The following video shows Diaz sparring at a very controlled pace with the late undefeated pro Omar Henry
http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=460508&cat=boxer
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What I am trying to accomplish here is to highlight Nick Diaz's understanding and application of boxing concepts. Diaz has some deficiencies, but he is certainly a boxer. It goes without saying, but you don't have to "be one thing." Diaz is also a wrestler, jiu jitsu player, and a judoka, isn't he? As much as my blue belt BJJ and Judo friends are, I would say, whether they compete or not. Diaz has had pro boxing experience, as mentioned. Diaz is a boxer. He doesn't have "bad boxing." Diaz has understanding of some very advanced concepts in boxing like probes, set-up punches, varying his combination speed/rhythm/power, drawing punches, and more. He is still rough around the edges, but he is a 1-fight pro. He's still learning, like all of you boxers shitting on his boxing. Diaz has some holes (we'll talk head movement later), but he can be seen in this video boxing in an educated way.
A play-by-play for my own film study benefit, and to highlight some of the great boxing we see from Diaz here:
- Diaz shows understanding of range with small backwards steps as Henry advances
- Diaz parries well. Diaz pulls, throws a combination, and exits off the ropes at an angle.
- Diaz catches Henry with a 1-2, then side-steps off the tracks (even slipping!)
- Diaz throws a body jab.
- Diaz throws a 1-2, rocks back into a high posture.
- Diaz covers well and counters.
- Diaz maintains good eyes throughout, very few lapses here.
- At 0:28 Diaz uses a very subtle hand feint to threaten a jab before leading with his cross. This was set up off of the repeated 1-2s Diaz was entering with. Diaz dries for the follow-up 3 but Henry wisely smothers him. Diaz then shows some inside savvy: he takes the inside slip position, drops his level, goes shoulder-to-shoulder with good eyes and hand positioning, then backs out in a defensively-responsible way. His position is strong with good posture, threatening many punches and covering well.
- Diaz has maneuvered Henry towards the corner. Henry understands where he is and sticks out his jab to allow him space to move, and Diaz parries well. Diaz covers up, then throws a 1-2-1, before moving laterally in pursuit of Henry down the ropes. Diaz moves him into the other corner behind his probing jab, showing good control and utility from the lead hand. Diaz continues to move Henry down the ropes behind small hand-feint jabs. Henry moves away and Diaz keeps his back to the centre of the ring, moves to his right, and has now re-positioned Henry towards the corner.
- Diaz throws a nice lead cross, fade-away hook around 0:40-0:42. The small head-slot change got him out safely - a trace of head movement! Diaz goes to the well again for that 2-3, evades Henry's follow-ups, and shows some good understanding of his defensive tools/positioning by shrugging a shoulder to catch a jab.
I am less than a minute in, and we can see plenty of evidence of Diaz's boxing understanding and application. Elsewhere in the video, I see good body punching arrived at through intelligent set-ups. Educated footwork is all over the video, even if it's not at a PHD level. Diaz's ring control has been noted, but there are many other examples.
Another interesting exchange that highlights Diaz's understanding of control (ala Barry Robinson), defensive radar, and footwork. At 1:17, Diaz has superior positioning. He throws a 1-2, and Henry sits onto his back hip to slip Diaz's power shot. Diaz leaves his cross extended for control, and steps his left foot forward into orthodox to smother Henry's counter. At the same time, Diaz's right hand goes to Henry's left hand/shoulder to function as a "trap," a controlling hand to occupying that side. Diaz breaks from his smother intelligently, throwing a short right hook off of his control of Henry's left arm, and a left hook after it.
Some defensive evidence that shows more understanding: At 1:23, Diaz eats a jab, immediately brings his left shoulders across his mid-line to defend the potential follow-up right hand. Diaz has his right hand adjusted to a parry position, which helps deflect Henry's cross, and blocks the straight jab lane. Diaz changes head slots shortly after to give a different look and defensive variable (as he was vulnerable to the left hook here). Though they are going light, Diaz still reacted well to the jab, shutting down follow-up options in an intelligent way.
Diaz definitely has his faults. Head movement is his biggest problem. Beyond keeping him safer, it would really add to his game as another layer of feints without him having to think about it. Many times in this video Diaz would have been better off moving his head. He wouldn't have to trim his volume-punching game down, either. Similarly, a small and loose rhythm in his hips and shoulders would serve him well to disguise punches, draw them from his opponent to set up big counters, and offer different looks in general.
Anyways, I realize this is a pretty long-winded and disjointed rant. I hope it has been interesting to some. Diaz's lack of mastery does not preclude him from being a boxer. He has some holes, but he is a pro boxer who trains in boxing, spars boxers, and applies boxing concepts in his fights.
