During an outstanding career Miguel Diaz has worked in many different roles with a who's who of boxing.

Diaz, who has two older sisters, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on February 21, 1938.

"I grew up in a middle class place, we lived in Saavedra," Diaz told The Ring. "My father, Miguel, was a fighter, he probably had 40/ 50 fights, he went to different countries, he fought for the South American title in Uruguay, he lost.

"He was a manager, promoter and was a friend of Luna Park. He fought there in the 20s, when Luna Park was owned by the uncle of Tito Lectoure, we became very good friends of them. When I was a kid, I used to go to Luna Park a lot."

However, his first passion was soccer and he played it at a good level.

"Like all Argentinean's we play soccer, a lot," he said. "I started going to the gym with my father and another fighter from his time. That was my beginning.

"I was in a military school. I was 14, 15, school in the morning and in the afternoon it was boxing with all the institutes. I had 27 amateur fights."

Diaz got married in 1965 and moved with his wife to Los Angeles for a better way of life. He worked various jobs and as a Spanish speaking radio station Channel 34 KMEX, where he hosted a boxing show in the evening.

After an earthquake in Los Angeles in 1972, Diaz wife wanted to move and they settle in Las Vegas.

It was then quite by chance that he became actively involved.

"I used to go to a Mexican restaurant and I saw a man [Jesus Meza] moving very fast, one day, we were eating and I said, "You're moving so fast, are you a fighter?" he said, "Yes, I am a fighter." I said, "Are you fighting?" he said, "No, I have no time, I work here from the morning until 10 p.m. When we finish." I said, "What about in the afternoon?" he said, "I finish lunch and then I take a seat on the bus and lay down for a couple of hours." I said, "What if somebody took you to the gym?" I knew a gym but had never trained anybody. He looked at me and said, "Are you serious?" I said, "You want to do it tomorrow?" he said, "Tomorrow, no because I've got something to do but Monday we can start." I picked him up at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. And that's how I started. We 12 fights together fights and he left town."

At that time Johnny Tocco's was the only gym in Las Vegas and Diaz's work with Meza got him some attention from other fighters who trained there and were interested in procuring his services.

He worked with a series of fighters that never reached the world stage before he gained his first world champion when Roger Mayweather dethroned WBC junior welterweight titlist Rene Arredondo (TKO 6) in November 1987.

"I was very proud of Roger when he won that fight," he recalled. "There were a couple things that Roger did that were mocking/disrespectful to Mexico and the crowd during that match, but after the match l told him to throw some of his equipment to some of the Mexican people in the crowd and Roger did that, which was appreciated."

Interestingly, Diaz was also responsible for getting Jeff Mayweather into boxing. He saw Jeff hitting the heavy-bag at the gym and was able to convince him to give up painting and focus on boxing.

In the fall of 1990, Diaz enjoyed a special moment with his countryman Pedro Decima upset Paul Banke (TKO 4) to become WBC junior featherweight titlist.

"Pedro stayed in my house for a year before this match, and was a super nice, sweet kid, who helped out around the house," he said sharing the bond the two had. "I wanted Pedro to stay in Las Vegas after this fight, but Pedro decided to go back to Argentina. That was a big mistake, he put on weight and ended up losing his first defense in Japan."

He fondly recalls a funny story from Bob Arum's 65th birthday party in Reno, Nevada in 1996.

"[James] Toney said, "Shut up, you can't drink." I said, "I can drink." He said, "You got money with you?" said Diaz, who said in those days carried $1000. "[Toney] said, "I bet you anything you want." I said, "We'll have one shot of champagne and one shot of cognac." We start, we finish one bottle of champagne and we still have cognac and then we get to the second bottle of champagne and when I got to the third shot, he couldn't go for the third one. And then he lost the biggest fight of his life, he didn't want to pay me. One of my guys, [cutman] Rafael Garcia, had the money, I said, "You give me the money, Rafael." And James never forgot and I say, "You want to have a drink!?!"

Diaz worked with Roger's precociously talented nephew, Floyd Jr. and he also worked with another rising star Diego Corrales. Both had a world title at junior lightweight and met in January 2001. Diaz had the difficult task of deciding who to work with.

"It came down to money -- I could make a LOT more money with Corrales than Mayweather's team was willing to offer him," said Diaz. "It wasn't easy working with Corrales because of his alcoholism, and if Mayweather's camp would come up just a little he would have worked with them, but they would not budge."

Ultimately, Diaz worked with Corrales, who was dominated, dropped five times and stopped in 10-rounds by the a very impressive Mayweather.

Diaz also has the privilege of working with eight division future hall of famer and icon Manny Pacquiao.

"I have nothing but praise talking about Manny, praise for his fighting abilities (defense, attacking, punching ability, taking punches) and that he was a gracious and generous guy," he said.

The Argentinean has worked with many others such as but not limited to Hasim Rahman, Mike McCallum, Iran Barkley, Kelly Pavlik, Miguel Cotto, Jose Luis Castillo, Stevie Johnston, Erik Morales, Bones Adams, Johnny Tapia and Ivan Calderon.

Diaz wife encouraged him to save memorabilia throughout his career. He has old corner jackets, credentials, t-shirts, posters, hats etc. from every fight he worked.

He is now in the process of selling off many different pieces through Todd Olster's company Auction Doctors/Valuables LLC. https://www.ebay.com/str/auctiondoctors/MIGUEL-DIAZ-COLLECTION/_i.html?store_cat=36983905016&_sop=16

Diaz, now 86, has been married for 64-years and lives with his wife in Las Vegas. The couple have two children, three grandchildren and one great grandchildren.

He graciously took time to speak to The Ring about the best he trained in 10 key categories.

Steve Johnston: "He had a very good jab. It opened up his other punches. When he came with the jab you knew he was going to [follow] with a very good right hand."

Floyd Mayweather Jr.: "He had a tremendous defense. He used his defense to hit you. It was not a defense and no punching. He used his defense and beat you. Very good fighter, very smart, fast and very good position in the ring. His defense was untouchable. He was a natural."

Johnston: "He'd jab you and cross you with the right hand. He was very quick."

Ivan Calderon: "He fought many fighters that were bigger than him, particularly later in his career and he was quick and good enough to avoid their power by using his feet. Floyd was not as much a mover as Calderon. He was more about position and reflexes. So my answer would be Calderon."

James Toney: "Steve Johnston was very clever in the ring. Floyd was clever. James Toney was a very smart fighter. Everything in boxing was easy for him, he was natural."

Toney: "You've got to consider James Toney that kind of fighter, you could not push him back. Also, Mike McCallum a very strong fighter."

Erik Morales: "Morales fought all of the best fighters from Mexico and none of them could KO him He would rarely get knocked down. He was as tough as they come."

Roger Mayweather: "Mike McCallum, one punch to the body, out! I trained Roger [Mayweather] he had a tremendous right hand. I'd pick Roger."

McCallum: "Floyd, Toney, McCallum, it's hard to say who's the best. McCallum was a fantastic fighter."

Toney: "It's tough! Toney had everything, he was the total package, he was aggressive, he was a tactician."

Todd Olster helped co-ordinate and make this feature possible. The Ring appreciated his assistance.