Ashton “H2O” Sylve enters tonight’s clash with Joseph “JoJo” Diaz knowing victory could be the biggest of his career to date.
The 22-year-old junior welterweight prospect is looking to continue rebuilding momentum after suffering the first defeat of his professional career against Lucas Bahdi last year. Standing in his way is Diaz, a former junior lightweight titleholder who pushed Regis Prograis hard in a spirited defeat last October.
There are questions over what Diaz will show up, the version who faced Prograis or the Diaz who has lost seven of his last nine fights.
“I don’t know exactly,” Sylve told BoxingScene. “He’s kind of back and forth. So I’m just looking forward to the best of JoJo Diaz. That’s what I’m going there to see.”
The defeat to Bahdi was a difficult experience for Sylve, who admitted he struggled to come to terms with the loss and was desperate for an immediate rematch.
“Immediately after the fight, it was kind of surreal because I just never thought in a million years that something like that would happen,” Sylve said. “I was ready to get back in the ring. I was hoping there was some way you could have a rematch in the next month or so. I was just ready. But that just didn’t work out. Over time, I kind of got frustrated that it wasn’t happening because I’m very determined to get it back.”
Since then, Sylve has parted ways with promoter Most Valuable Promotions.
“MVP kind of released me,” he said. “I’m not sure too much exactly the reason.”
Despite that, Sylve’s motivation is not to prove them wrong, but to prove the people of Long Beach right.
“My motivation is really here. It’s here in Long Beach,” he said. “Family, everyone here in Long Beach. People that I see every day.”
Sylve even has one special Long Beach resident in his corner, one of the city’s most famous figures, rap icon Snoop Dogg.
“When I first met him, maybe I was like eight years old,” Sylve said. “My family grew up with him and everything, so now I call him uncle. But then he’s pretty much uncle to everybody in Long Beach.
“I met him when I was eight. He’s been supporting me ever since.”
While Snoop Dogg has yet to attend one of Sylve’s professional bouts, Sylve hopes that could soon change.
“He’s been to our gym a few times, especially when I was younger,” he said. “Not to my fight yet. That’s what we’re hoping to see if he’s in town.”
For now, however, Sylve’s focus remains on Diaz and what a win over the former champion could mean.
“I think it would do a lot, especially depending on what type of win it is,” he said. “But I think a win in general would do a lot for me. I feel like I always have amazing performances, so a win would open a lot of doors for me.”