LAS VEGAS: Top Rank prospect Floyd Diaz can extend his pro boxing record to 10 wins unbeaten with victory Thursday at an event inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and though he remains a fledgling star on the world stage, he told ProBox TV and other reporters that he wants to be ready for the biggest name fighters within two years.
"The biggest super fight I can think of is Naoya Inoue," Diaz said.
With a knockout ratio of 92%, world championship titles in four weight classes, and wins over Nonito Donaire and Stephen Fulton, Inoue is regarded as one of boxing's finest fighters.
Aged 30, Inoue may well dominate for many more years to come — and though he now competes at super bantamweight, one weight class higher than Diaz, the burgeoning boxer hopes he can get himself on Inoue's radar before he's retired.
"Fighting Inoue, he's obviously a great fighter, with great power," said Diaz. "He recently moved up to 122 and I'm doing my own thing at 118, I just want to establish myself right there, get my championship experience and show people what I've got at 118, so they take me more seriously when i do fight someone like Inoue."
Nicknamed 'Cashflow', Diaz referenced his Boxrec ranking of 12 in the United States and 74 in the world in his division.
He said he hopes to "look spectacular" and get "closer and closer" to the top 15 rankings of the world championship bodies with a midweek win over Max Ornelas.
"I'm two years to three years from my first big mega fight" like against Inoue, Diaz told ProBox TV.
"I'll definitely be a world champion before that," he noted, and said his next few fights are all about gaining recognition from the world title organizations, to show them he can do something, and challenge for major honors as soon as possible.
"I've been in the bright lights before, I've been in there all my life," he finished. "I'm not pressured, I'm not worried. I'm just going to go in there and look beautiful."
Diaz's fight with Ornelas is on the undercard for a Top Rank doubleheader involving Emanuel Navarrete and Robson Conceicao, and Shakur Stevenson and Edwin de los Santos.
