Showtime Quick Pick

Diaz Jr. looks to keep his perfect record intact

Joel Diaz Jr. vs. Tyler Asselstine: With the big HBO fight on Saturday night other networks are rolling out there own boxing cards as an appetizer.  The action will start on Thursday night on Fox Sports 1 when the undefeated Joel Diaz Jr. (15-0, 12 KO) takes on Tyler Asselstine (14-1, 7 KO) in a 10 round junior lightweight bout.  This should be a good bout mostly because it will be the toughest opponent each fighter has faced.  If Diaz Jr. keeps winning he will also quickly become a fan favorite due to his aggressive style.  Diaz Jr. is quick on his feet and possesses a good jab but he isn't a slick boxer by any means.  While he may have the tools to be a boxer he has the mindset and power of a true puncher.  Diaz Jr. loves to throw crooked punches and he has a big right hand to go along with his best punch, his left hook.  Unlike a lot of big punchers Diaz Jr. doesn't like to fight in a phone booth but instead stays at a smart distance where he can really extend his power punches.  Defensively Diaz Jr. is solid but has been dropped and tends to get touched up when the fight is at close range.  Still at only 22 years old whatever slight flaws Diaz Jr. has can be fixed and if he tightens up his overall game he could be a future star.  Across the ring from Diaz Jr. will be Asselstine who goes about his business much differently than the power puncher does.  Asselstine is a boxer first and foremost and doesn't have top level power.  He is a southpaw who fights in a safe, classic defensive position and avoids a lot of big punches.  Even when he isn't throwing punches Asselstine is a very busy fighter.  He feints a lot and his right hand is always in action even when he is just using it to distract his opponent.  Asselstine isn't a very active puncher but he is a very accurate one and his fast hands allow him to land crisp combinations.  This should be a very interesting fight because both fighters like to work from the outside but have very different styles.  Diaz Jr. will be throwing a lot of power punches while Asselstine will try to pick his spots and land sniper like counter punches.  Asselstine is a very good fighter but he may not be a busy enough puncher to win this fight.  I think that Asselstine will have plenty of opportunities to counter the power punches of Diaz Jr. but the volume punching of Diaz Jr. will help him win rounds and ultimately the fight by the way of split decision.