By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(© Journal Group Link International)

C HICAGO (jGLi) – Former World Boxing Council (WBC) Lightweight Champion David Diaz of Chicago, Illinois, is on his comeback trail as he  faces fellow American lightweight contender Robert “Red Hot” Frankel, who once beat Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao’s little brother, Bobby Pacquiao, on Friday, Jan. 28, in the main event of the Windy City Fight Night 15 at the University of Illinois in Chicago Pavilion.

Diaz, a Chicago native, who bowed to Manny Pacquiao two years ago, is going to snap Frankel’s six-bout winning streak in a ten-rounder following Diaz’s decision loss to Mexican veteran Humberto Soto for the vacant WBC Lightweight Title last March 13 at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in front of a crowd of over 51,000. Diaz and Soto were featured as co-main event to boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao’s world title defense against Joshua Clottey.

Diaz, 34, told this reporter Tuesday, Jan. 18, during an open media workout at the JABB Boxing Gym at the near northwest of Chicago’s downtown that if he beats Frankel he loves to be featured in the undercard again of the main event of Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Sugar Shane Mosley at MGM Grand in , Las Vegas, Nevada on May 7.

Diaz also predicts Pacquiao beating Mosley “during this good and interesting” bout, adding, “we love to fight in the undercard” of this bout. He is being promoted by Top Rank Promotions.

Ranked 22nd in the world, Diaz has amassed a 35-3-1 record with 17 TKO’s.

In his last bout in Chicago area on September 26, 2009, Diaz clobbered former world champion Jesus Chavez on his way to a ten-round decision in front of a huge crowd at the UIC Pavilion.

Diaz’s Victory Over Erik Morales

D iaz also beat boxing legend Erik Morales to keep his WBC Lightweight belt on August 4, 2007 before an overflow fans in the Allstate Arena at suburban Rosemont.

Diaz also wants his fans to follow him in Facebook and Twitter.

Frankel has run up a record of 27-9-1 (4KO’s) and has remained undefeated during his last six bouts, including wins against notables including Ricardo Dominguez, Bobby Pacquiao, Ramon Montano and Derrick Campos.

Frankel also battled world-ranked fighters Lamont Peterson, Dmitriy Salita, Henry Bruseles and Michael Stewart.

Bernie Bahrmasel of Double B Publicity said the 8 Count Productions will also showcase at Windy City Fight Night 15 light heavyweight contender Andrzej Fonfara (15-2-0), undefeated welterweight prospect Jaime Herrera (5-0-0), junior welterweight prospects Ramiro Carrillo (3-0-0) (2KO’s) and Genaro Mendez (3-0-0) (2KO’s) as well as undefeated Russian prospects Anton Novikov (18-0-0) (6KO’s) and Aslanbek Kozaev (13-0-0) (5KO’s).

Dominic Pesoli and former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened in 2003 the JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000-square foot sports center for Chicago’s boxing talents. # # #

Editor’s Note: To contact the author, please e-mail him at:  (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)