For Diaz, ’12 win was a nightmare

LAS VEGAS – Joel Diaz duly remembers the night of June 23, 2012 when Tim Bradley beat Manny Pacquiao in a bout he wasn’t supposed to win.

Diaz said it wasn’t the fondest of memories.

“That stage was set for Manny Pacquiao to win. We knew that fight was meant for Manny Pacquiao to win,” he said.

And he knew why.

Bradley, the hard-nosed trainer said, was put in front of Pacquiao as part of a business plan that should make the Floyd Mayweather fight with the Filipino champion happen.

Diaz said it was all about Pacquiao vs Mayweather.

Bradley wasn’t supposed to win. But he did. And everybody was up in arms.

“It’s common sense boxing is a sport but it’s also business,” said Diaz who remembered sitting from the corner and watching Pacquiao miss most of his punches.

That Pacquiao only worked 30 seconds in each round.

When the final bell rang, the first thing Diaz did was order one of his cornermen to lift Bradley because right there he thought they won the fight.

“At the end of the fight Timothy Bradley was clean – except for his injured feet. Going 12 rounds with Manny Pacquiao and clean that was a win,” said Diaz.

The victory was awarded to Bradley.

“But then everybody was like we stole something. Even going back home. Our worlds changed. ‘Did you really win?’ People would ask. ‘They gave it to you.’”

“People were telling us, ‘You guys didn’t win. Give the belt back. You are thieves,’” said Diaz.

And it went on and on and on.

Even months after the fight, the accusations wouldn’t go.

Diaz said he would go and watch some other fights from the bleachers section.

“I go to a fight and not sit at ringside because someone will aggravate you. I sit at the bleachers but someone will recognize me,” he said.

The same questions are asked wherever he goes and wherever he went.

On Saturday, he went on, Bradley will beat Pacquiao.

“Then we go home happy,” he said.