Former world champion Sergio Mora believes that Jojo Diaz is almost ready to fight for a lightweight title.
Diaz defeated Javier Fortuna in his first bout at 135lbs, a move that came as he struggled to make the weight against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov at junior lightweight earlier in the year - a problem that cost him his title.
However, he was impressive against Fortuna and it appears he is keen to aim for a title in his new surroundings.
Mora believes that showing gives him credibility.
“Yes, he is [a contender],” he said on the DAZN Boxing Show.
“And we needed to see that from him against a top contender in Javier Fortuna - a strong, heavy-handed, slick fighter.
“So yes, he can do it because he controlled this guy the entire time. Jojo Diaz knows he knows his style. He's not a big puncher, but he uses a southpaw style with good movement and good positioning, the body punching. The body punch is exactly what makes him special and made him a champion.
“Now he has the discipline as well. Now he has matured. The maturation of Jojo Diaz continues, because that's what we're seeing.
“We're seeing him turn from a boy into a man and from contender and to champion. Yes, he can compete with number three, four and five, but as far as Teofimo [Lopez] and Tank [Davis], not yet, but he can definitely give everything to Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, Jorge Linares and so on and so forth.”