Jojo Diaz returns to the UK in a move that harkens back to his amateur boxing days while also marking BKB’s first foray into Newcastle. Jojo Diaz is fighting Brian Hyslop at BKB 60 on October 10th in what is the sophomore BKB fight for the former and the Trigon debut for the latter, who previously fought for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

Jojo Diaz is an Olympian with a demonstrably high level amateur pedigree, but he also has professional boxing stripes, with the two modalities catering to different aspects of combat. When asked if the more surgically precise shot selection of amateur boxing or the power punch-centric approach of the professional ranks comes more to the forefront while fighting in bare-knuckle, Jojo Diaz said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“I think overall, my skills and everything are going to display come fight night. I know that Brian Hyslop, he’s going to be a warrior. He’s going to come to try to showcase everybody what he’s all about. I know that he’s training hard and I give him all the credit for stepping in the ring with me, man. But like I said, come fight night, I’m going to showcase to everybody what top tier, elite ass whooping is, man. Come fight night, man, I’m going to go out there and give everybody a great night of fights. Do everybody a great favor and please the fans come fight night.”

“I know that my punch selection and my placements from my amateur pedigree, from being an Olympian, if I’m being a world champion and fighting these world champions, I’ve seen a lot already inside that ring. I’ve seen a lot already. So, I know what to do fundamentally as well to attack. So, with this bare knuckle, I know that I just got to be precise with my punches and they’re going to be deadly, man. I’ve been feeling very, very strong in there and you guys are going to see that come fight night, man. Brian is in for a rude awakening.”

Jojo Diaz made his bare-knuckle debut in his last fight, and when giving his overall thoughts on securing a first-round finish over Nate Williams in Los Angeles at BKB 56 in July, Jojo Diaz stated [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Oh, man. I mean, first of all, man, I thank BKB for giving me this opportunity and giving me this platform to showcase my talents, man. Especially fighting bare-knuckle, man. I know it’s a deadly sport and I know it’s a very crucial sport but it’s something that I’m very good at, man. I’ve been fighting my whole life. I was bullied as a little kid and I know what it takes to become and be a warrior inside that ring. I think from my first fight, man, like I said, it’s a lot more deadly with my punch placements, man.”

“I’m a very accurate puncher. I mean, I was a 2012 Olympian and I was a world champion. So, I know how to place my punches and especially with just bare knuckle. Those punch placements and when I land those shots are going to be very crucial. It’s going to be very devastating. They’re going to be very hurtful. I know that Brian’s going to be feeling my punches, man. I wish him nothing but the best. I hope he’s training very, very, very hard. I hope he’s ready to give the fight fans a great night of fights because I’ve been training my ass off, man.”

I’ve been training with the best trainer in the world right now, Freddie Roach. Training at Wild Card. I got a lot of steam rolling right now, man. Where I know that I just got to keep on showing out and doing what I got to do. I know that come fight nght, I’m going to execute.”

As far as if Jojo Diaz and Freddie Roach obviously curate different camps for bare-knuckle as compared to how they train for gloved boxing bouts, Jojo Diaz quipped [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Yeah, it is a little more. We’re actually being more offensive. I’m not trying to fight on my back foot that much. I mean, we’re fighting in a Trigon, man. It’s a little triangle, man. So it’s very, very small. So there’s not that much room to be moving around and stuff like that. You want to make sure that every placement and every step that you’re moving, you’re ready for attack because at every given time in that little triangle, man, your opponent could attack you. So you want to make sure that you’re ready for any given attack at any given time.”

“That’s what I’ve been doing, man. I’ve been training very, very hard. We’ve been seeing what what Brian is capable of doing and we know that he’s going to come out there ready to go. But like I said, man, I’ve been training with the best. I’ve been having some good sparring and I gave my life to Christ. I’m in the best shape of my life, man. I’m ready to go out there and show all the Newcastle and the UK fans what bare knuckle fighting is all about.”

Jojo Diaz is going for the attack to give fans a great BKB 60 experience

When asked if Diaz’s localized Trigon experience, in concert with his pressure-intensive style, will inform his path to victory over Hyslop, the BKFC vet who is making his first trek into the Trigon, Jojo Diaz said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Oh, absolutely. I mean, I feel like just everything, my overall pedigree, and just everything in my life right now has fell into place. I’m very thankful for my Lord and Savior for giving me another chance to do everything right for my family, for my beautiful family that I love. I have two beautiful little kids that I strive for and I fight for every day. I’m just doing it for them, man. So, I’m just very, very thankful that I’m able to do what I love, man. It all started when I was 11 years old, man, when I was bullied and I just told my father that I was getting bullied.”

“He took me to the boxing gym and I started learning self-defense, man. That little self-defense led to one thing and that led me to being an Olympian, led me to being a world champion, and now led me to BKB. So, I’m ready to go out there and give the fight fans a great experience and showcase to everybody what I’m all about, man. How much of a fighter I am.”

When inquiring about if a replicated first-round finish from the debut is in the proverbial crosshairs or if it’s more about getting into a flow state while inside the BKB Trigon to be more adaptable and fluid, Jojo Diaz stated [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Oh, I’m going for the attack, man. I’m going for the attack. If I could get him out of there in the first round, I’m going to get him out of there in the first round. I’m not going to play with myself or play with the fight. If I know that I could get him out of there and if I can get him out of there, I’m gonna get out get him out of there. I’ve been training very very hard and I’ve been through a lot in my whole entire life, man.”

“I know what it takes to be at this pedigree at this point again. I’ve been training very, very hard and you guys are going to see. Whatever Brian’s doing, man, I thank him and I’m happy that he’s training hard. I’m happy that he’s getting this opportunity, but I’m ready for whatever he brings to the table. You guys are going to see come fight night a spectacular good night of fights.”