He was born and raised in Chicago in the 1970s, and before he became a boxer, David Diaz was a die-hard Cubs fan.

His all-time favorite player was Jody Davis.

ESPN interviewed him in 2008 about his love of the Cubs and his boxing career. This is what they wrote...

If there needs to be more proof of how much the team means to 32-year-old Diaz, a three-time national Golden Gloves champion who is 34-2-1 as a professional, there's his admission that if given the choice to regain his championship belt or see the Cubs win a World Series, he'd choose the latter.

"Hands down," Diaz says, "because there is so much more meaning behind it. Boxing championships are part of my job, part of what I do. I like it and enjoy it. But if I could get paid to watch the Cubs or be around the Cubs, sign me up. I would get them towels or water or anything like that."