Slipping in a bathroom is not uncommon, but it usually doesn’t turn into a life-saving event. However, that’s exactly what happened to Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz. Previously a regular in the boxing odds, he was forced to take an unexpected break as a result.
The Puerto Rican boxer, who now lives in Orlando, Florida, suffered an accident in his bathroom last year that caused severe inflammation in one arm. He went to a local emergency room to have it checked out, anticipating that it was just an injury. However, what he found out changed his life.
Unexpected Slip
Pitufo had a World Boxing Council (WBC) fight on the schedule last August. It was to be an important qualifier for a subsequent shot at the regional title. However, he would never make it.
Díaz last fought in May of last year in Orlando.
The accident occurred after the fight, and doctors found a clot when they examined him. The boxer explained that when he went down, the weight of his arm stretched an artery, leading to the swelling.
A sonogram later uncovered the clot, and an MRI found three more. By the time the doctors were done, they had found seven, including one close to a lung. Díaz then went to Puerto Rico, where medical care is more affordable, to undergo surgery.
If it weren’t for the fall, Diaz may have died. The clots were solid, and high blood pressure would have raised his heart rate. He had never had surgery before but knew that it was the only thing that would save his life now.
For Díaz, 28, the post-operative recovery process was complicated, particularly emotionally. He had some side effects from the medication that left him feeling sad and alone, and the unexpected break from boxing added to the stress.
He took up other jobs, like becoming an Uber driver and social media personality. He also got a job at a private jet company in Orlando as things gradually returned to normal.
Despite the anxieties and risks, Díaz was not prepared to give up his boxing aspirations. He knew he had a second wind in him, and Bally’s Sports was going to give him a shot. The company offered him a lot of money to get in the ring, but the plans fell through.
The doctors had warned him that any kind of impact could leave him dizzy from the anticoagulants. As a result, he continued to take it easy, but only for a short time.
Expected Return
Diaz has since returned to the gym and is scheduled to fight on May 12 at Caribe Royale Orlando. At 28 years old, he says he’s still in good shape and wants to ease back into boxing.
Pitufo said he’s not afraid of what might happen because he’s been taking care of himself, and his exams are coming back clean.
However, Díaz also admitted that his decision to continue boxing did not have the initial support of his family. His mother told him that he was already a champion and that he didn’t have anything to prove.
She still supported him, though, and told him to do what he thought was right. Although he hasn’t convinced his daughters that it’s time to get back in the ring, Diaz feels he still has a lot to offer boxing.
Pitufo holds a record of 27 wins – 17 by knockout – and four losses. He turned pro in 2013 and made his mark in the ring by winning the vacant WBC Youth Featherweight title in just his ninth professional fight. He then went on a winning streak, defeating his opponents with ease and earning himself a reputation as one of the top boxing prospects.
Diaz faced his first career loss in 2018 against Masayuki Ito, but he bounced back later that year with a win against David Berna. The following year, he took another loss against Shakur Stevenson before recording two more wins in 2020.
Many boxing fans and critics consider him one of the most promising young fighters entering the scene. He’ll have a chance to prove that if the May fight is approved.
