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Home » Exclusive: Kid Galahad explains Joseph Diaz Jr. offer for clash on Saunders v Lemieux bill

Exclusive: Kid Galahad explains Joseph Diaz Jr. offer for clash on Saunders v Lemieux bill

The undefeated Sheffield man, who is on a hot streak of five straight knockouts, has called out WBC number one ranked Golden Boy protégé, Joseph Diaz Jr. to accept his advances for a meeting on the recently-announced Billy Joe Saunders v David Lemieux card in Montreal on December 16.

Diaz is close to securing a shot at World Boxing Council ruler Gary Russell Jr. but Galahad believes the two unbeaten fighters could trade blows before Christmas on HBO to see who really deserves to go forward and duke it out for a recognized title.

Galahad, 27, firstly made his presence felt on social media this week and further explained to WBN his thoughts on targeting the 24 year-old American for his next big fight.

“Let me tell you how this began. It started with me reading an exchange on Twitter between Lee Selby and Carl Frampton about how they both sick of warm up fights and blaming one another for the fight not being made between them. So, I found a solution to take that problem away from them both,” Galahad exclusively revealed to World Boxing News.

“I suggested we all enter a World Boxing Super Series style tournament. I not only mentioned it to Frampton and Selby, but I then extended the invite to Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares and Diaz Jr. To their credit, only Selby and Diaz Jr. have said they were game but since then they’ve both gone a little quiet and seem to have lost their voice.

“Diaz Jr. did send a couple of tweets indicating he fancied it, but my team are still waiting to hear from him so I sent another little reminder yesterday that I’m ready to dance when he is.”

On why he specifically chose Diaz, the Yorkshireman added: “I just see it as a fight I would love to take. Diaz Jr. is a good boxer and seeing as the featherweights in the UK don’t seem to fancy it, I’m happy to fight any of the top-ranked featherweights in the world.

“If the fight versus Diaz can be made it would be a great opportunity for me to show what I’m all about and show the levels I possess. In the end, if that leads to (a WBC title shot at) Gary Russell then that’s great but my motivation remains the same, and that’s to be in serious fights to show I belong at that world-class level.”

On the back of a tenth round stoppage of Jose Cayetano last time out in July, Galahad is hoping to secure his next date by the end of this year, which would fall nicely on current training partner Saunders’ undercard.

“I’ve looked at fighting again in December, so let’s see if Oscar (De La Hoya) and Golden Boy can make it happen. I’d love to fight Diaz Jr. on the undercard of the Saunders v Lemieux fight in Canada.”

Regardless of whether the Diaz fight comes off, Galahad still has a back up plan and wants a solid fight this year before a trio of contests in 2018, one of which he hopes will be a title chance.

“I want to be active and out at least three times with at least one of them being a world championship bout. I know I’m ready. I’ve been very patient and remained hardworking and dedicated to my craft,” he stated.

“I’m obsessed with this boxing game and it’s all I know! So get me in there with these guys at the top so I can rustle some feathers in the featherweight division and set it on fire!

“A world title by the end of 2018 is my goal so tell these champs there’s a new kid in town and his name is Kid Galahad!”

Phil Jay is Editor of World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay