#pedro diaz

[frontproofmedia]

Exclusive Interview: Unveiling the Mind of Dr. Pedro Diaz

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Published: March 18, 2024

Exclusive Interview: Dr. Pedro Diaz Opens Up About His Journey

"Invincible men only exist in movies."  -- Dr. Pedro Diaz

Being a boxing trainer is often the most underappreciated and thankless job in the sweet science. Trainers are treated as inconsequential entities that can be blamed for losses and changed at a whim. But trainers do more than hold mitts or give instructions on the heavy bag. They play multiple roles that can include being a nutritionist, a therapist, a friend, and sometimes a father figure.

They are strategists and can be the physical and, more importantly, the mental difference between winning and losing.

One of boxing's most acclaimed active trainers today is Dr. Pedro Diaz. Diaz, a native of Cuba, has trained numerous fighters in the world of boxing and mixed martial arts, including some of the biggest names in each sport. He has been part of five Olympic boxing teams from the games in 1992 at Barcelona, 1996 in Atlanta, 2000 in Sydney, 2004 in Athens, and 2008 in Beijing. The names that won gold medals under his tutelage are Joel Casamayor, Felix Savon, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Odlanier Solis, and Felix Diaz. A few of them went on to become world champions as professionals.

The most well-known fights Diaz participated in were when he trained Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto and Cuba's Guillermo Rigondeaux. When Diaz trained Cotto, he was part of two of the Hall-of-Famer's most significant fights in the early 2010s. Diaz guided Cotto to victory in a rematch against Antonio Margarito in December 2011.

The game plan mirrored their first encounter with Cotto using lateral movement and combination punching. Diaz's scientific approach to training and conditioning built a foundation for Cotto to outbox Margarito for the majority of rounds in front of a raucous pro-Puerto Rican crowd at Madison Square Garden. Cotto avenged his defeat against Margarito, earning a measure of revenge with a ninth-round stoppage.

The victory over Margarito led to Cotto fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May 2012. Cotto put forth one of the best efforts against the boxing enigma, with Mayweather landing at his lowest percentage, according to CompuBox, since his first fight with Jose Luis Castillo a decade earlier.

Diaz's magnum opus came in April 2013 when Guillermo Rigondeaux challenged Nonito Donaire in a unified super bantamweight championship bout. Rigondeaux befuddled Donaire through almost all 12 rounds in what is widely considered one of the decade's best performances.

Eager to shine a bright light on his style of specialized training and methodology for combat sports, Diaz opened the Mundo Boxing gym in 2012. In an exclusive interview with Frontproof Media, Diaz spoke about the beginning of his career, what got him into boxing, the Mundo Boxing gym, the Cuban school of boxing, the fighters he's trained, and some of his most important fights.

Frontproof Media would like to thank Derek Kapo for translating and interpreting the interview for Dr. Pedro Diaz.

Exclusive Interview: Unveiling the Mind of Dr. Pedro Diaz

Frontproof Media: How did you get started in boxing?

Pedro Diaz: In Cuba, many children practice boxing in the street and at school. I had many fights in the street and at school, and one day, my grandfather took me to a boxing gym in my city, Santa Clara / Cuba. Since that day, boxing has been part of my life.

 Frontproof Media: What/who is in your current group of fighters?

Pedro Diaz: In professional boxing, boxers regularly stay at the GYM for training camps that typically last several weeks when they have fights. Currently, Noel Mikaelian, WBC World Cruiserweight Champion, Tyrone Spong, Alexis Angulo, Guillermo Rigondeux, and others are training. 

Frontproof Media: What led you to start Mundo Boxing? 

Pedro Diaz: Well, we had the opportunity to be part of the training of multiple champions, Olympic Boxing, Professional Boxing, and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and this incredible experience motivated us to organize a group of competent professionals and create a training methodology tailored to the current competitive needs that would not only achieve the best sporting form in the champions but also contribute to the comprehensive training of children, youth and the entire community who are interested in the practice of this exciting sport. This is how Mundo Boxing was born. 

Frontproof Media: What is the ultimate goal of Mundo Boxing, and do you see it as the primary school of Cuban boxing style?

Pedro Diaz: The ultimate goal of Mundo Boxing is to continue working every day on the Optimization and Perfection of our training methodology from the Tactical Model, which focuses not only on teaching and perfecting physical, technical, and competitive skills but also on the development of MENTAL SKILLS. We are achieving the creation of intelligent, creative, and independent boxers to become GREAT CHAMPIONS OF BOXING AND LIFE. For more than 15 years, we were the Cuban Olympic Boxing Team trainers. We are not the main school of Cuban style, but we have a great influence on this style. 

Frontproof Media: How would you describe the Cuban style/school of boxing? 

Pedro Diaz: The Cuban Boxing School is a combination of two great boxing schools in the world. The American School contributed to the Cuban style with technical, virtuoso, and elegant boxing, and the European School contributed mainly to the physical part. This is how the Cuban School arose, exhibiting very technical and physically strong boxers to the world.

Frontproof Media: How long have you been training Michael Conlan? 

Pedro Diaz: Michael Conlan is an extraordinary human being and an incredible boxer. I would have liked to get into his career sooner, but he has only trained with me for eight weeks.  

Frontproof Media: How was your experience training Conlan?

Pedro Diaz: Training Conlan was an incredible experience. You combine the values necessary for boxing and life in the same boxer. Conlan is one of the most serious and disciplined boxers I have ever trained. He has a warrior spirit with a 100% winning mentality. He also enjoys boxing and his dedication to the sport is amazing. Again, I wish I had trained him sooner. 

Frontproof Media: When you train a fighter coming off a loss, are there any adjustments you make in training? Is there anything different from a mental aspect? 

Pedro Diaz: As I told you before, we not only focus on the physical, technical, tactical, and competitive parts, but we also pay a lot of attention to the mental part. THAT'S WHY THE MUNDO BOXING METHODOLOGY creates Technical, Strong, and Resistant boxers. But we also form intelligent, creative, and independent boxers (we link the physical and the mental). 

Frontproof Media: What do you think is the biggest fight you have participated in? 

Pedro Diaz: For me, all the fights are great because I work with the same passion, seriousness, and dedication, but I can mention three, and I recommend you to see them. 

 1—I left Cuba in 2007 and trained the Dominican Félix Diaz for the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008. In the final, he beat the Olympic Champion of Athens in 2004, Manus Boonjumong. In these games, with four boxers in the final, Cuba did not win a GOLD medal for the first time in 36 years. Felix Diaz was the only American boxer to win a GOLD medal because the USA also failed to win a GOLD medal.

 2- When I trained Miguel Cotto for his rematch with Antonio Margarito at Madison Square Garden. I enjoyed this victory as well. 

3—The other fight I enjoyed was Guillermo Rigondeux's win in New York against Nonito Donaire (Best Boxer in 2012, 10 years without losing, and his trainer Robert Garcia, the best trainer of 2012). This was a great victory against all odds. I also enjoyed it.  

Frontproof Media: Who do you consider the best fighter you have trained?

Pedro Diaz: I have trained several good boxers, but Miguel Cotto had a lot of good things going for him. 

 Frontproof Media: What advice were you given early in your career that you have carried with you? 

Pedro Diaz: My grandfather when I took him to the GYM because he had a lot of street fights. I remember he told me that if I liked Boxing. Whatever I wanted, I should do it well, and if I didn't, I shouldn't do it (I couldn't be a great Boxer, but I got better every day to be a better trainer). My grandfather would be happy with me.

Frontproof Media: What do you consider your greatest achievement in boxing so far? 

Pedro Diaz: My biggest achievement in boxing so far is to learn more and improve myself every day, trying to give the best of me every training session.

SPANISH/ESPANOL VERSION

Frontproof Media: ¿Cómo empezaste en el boxeo?

Pedro Diaz: En Cuba muchos niños practican el boxeo en la calle y escuela. Yo tenía muchos combates en la calle y también en la escuela y un día mi abuelo me llevo a un GYM de Boxeo en mi ciudad en Santa Clara / Cuba y desde ese día el boxeo es parte de mi vida.

Frontproof Media: ¿Qué/quién hay en tu grupo actual de luchadores?

Pedro Diaz: Regularmente en el Boxeo Profesional los boxeadores hacen estancia en el GYM por campos de entrenamientos que típicamente duran varias semanas cuando tienen peleas. Ahora mismo, entrenan Noel Mikaelian Campeón Mundial WBC Crucero, Tyrone Spong, Alexis Angulo, Guillermo Rigondeux y otros. 

Frontproof Media: ¿Qué te llevó a iniciar Mundo Boxing? 

Pedro Diaz: Bueno, hemos tenido la oportunidad de ser parte en la formación de múltiples Capeones, del Boxeo Olímpico, Profesional y las Artes Marciales Mixtas (M.M.A) y esta increíble experiencia nos motivó para organizar un grupo de profesionales competentes y crear una metodología de entrenamiento ajustada a las necesidades Competitivas Actuales que permitiera no solamente lograr la mejor Forma Deportiva en los Campeones, Sino también contribuir a las formación Integral de niños, jóvenes y de toda la Comunidad que se interesen por la práctica de este emociónate deporte. Así surge Mundo Boxing 

Frontproof Media: ¿Cuál es el objetivo final de Mundo Boxing? ¿La ve como la principal escuela del estilo de boxeo cubano?

Pedro Diaz: El Objetivo final de Mundo Boxing es seguir trabajando cada día en la Optimización y Perfección de nuestra metodología de entrenamiento desde el Modelo Táctico, que se enfoca no solamente en enseñar y perfeccionar habilidades físicas, técnicas y competitivas, sino también en el desarrollo de HABILIDADES MENTALES. Logrando aso la creación de boxeadores inteligentes, creativos e independientes para que se conviertan en GRANDES CAMPEONES DEL BOXEO Y DE LA VIDA. Por más de 15 años estuvimos como entrenador del Equipo Olímpico Cubano de Boxeo, no creo que seamos la principal escuela de estilo cubano, pero si tenemos una gran influencia de este estilo. 

Frontproof Media: ¿Cómo describirías el estilo/escuela cubana de boxeo? 

Pedro Diaz: La escuela Cubana de Boxeo, es una combinación de 2 grandes escuelas de Boxeo en el Mundo. La Escuela Americana que aporto al estilo cubano el Boxeo Técnico, Virtuoso, elegante y la Escuela europea que contribuyo principalmente con la parte física. Así surge la Escuela Cubana exhibiendo al mundo Boxeadores muy Técnicos y físicamente fuertes.

Frontproof Media: ¿Cuánto tiempo llevas entrenando a Michael Conlan? 

Pedro Diaz: Michael Conlan es un extraordinario ser humano y un increíble boxeador, me hubiera gustado entrar a su carrera antes. Pero solamente ha entrenado conmigo 8 semanas.  

Frontproof Media: ¿Dónde se ha realizado la mayor parte de la preparación para la pelea?

Pedro Diaz: 5 semanas Miami y 3 Semanas UK. 

Frontproof Media: ¿Cómo ha sido tu experiencia entrenando a Conlan? 

Pedro Diaz: Entrenar a Conlan, fue una experiencia increíble, en un mismo boxeador se combinan valores necesarios para el boxeo y la vida. Conlan es uno de los Boxeadores más serios y disciplinado que he entrenado, tiene un espíritu de guerrero con una mentalidad 100% ganadora. Además, disfruta el Boxeo y su dedicación por este deporte es sorprendente. Repito me hubiera gustado entrenarlo antes. 

Frontproof Media: Cuando entrenas a un luchador que viene de una derrota, ¿hay algún ajuste que haces en el entrenamiento? ¿Hay algo diferente desde un aspecto mental? 

Pedro Diaz: Como te dije anteriormente, no solo nos enfocamos en la parte física, técnica, táctica y competitiva, también le prestamos mucha atención a la parte MENTAL. POR ESO LA METODOLOGÍA MUNDO BOXING, crea boxeadores Técnico, Fuertes y Resistentes. Pero también formamos Boxeadores INTELIGENTES, CREATIVOS e INDEPENDIENTES. (Vinculamos los Físico y lo Mental). 

Frontproof Media: ¿Cuál crees que es la pelea más grande en la que has participado? 

Pedro Diaz: Para mis todas las peleas son Grandes porque trabajo con la misma pasión, seriedad y entrega, pero te puedo mencionar 3 y te recomiendo verlas. 

1- Bueno me fui de Cuba en el 2007 y entrene para los Juegos Olímpicos de Beijing 2008 al Dominicano Félix Diaz y le gano en la Final al Campeón Olímpico del de Atenas 2004 Manus Boonjumong. Es estos Juegos Cuba con 4 boxeadores en la final por primera vez en 36 años no lograba medalla de ORO. Félix Diaz fue el Único Boxeador de América en Lograr medalla de ORO porque USA tampoco logro medalla de ORO. Disfrute este gran triunfo. 

2- Cuando entrene a Miguel Cotto para su revancha con Antonio Margarito 2 en el Madison Square Garden. Esta victoria la disfruté también. 

3- La otra pelea que disfrute fue cuna Guillermo RIgondeux la Gano también en New York a Nonito Donaire (Mejor Boxeador en el 2012, 10 años sin perder y su entrenador Robert García el mejor entrenador del 2012). Esta fue una gran victoria y contra todos los pronósticos. También la disfrute.  

Frontproof Media: ¿Qué consejo te dieron al inicio de tu carrera y que has llevado contigo?

Pedro Diaz: Mi abuelo cuando le llevo al GYM porque tenía muchas luchas en la calle. Recuerdo que me dijo que si me gustaba el Boxeo. Que cualquier cosa que me gustara que la hiciera bien y sino que no me metiera hacerla. (No pude ser un gran Boxeador, pero me supero cada día para ser mejor entrenador). Creo que mi abuelo estaría contento de mí. 

Frontproof Media: ¿Cuál consideras que es tu mayor logro en el boxeo hasta ahora? 

Pedro Diaz: Mi mayor logro en el Boxeo hasta ahora es aprender más y superarme cada día para tratar de brindar lo mejor de mí cada entrenamiento.

(Featured Photo: Ryan Loco)

[moonxnite]

I smile like an idiot when I see my man, who’s not my man, on my television screen.

[lascitasdelashoras]

pedro diaz molins

[moonylouwho]

congresswoman digging up dirt and drama on the 118 to ruin their lives or lose their jobs

[chronicowboy]

anyway the bbemcu is 20 movies wide and growing every day <3

[allpoints]

[zeddimusprime]

Trans Man Noah Diaz

The first time I saw Rise of the Beasts, I read Noah as a Trans Man, and that headcanon just solidified after my second viewing.

I’ll get the heavy reasons out of the way first, and work down to the most silly ones.

The section that was here before has been removed, because I was overstepping and someone rightly called me out on it. However. I’m not going to lie and pretend I didn’t do what I did. I deleted the comment that called me out because it made me feel bad, I panicked, and deleted it to save my own ego. It was wrong, it was cowardly, it was fucked up, and I shouldn’t have done it.

I truly am sorry, and have spent the last day sitting with myself until I stopped trying to excuse my behavior and just acknowledged what I did. I am not asking for forgiveness, I can only try going forward to be the kind of person deserving of it.

For now, I’m taking a break from this blog, leaving it on a queue, and I won’t be posting here for a while. Even though that isn’t the kind of person I want to be, I need to reckon with the fact that that is the kind of person I am. I’m sorry, once again.

1994 was also the year Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was put into place, which, for those too young to remember, was basically a policy allowing queer and trans people to serve in the military so long as they remained closeted, and prohibited superiors from forcibly outing them. Given that we’re never actually told in the film why Noah was discharged, it’s not unreasonable to think that it may have been because he got found out as trans.

The part that’s particularly personal for me is his relationship with Kris. I’ve also got a little brother that’s quite a bit younger than me, and I acted as an extra parent to him, practically raised him since we were both latchkey kids, and yeah, there’s no doubt in my mind that I’d face the apocalypse head on if it meant keeping him safe. All that to say, it’s comforting to think that Noah’s identity as a man is inseparable from his identity as a Big Brother, the way it is for me.

Most of my other reasons are less serious:

Noah wears a lot of layers and baggy clothes on his upper half, which yes, was part of 90s fashion, but it’s also how I dressed for most of my life, even before I realized I was trans.

Noah is also non-toxically masculine in a way that’s not unheard of but also not as common for men, especially service members, of that time period. Again, there may very well be a cultural component I’m missing here, let me know if there is, but this is just something I related to as a Guy Who Wasn’t Raised As One.

This last one’s kinda silly, but I’m a Car Guy, and one of the most gender euphoria inducing things I can do is work on my car. There’s few things that make me feel like Man quite like sweat on my brow and grease on my hands and a purring engine from a job well done. So for Noah to not only be a tech wiz but specifically a Mechanic? That was the thing that really sold me on this headcanon. (And that’s not even getting into the very fun implications of Noah being the one to repair Mirage, to get to know him so intimately, literally inside and out. Very nice.)

(I also love the idea that rather than being weirded out or taken aback at first like he is in some fics, Noah would be kinda weirdly affirmed to find out that not only does Mirage have some of roughly the same *equipment* while still being treated as and being a Mech, but his setup is the norm for Cybertronians. I can so picture Noah anxiously telling Mirage about his situation when they finally get together only for Mirage to be like “you mean other human mechs don’t have a 🐈??? Like, most humans only have one or the other?????”)

[secretly-dum]

guys unfortunately fics are gonna be suspended temporarily so please send little drabble or blurb ideas !! (specify male, gender neutral, female, and etc for reader)

[the-autistic-vulcan]

Gif Credits: @milesgmorales, @the-goofball, @spockily, @sci-fi-gifs, @dualipaws, @gifstarwars, @tropes-and-tales, @ladiesofcinema

Following Characters:

Cassian Andor - Portrayed by Diego Luna

Gloria Pritchett - Portrayed by Sofia Vergara

Din Djarin - Portrayed by Pedro Pascal

Rosa Diaz - Portrayed by Stephanie Beatriz

Poe Dameron; Miguel O'Hara - Portrayed by Oscar Isaac

Chakotay - Portrayed by Robert Beltran

B'Elanna Torres - Portrayed by Roxann Dawson

Miles Morales - Portrayed by Shameik Moore

[lover-girl-estxx]

Masterlist

Masterlist Two

Nick

Barely Even Felt it

It's Okay

Yes!

my girl

Nick...

Happy Birthday

Stressed Mornings

Watch Your Mouth

Meeting The Family

I Really Need You .... Please

Work Day

Nerd

Sick Day

Night With You

I Don't Know

Duck lips

Proud

Sloppy Drunk

My Boy

Booth

Dance With Me

Really

Migranine

Always Her

Prank Wars

Drunk

I Can't Do This

Positive

Called In

Cuddle Buddy

You Think?

I Told You

Forever

Stop

Bathroom

Nightmares

New Girl

Missed You

Nothing to be Upset About

What's Wrong

Clean

M'kay

UFC 266

Biker girl + Fighter

Part 1

Part 2

NDA

NDA NDA PT2

Teacher

Teacher

Teacher PT2

Teacher PT3

Teacher PT4

Happy Halloween

Nate

Fight Night

Look at Me

Baby

Media Day

Water Bottles + Watery Eyes

I Wasn't Goi-

The Club

The Ultimate Fighter

Bad Day

Promised

Take Care

Birthday Girl

All Day

Coffee and Kisses

Hurt

Honey

Dance Class

I Got You

Hey....

Question

Vlog

Thanksgiving

Party Babe

No Nate

Quarantine

Puppy

Storms

With You

My Sick Boy

You Came

Nate!

Concerts

Shower

No...

Throw In The Towel

Part 1

Part 2

Picture

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3 Part 4

Dustin Poirier

Ass

Sean Strickland

Still Mad?

Joel

i didnt mean it

I Promise

Anxiety

Shouldn't

[cherishingstydia]

Fictional men who do the turtle face>

[x-weapon-x]

[filodendron63]

[ratnukegenius]

[ ID in alt. ]

this was my piece for the one year anniversary for PROLEGOMENON... drawing it was kind of hell on earth but i'm still pretty proud of it. putting an ID on this one and writing all the tags is also super messed up because of how much is going on here but it's still fun.

PROLEGOMENON updates every WEDNESDAY and SATURDAY at 7 PM EST.

[adribosch-fan]

Cuba y Rusia una alianza peligrosa

La visita de la escuadra rusa a Cuba es más que simbólica. Diaz Canel, como lo hiciera Fidel por muchos años, está enviando un doble mensaje, primero a Estados Unidos en el que le demuestra que no está solo, después, al pueblo cubano, para que no escenifique más protestas porque los “bolos”, así se les dice a los rusos en Cuba, están listos para aplastarlos. El sátrapa cubano se sabe débil y no…