Chasing The Next Fight

A kid who once fought on a blanket is now 15–0 with 11 knockouts, and he’s aiming his sights at the top of 115–118. We sit down with a New Mexico fan favorite Matt Griego AKA Diamond Boy who blends power and patience, talks candidly about a derailed fight week that sent him spiraling, and explains how the gym became his medicine. From first-round fireworks on his pro debut to a steady refusal to accept short-notice traps, he breaks down what real preparation looks like and why the right camp changes everything.

We dig into the business side of boxing—managers, matchmaking, and the quiet calculus promoters use to protect prospects. He shares why he keeps getting last-minute calls for the same opponent and how staying near fight weight keeps him ready without burning him out. The call-out is clear: John “Scrappy” Ramirez of Golden Boy. Respect for the fighter, zero doubt about the matchup, and a simple request for a full camp to make the best fight possible.

Mentorship matters here too. Training with the late Johnny Tapia added rhythm, shifting, and heart to his style, along with a personal story of generosity that still fuels him. Outside the ring, the barber chair became a second platform—steady income, local roots, and a community that shows up loud. If you’re curious about how a contender navigates the chaos of boxing while building a life that lasts, this conversation brings grit, insight, and a path forward.

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The Boxing Grind 

Transcript

Meet The 15–0 New Mexico Pro

SPEAKER_00 0:27

How are you today?

SPEAKER_01 0:29

I'm good. I'm doing great. You know, just getting ready for a session real quick.

SPEAKER_00 0:33

Okay. I know that you ran already today. Yeah, I got that done. Okay. So before I get started with any of the questions, I just wanted to, you know, just get a little bit more of a background information about you. I know that you're 15 and oh. You're a pro boxer out of New Mexico. Were you born and raised here?

SPEAKER_01 0:50

Born and raised.

SPEAKER_00 0:50

Okay. And you started boxing at the age of five? Five years old. Okay. How did that like what inspired you to do that?

SPEAKER_01 1:00

My mom, my mom kind of we were always fighting as kids. Like me and my cousins, my mom would literally lay out a blanket for us and let us fight. My mom was a single mom. I mean, I did have my dad, obviously, he was around, but they weren't together, so my mom was a single mom. But me and my cousins, we we would always fight and wrestle, and and I was kind of I hated losing, so I would like if I would lose at something, I would fight somebody, or I would so my mom took me to the boxing gym and that's just it took off. I loved it right away.

SPEAKER_00 1:27

So how old were you when you had your first fight?

SPEAKER_01 1:30

Probably six. Oh wow, on sanctioned fight.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

That's like how they do ended up in Thailand.

SPEAKER_01 1:34

Yeah, yeah, it was on sanction. I think it was in Las Cruces.

SPEAKER_00 1:37

Oh, okay. Did you win?

Childhood Fights And First Wins

SPEAKER_01 1:38

Yeah, I won.

SPEAKER_00 1:38

Oh wow, so that probably inspired you to go even more.

SPEAKER_01 1:41

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:42

So for your amateur career, how many fights did you have before turning pro?

SPEAKER_01 1:47

I had 112 fights.

SPEAKER_00 1:48

Okay, and this is so you had a high number of fights, and I've always just been really curious, and I ask all of the fighters, you know, how do you get to that number? Because some guys are they're turning pro after seven fights, and you know, others are like 180. Like, how did you come up with that number?

SPEAKER_01 2:05

Did you sort of it's just starting young? I mean, you have a lot of time to get fights, and honestly, as long as I fought, I should have had 300 fights.

SPEAKER_00 2:12

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 2:12

There was a lot of times where I kind of my mom kind of let me like if I wanted to not be in the gym, I wasn't in the gym. Like, I took some breaks and I even I mean, I don't have a lot of open fights, like like big tournaments, because after the age of 16, like I kind of met a group of friends and and I had fun. I partied and I kind of did things that teenagers do, you know, and my mom kind of allowed that. She was strict, but she was she let me do a lot of things, and so I I got away from boxing for a little bit and came back. And my whole goal was to go and get some tournaments done. And but my coach Manuel Naya, he actually seen what I have and he was like, you just gotta go pro.

SPEAKER_00 2:49

Okay. And who was your who was your first pro fight against?

SPEAKER_01 2:53

Oh,

Amateur Volume And Teen Detours

SPEAKER_01 2:54

my first pro fight, uh, Ramon. I can't even think of his last name. His his first name was Ramon, he was from Mexico.

SPEAKER_00 3:00

Um, how did that go?

SPEAKER_01 3:02

Good. I I won him, I think it was like minute, a minute. Lasted like a minute. I stopped in the first round.

SPEAKER_00 3:07

You actually have like seven knockouts on your record. Eleven. Eleven knockouts? Oh damn, okay. I'm misinformed here. I'm thinking seven, and I'm like, wow, that's an amazing number. But 11 knockouts out of 15. Yes. Oh wow, how do you feel about that? Was it I guess I guess when a fighter is going into the ring, they always they want to get the knockout, but are you are you planning for a knockout or is it just no?

SPEAKER_01 3:29

I'm just having fun and seeing what's open and landing my shots, and if the opportunity presents itself and I go for the finish. I mean, my first fight was a little bit different though, because I feel like my pro debut, the nerves took over, the crowd. I I I have a pretty big crowd and like they were going crazy. So I went in there just I went in there and banged, honestly. And I mean I took the guy out, banging out. He wasn't pretty, but I mean I won by knockout.

SPEAKER_00 3:53

It doesn't have to be pretty, Matt. As long as you get the job done, right? That's the name of the game. So I guess so. After after that, after your first pro fight, how did it matter how everything worked? Did you have a plan as to how many times you hear

Pro Debut Nerves And Knockouts

SPEAKER_00 4:10

that you wanted to fight? Or do you have a manager?

SPEAKER_01 4:13

Currently I don't, but I got assigned to Cameron Duncan before I turned pro. So I was with Fidel Maldonado, he was my coach, Emmanuel Anaya, and we had Brian Mendoza with us as well, who was yeah, who was already with Cameron Duncan, and they talked to him about me, and he checked me out and he liked what he saw, so he signed me before I even had my first pro fight. So my deal was supposed to be four fights a year.

unknown 4:38

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 4:38

The first two years were great, it was going good, and you know, things kind of slowed down, and I got a lawyer and we got out of the contract, and could have been a bad move, could have been a you know, it could have been a good move, but okay.

SPEAKER_00 4:52

So yeah, thank you for finishing on the phone. I know it's been it's been crazy, but you know, where we left off, you know, you we were talking about you know the whole in in and out of of boxing and how a couple of times you had decided you might have wanted to stop. Now you're currently trying to get on a fight card, is that correct?

Management, Contracts, And Momentum

SPEAKER_01 5:15

Yes, yes. I'm currently trying to get a fight, trying to get an opportunity, preferably a big opportunity that's gonna catapult my career into where I want it to be. Um, that's that's the main goal.

SPEAKER_00 5:28

And I know you were calling out somebody specific, right?

SPEAKER_01 5:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:33

And who was that?

SPEAKER_01 5:34

Um uh Scrappy, John Ramirez. You know, that would be a fight that I would love to fight. I would love to fight him. He's a good fighter. I I just think I'm better. He's in the weight division that I want to take over, and you know, it's just something something that I would love to do. He's a golden boy, so it's like I said, a big opportunity that I would love to love to get in there with him.

SPEAKER_00 5:53

So you said uh he's

Chasing Fights And Calling Out Scrappy

SPEAKER_00 5:55

in a different weight than you're currently in?

SPEAKER_01 5:57

No, he's in the weight that I currently want to take over.

SPEAKER_00 6:00

Okay, and you have 11 knockouts in uh right now, right? Yes, 11 knockouts. Okay, so now you were supposed to fight on a card out in the pit, and what happened during that time?

The Pit Card Collapse And Depression

SPEAKER_01 6:15

So, so for the card of the pit, you know, it was the Rampage Jackson uh versus uh Rashad Evans card, and you know, it was all the way at the end of camp, it was the week of the fight. I was supposed to fight Ephraim Bui. I I believe he actually just won a he won a title just recently, uh I want to say an NABO title, which is a good title. But I was supposed to fight him, and you know, he was actually in town already. We were I was on way, I was ready. It was I think on a Tuesday, and I had got a call that that the fight might not happen, but to stay ready and kind of you know, I stood ready, I stood positive, and I think it was a Wednesday when they called me and told me that something with the promoter and the funds fell through. So it was just uh it was a big mess, and you know, it kind of messed up my whole head. And I I I I feel like I honestly like during that time I feel like I went into a depression and kind of just I was pretty much like I don't I don't want to fight again, I'm done. And I took a little break, spent some time with my family, and then uh I still stood like in the gym though.

Healing In The Gym And Staying Ready

SPEAKER_01 7:18

Like it's kind of like I don't know, it's like the gym is my medicine, you know. And um I stood in the gym, you know, with Leroy Bazan. I was getting my strength conditioning. I did a little bit of boxing, and then I just called me for some sparring, and you know, I went back in there and gave him some rounds. He asked for some rounds with me, and I felt good still. I I sparring kind of I think that made me want to fight again because I I still felt good. I was still like yeah, I still felt great. So, you know, I think that that really made me want to fight. And stood in the gym, I'd just been training and I'd cut some weight, and I'm kind of to the point now where I'm gonna stay close to my fight weight, and if the opportunity comes, because I keep on getting opportunities from different people, and it's always two-week notice, one week notice, or yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:05

So um and why do you think that is though? Why is it always a short notice?

Short-Notice Offers And Promoter Games

SPEAKER_01 8:11

Is it just their their original guy is dropping out or well I at first that's what I was saying, like maybe they just you know the original guy pop dropped out, but you know, I got that call for the same opponent three times, and I've told them the first time they called me, I told them, you know, you give me a full six-week camp, I'm willing to take the fight. I love the fight for me. I just I want the camp so I could do my weight cut comfortably and be ready. And sure they did two other times where they called me and it's like two-week notice or one week notice. So for me, I think I think I'm a dangerous fight for anybody, and I think that these promoters are doing their job as far as protecting their fighter who they have um investments in.

SPEAKER_00 8:50

So, do you know who Scrappy's promoter is? Is that he's with Golden Boy, he's with Golden Boy, okay. And and where is he do you know where is he training out of?

SPEAKER_01 9:01

I don't know what gym, but he's from California.

SPEAKER_00 9:03

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_01 9:04

So I don't know exactly what gym now.

SPEAKER_00 9:07

Did you train with Johnny Tapia when you were an amateur?

Lessons From Johnny Tapia

SPEAKER_01 9:10

Yes, I trained with him, I want to say two, three years of the last years of his life.

SPEAKER_00 9:16

And and and what was that like and and how did that inspire you to move forward with boxing? I mean, I know you you started boxing when you were five, but but in what way was the training with Johnny Tapia inspiring to you?

SPEAKER_01 9:31

I think I just picked up on his style really, really quick. And then I mean he's the five-time world champion, and not only that, he's just a great person, uh, you know, a great he was a great coach. He taught me how to shift my body and how to throw some some good shots, and just a special person like that with the energy that he has, you know, it brings a lot out of you. And you know, he actually so when I first started gym training with him, I needed new gloves. He he bought me a pair of boxing gloves. Okay. Um, I didn't have running shoes, I would go running in my boxing shoes, and he actually gave me a pair of his shoes because we were the same size. Uh like it we he was just you know, just a person that I looked up to as far as a fighter and a person too, because I mean he was a great individual. He had his he had his demons, but yeah, yeah, we're being around somebody like that motivate you to to be special, and you know, he he believed in me and I I believed in myself and and it's just something that will always stick with me.

SPEAKER_00 10:27

Yeah, so now when you became pro, you had you had about a hundred and eight, was that a hundred and eight amateur fights?

SPEAKER_01 10:36

Yeah, about a hundred and twelve, hundred eight, it was around there.

SPEAKER_00 10:39

Okay, and what what was the deciding factor in you turning pro?

SPEAKER_01 10:44

So I actually I should have had

Turning Pro And Building A Fanbase

SPEAKER_01 10:46

a lot more. I mean, fighting sales five, I should have had close to 300 fights, but the thing about it was my mom didn't like she didn't force me to be in the gym, you know. Like sometimes I would take little breaks or I was, you know, what I didn't want to go or like so so I mean she let me live my life as a kid, and and not only that, whenever I got into like I want I want to say 16, I I I met a crowd of people and you know I partied and I had fun and I and she she let me. She wasn't like too strict, and you know, I I kind of I stepped away from boxing for a little bit. I actually I hurt my elbow and so I stepped away for a little bit. I like I said, I started partying, and you know, I kind of got that out of my system. I met my wife, and when I met my wife, that's actually whenever I was like, I need to get back from the gym. I believe I was 18, 17.

SPEAKER_00 11:34

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 11:35

I thought I was 18, and I got back in the gym and I decided to go train with Manny Anaya and um Fidel Maldado. And whenever I started with them, I I you know it was my I think it was my first day starting with them, and they needed some sparring for a guy. He's a little bit bigger than me, but close to my weight, I guess. They needed some sparring for him, and I was like, I'll give him some rounds. And Manny was like, No, dude, you just got you just got back. And I was like, No, I'll give him some rounds. And I actually like I I ended up like I made the kid cry.

SPEAKER_00 12:04

I oh no, yeah, like I that's so mean. Well, it was just my first time sparring back, so I was

The Boxer Barber And Community Roots

SPEAKER_00 12:14

so excited. I've been messing with you. No, I get no, I mean it kind of probably made you feel good in a way, right? Like you still don't exactly mean, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:23

So um Manual, he looked at me and he was like, Do you gonna fight amateur? And I'm like, Well, I want to fight a couple amateurs, and he was like, Bro, you're 18, like we just gotta turn you pro. So we we trained for I trained for a good year and a year and a couple months, and straight getting ready for the pros. And I made my pro debut on the Pat Holmes card in at Buffalo Thunder in Santa Fe. And oh nice. I dominated, I got a fresh round knockout. I I drew right away instantly. I mean, in the newspaper, I think it was Rick Wright and KOAT Van Tate, actually, as well. He instantly was comparing me to Johnny Tapia. Oh, okay. You know, so that's kind of where that came from, and then it just kind of stuck. Like a lot of people thought I fought like him and had a similar style, and you know, it stuck and it took off, and I'm just gonna know now 11 KOs, you know.

SPEAKER_00 13:14

Yeah, no, and you know, regarding community, I know that you're a pillar in the community, and you are also a barber. Is that correct? Yes, yes, okay. How did that happen? Like, how did you transition into that? The boxer barber.

SPEAKER_01 13:31

So when I was younger, I always like kind of I made up like different haircuts for myself, and I would have my barber who's Carlos, I would out or Carlos Romijo, I would have him try different styles on my hair, and you know, people would always like it, and like so I was kind of into it, but what really got me started is so I was training with Juven Malinado. He when I started training with him,

Open To Anyone At 115–118

SPEAKER_01 13:52

he actually he was starting to go to barber school, and he was just finishing and he was like, you know what, you should just be a barber because I'm like, I don't know what I want to do, like I need something kind of new for my schedule. And he was like, You should just go. And I I went and I signed up. I just signed up for barber school and I kind of caught on pretty quick. I I ended up being like I feel like I was one of the best students there, like as far as catching on and learning to cut hair. So, you know, and I just I liked it and it worked on my schedule, so it was something that uh worked had in hand and meeting people as well and the barber like cutting hair, I got some fans, and you know, it was yeah, work had in hand. I know it worked in hand.

SPEAKER_00 14:31

You you do have a very, very large following in in New Mexico. There's not a person that I've mentioned your name to and they don't know who you are. So now regarding the community, too, you probably have a lot of kids that are looking up to you, waiting to see when your next fight is gonna be. And if it's not gonna be with Scrappy, is there anybody else that comes to mind or that you want to call out? Is there anybody else from Golden Boy?

SPEAKER_01 14:58

Honestly, and anybody 115 to 118. I I I'll fight anybody. Oh, that's like the super flyweight, right? Super flyweight, flyweight, yes, super fly, superfly banned weight. I mean, I'll fight anybody in the division. So, like um, I'm I'm 15 and oh, I'm gonna be prepared, I'm ready, um, willing to take on anybody. Just just give me my give me my make it make sense for me and let's do it.

SPEAKER_00 15:22

Yeah, make it make sense. That's right. Is there anything that you want to let the fans know? Anybody, anything that you wanna tell the people in New Mexico? A little message.

Message To Fans And What’s Next

SPEAKER_01 15:32

Uh you know, you guys have had my back since I turned pro. My pro debut is a big one. Um, all my sponsors that have sponsored me from day one, I will never forget you guys. I'm working hard, I'm trying to get a fight scheduled. I'm gonna be in shape, I'm ready. When I get the opportunity, uh it's gonna be a big one. And and I hope all of you tune in and you know support like you always have. And I love each and every one of you guys, and thanks, thanks to God and for letting us do what we love. And yeah, I appreciate everybody.

SPEAKER_00 16:04

Yeah, no, thank you so much, Matt. I'm sorry for the the uh the whole big mess up with the the you know, the technical thing. And I don't know, Jack Candelarius Center hasn't been friendly to me lately, so I might have to switch places. But no, but I love that place actually. That's a great place. Are you training in there going forward?

SPEAKER_01 16:21

Yes, yeah, yes, that's where I'll be I'll be getting ready there.

SPEAKER_00 16:24

So okay, okay, great. I'll definitely be coming in to take some footage and I'll be back in touch with you. And thank you so much again.

SPEAKER_01 16:31

Thank you. You have a good night.

SPEAKER_00 16:32

You too. Bye now.