Tag Archives: Joel Diaz

Taras Shelestyuk & Ruben Villa Successfully Defend Unbeaten Records on Saturday Night

          

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHILADELPHIA, Penn. /ORANGE, Calif. (July 3, 2017) – In the “Locked n’ Loaded” main event, welterweight Taras “Real Deal” Shelestyuk (16-0, 10 KOs) made quick work of Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez (15-3, 11 KOs) by knocking him out in the third round Saturday night from Omega Products International in Sacramento, Calif. 

Shelestyuk, who is ranked No. 5 by the WBO, predicted a knockout win in his prefight interview with the Olympic bronze medalist (London 2012) saying he planned to be aggressive from the start.

“I didn’t want this fight going the distance,” said Shelestyuk, who attributes the aggressiveness to new trainer Joel Diaz. “Joel and I worked on increasing our punch output and it showed in this fight.”

Shelestyuk, who is from the Ukraine but now makes his home in Los Angeles, rocked Rodriguez in the first round. He connected on a two-punch combination that sent the Mexican to the canvas. In the third round, Shelestyuk struck early and often, earning the knockout win at the 2:05 mark.

Top featherweight prospect Ruben Villa (7-0, 4 KOs) of Salinas, Calif. delivered a beating to overmatched veteran Jonathan Alcantara (7-16-2, 1 KO) of El Salvador. Villa, who swept all three scorecards (40-36), looked equally comfortable fighting on the outside or in the pocket.

“I think this fight showed how versatile I am,” Villa said. “I boxed him well and mixed it up inside without taking any hits. It was a solid performance.”

Villa, indeed, looked the part of an elite prospect. He was aggressive the entire fight, yet was extremely disciplined on the defensive end.

“There’s no doubt I frustrated him,” Villa continued. “I could tell he was having a hard time. I never let him relax.”

Shelestyuk and Villa are co-promoted by Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing.
For more information, please visit Banner-Promotions.com. 
For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check Banner Promotions Facebook Page , and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @BannerBoxing.
Photo by Carlos Baeza / Thompson Boxing

Taras Shelestyuk Enjoying Working with New Trainer Joel Diaz Ahead of Saturday’s Fight

      
      
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ORANGE, Calif./Philadelphia, Penn. (June 27, 2017) – Undefeated, world ranked welterweight Taras “The Real Deal” Shelestyuk is banking on his new trainer, the highly regarded Joel Diaz, to take his game to the next level.
“I enjoy working with Joel Diaz,” said Shelstyuk, who brought home a bronze finish in the 2012 London Olympics to his native Ukraine.  “He’s a great communicator. He knows how to bring out the best in boxers.”
Shelestyuk (15-0, 9 KOs), who on Saturday headlines Thompson Boxing’s “Locked n’ Loaded” 8-round main event from Omega Products in Sacramento, Calif., is currently ranked No. 5 by the WBO.
At 31, Shelestyuk can ill afford a slip up on his way up the official rankings. His opponent, Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez (15-2, 11 KOs), is all too eager to play the spoiler on Saturdaynight.
“I know I can’t sleep on Rodriguez,” said Shelestyuk, who is promoted by Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing. “I have to make a statement early in the fight to let him know what I’m about.”
Shelestyuk vs. Rodriguez and the entire 8-bout card will be streamed live on TB Presents: Locked n’ Loaded. Watch the action on ThompsonBoxing.com and Facebook Live beginning at 6:30 p.m. PST / 10:30 p.m. EST.
Tickets for “Locked n’ Loaded” are priced at $40, $60, & $100 and are available for purchase online at ThompsonBoxing.com, or by calling 714-935-0900.
Shelestyuk is coming off a unanimous decision win against Jaime Herrera in November. The fight, televised on SHOWTIME, had championship implications with Shelestyuk winning the WBO-NABO welterweight title.
Since teaming up with Diaz several months ago, Shelestyuk, who is a southpaw, has tightened his punching ability and plans to be assertive throughout the 8-round fight.
“I think most people know that I’m more of a boxer than a puncher,” said the Los Angeles-based Shelestyuk.  “You can still have an aggressive style with a technical game plan and that’s what we’re working on. How to be aggressive in a methodical fashion.”
“This is a big fight for Taras.  Should he win on Saturday, we feel he is ready for a major fight.  He is hungry and has the incentive to put on a great performance on Saturday night,” said Banner Promotions President, Artie Pelullo.
In the co-feature, standout amateur Ruben Villa (5-0, 3 KOs) of Salinas, Calif. looks to stay undefeated against Jonathan Alcantara (7-15-2, 1 KO) in a fight set for 6-rounds.
Villa has all the tools to become the next world champion at featherweight. He cleaned up the amateur ranks with back-to-back National Golden Gloves championships prior to turning professional last year.
He inked a promotional contract with Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing last July.
TB Presents: Locked n’ Loaded broadcast team consists of Beto Duran on play-by-play and Steve Kim provides expert, color commentary.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. local time with the first bout at approximately 6:30 p.m. Omega Products International is located at 8111 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento, CA 95826 and can be reached at 916-635-3335.
“Locked n’ Loaded” is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Lucas Oil, in association with Everlast.
For more information, please visit Banner-Promotions.com.
For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check Banner Promotions Facebook Page , and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @BannerBoxing.
Photo by Carlos Baeza / Thompson Boxing

Provodnikov seeks vengeance in 2016 Provodnikov inferno wants another crack at “Fireman” Bradley 

Siberia, Russia (November 12, 2015)– After his dominant performance this pastSaturday when he stopped previously undefeated Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez, former WBO junior welterweight champion, Ruslan Provodnikov is ready for a huge 2016 as he targets the best fighters at junior welterweight & welterweight.
At the top of his list is WBO Welterweight champion, Timothy Bradley.
Provodnikov stopped Rodriguez in 4 rounds in the main event at the 7th Edition Monte-Carlo Boxing Bonanza Night of Champions and is looking for the biggest fish to fry as he embarks on the new year.

The fight was his maiden voyage with new trainer Joel Diaz.

“This was a good win for me. I felt confident and my defense already felt better. I know that in the next camp things will come together for me and Joel’s training. My goal for next year is to avenge my losses to Lucas Matthysse, Mauricio Herrera, Timothy Bradley and Chris Algieri!”, said Provodnikov.

Said Diaz, “This was a fight to get him back after the tough fights.  We had a strategy of working on defense and body punches.  He did a little more of that then he did in previous fights.  It will take a couple of fights to get him to where I want.”
“After the fight he said he wanted to redeem his losses to Matthysse, Bradley and Herrera.  I like that, and there are other opponents such as Danny Garcia.  That would be a great fight because they are both heavy hitters.
But Bradley is at the top of the list as a rematch of the 2013 Fight of the Year and would be the most desirable fight for the boxing fans.
Bradley, who was trained for two decades under Diaz, also won on Saturday as he stopped Brandon Rios in 9 rounds under the guidance of new trainer Teddy Atlas.
“Teddy is a great motivator, and he brings a lot of energy to the corner.”
One of the memorable moments from Saturday’s Bradley – Rios encounter was a spirited Atlas tirade where he was comparing Bradley to a fireman.
“Well if Bradley is a fireman, it is Ruslan that brings the inferno to the fight.  If they rematch it would be a tough fight.  After the first fight, everybody knows that Bradley was scarred from the bout.  Bradley was damaged and in a rematch, that is what Bradley would be thinking about, and he would not be focused.  Ruslan would take the initiative and knock him out”
“Ruslan looked great.  The collaboration between Ruslan and Joel Diaz is going well,” said Provodnikov’s promoter Artie Pelullo.
“This win sets everything up for a big 2016.  He indicated to me that he wants to avenge his losses and also seek the biggest fights.  I think he is in prime position to do just that.  I expect to have him in a big fight in the first quarter of 2016. “

Trainer Joel Diaz discusses new union with Ruslan Provodnikov

For Immediate Release
Manchester, England (October 8, 2015)– World renowned trainer Joel Diaz has been named the new trainer of former junior welterweight world champion, Ruslan “The Siberian Rocky” Provodnikov.
Diaz, who has guided many world champions, will train Provodnikov in Indio, California as Provodnikov prepares for his next bout , which will be announced shortly.
Below is a video interview with Diaz discussing his new pupil.
Media outlets may use the video on their websites and digital platforms by copy/pasting the embedded code.
Joel Diaz, October 7, 2015
Joel Diaz, October 7, 2015