of the day, I don’t think it’s any real doubt with these guys with me, none of them are in a rush to fight me. JoJo Diaz wasn’t in a rush to fight me, I feel like we had to corner him to make him take the fight, all these other guys it’s the same thing. They know my skills set, how much I bring to the table, if JoJo didn’t take this fight the world would have known what it really was. Come December 4, they’re going to see.”

“I can’t overlook JoJo Diaz, I know he’s going to come to fight, he’s telling us that he’s coming in there to try and dog me out. I don’t want to make it through this press conference without telling him thank you for taking this fight, thank you for stepping up because most of these guys wouldn’t.”

“I just can’t wait. This is going to be a great fight, JoJo Diaz is a dog, he’s proven that, and I do feel like he is in the prime of his career. It won’t take anything away from my victory when I win.”

“I’ve been seeing guys come at me and try to do everything they can to win for ever now. I’ve always been a slick boxer and had skills, I’ve seen it over and over, time and time again. I do feel like his style will be tailor made for me, there’s nothing that he can do to win. He can’t outbox me, I’ll show him he can’t out bang me, I have the size advantage, all the tools to win.”

JOSEPH “JOJO” DIAZ, JR., WBC INTERIM LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION

“This is going to be a tremendous night and an action-packed fight, I know Devin Haney is a really skilled elusive fighter, but I’m a dog. I’m the type of person that has already been in there and dealt with that experience and adversity. I know what it is to kill or be killed.”

“I’m just going to go out there and do what I’ve got to do to become victorious, not matter what it takes. If he wants to try and box, I’m just going to hunt his ass down. If he wants to come and bang, I’m just going to bang it out as well. Whatever he wants to bring to the table I’m going to bring it.”

“I feel like I’m at my prime, I feel like I’ve already took all the steps I needed to take to be at this point in my life and my career. As far as taking fights with Jesús Rojas, Tevin Farmer, Gary Russell Jr., Javier Fortuna, I’ve already fought those top tier contenders.”

“I feel like Devin Haney is a young fighter, a hungry fighter, he has a lot of experience and ego to go out and put on tough challenges. I feel like he doesn’t have the experience I have, and I feel that’s going to be the key factor to my victory come December 4.”

“When I say out dog, it’s not just throwing punches and stuff like that, I’ve got all the skills and resume in the back of my mind and career. I’m a 2021 Olympian, I’ve fought all these tough fighters already, I’m not just going to throw punches to throw them. I’m going to break his ass down.”

“I know that Devin is a very skilled fighter and it’s going to be tough fight, he’s going to bring out the best in me and I’m going to bring out the best in him. At the end of the day, I know what I’m about and that there’s a lot at stake for me. I’ve been through everything already, all the trials and tribulations in my life and career, but now I’ve got my son and my family that brings me that extra motivation to go out there and risk it all in that ring.”