The Venezuelan, a two-time world champion, claimed unanimous victories in all of his contests on the second day of the Championships to reach the final.

Diaz will face the challenge of his compatriot Cleiver Casanova as he seeks to secure a 15^th continental title.

Defending champion Sakura Kokumai reached the women’s kata final, with the American defeating Venezuela’s Andrea Armada in the semi-final.

She will aim to seal a third straight Pan American title when she faces Maria Dimitrova of Dominican Republic, which will be a rematch of last year’s gold medal match.

Dimitrova overcame Canada’s Rita Ngo in her semi-final.

Brazilian star Douglas Brose appears on course for a fourth straight men’s kumite title, as the two-time world champion reached the under 60 kilogram final.

He will face Colombian national champion Andres Rendon for the second consecutive year in the gold medal match.

Brose’s compatriot Valeria Kumikazi earned her place in the women’s under 55kg kumite final, with the World Championship silver medallist defeating the United States’ Jenna Brown.

Cuba’s Baurelys Torres will provide the opposition in final.

Venezuela’s Andres Madera will head into the men’s under 67kg kumite final as favourite to claim the gold medal.

Madera has reached three finals in his four tournament appearances in 2017, with the World Championships bronze medallist having triumphed at the Karate 1-Premier League in Paris.

He will hope to achieve further success when he takes on Luis Trivino of Colombia.

Colombia’s Shanee Torres could achieve a breakthrough gold medal in the women’s over 68kg kumite division, having made the final for the first time.

She will face Mexico's Ana Isabel Mendoza.