Photo: Chris Farina/Top Rank
Corrales-Castillo II: drama will rule!
July 22, 2005
It evoked more emotions than any script ever produced in Hollywood. On October 8, 2005, Diego "Chico" Corrales (40-2, 33 KOs) and Jose Luis Castillo (52-7-1, 46 KOs) will produce the sequel to their first encounter in Las Vegas, Nevada of what was at very least the fight of the decade. How do I know this? It was all in the emotions. I knew I hadn't been on such a rollercoaster ride since the eighties when fights like Hagler vs. Hearns and Lupe Pintor Vs. Wilfredo Gomez left you with a racing heart and a nerve racked mess. Throw in a little bit of controversy involving the stoppage itself and the spitting out of the mouthpiece at an opportune time by Corrales and the elements of a true classic had been established. The script unfolded in the manner that most observers thought it would. Castillo, who resides in Mexicali, Mexico was to fight his usual grinding battle where he would try like hell to wear down and punish his opponent into submission. He had done just that a few months earlier against solid contender Julio Diaz who was left disfigured and demoralized.
For Corrales of Sacramento, the task was to fight any fight but Castillo's fight. Corrales ended up doing just that and had it not been for a super human effort at the verge of defeat, he would have failed to lift Castillo's WBC title. Corrales fought inside and paid a dear price as Castillo's punishing fists left him looking like he had just been worked over by some guys out of a Soprano's episode. "I know people expected me to box the first time around but I had to beat him at his own game," said Corrales at the first press conference for the re-match titled "Uno Mas!" Actually, shouldn't that be "Una mas!" or "Una vez mas"?
The press conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel consisted of friendly back and forth banter between Corrales promoter Gary Shaw, Top Rank boss Bob Arum, Castillo's manager Fernando Beltran and the two fighters themselves. Beltran pulled out a blown up picture showing Corrales at the end of the fight with bruised cheekbones and two black eyes. Shaw quickly responded by bringing out his own picture of the final Corrales punch that left Castillo with his arms limp against the ropes and prompted referee Tony Weeks to stop the fight. Castillo and Beltran topped the Corrales camp as they presented Castillo's opponent with a basketful of mouth pieces. "If he runs out I can get him some more," said Castillo.
A laughing matter at the press conference. A real issue and a bit of a sore point for Castillo's people. "I thought that Corrales got too many breaks with the spitting out of the mouthpiece. He got an extra forty seconds out of it and it was unfair. But this time Corrales is really going to get a beating," said Beltran after the conference. "Le van a volar los chingazos," for those more familiar with border Spanish. Promoter Bob arum echoed those sentiments. "I didn't have a problem with the stoppage. I had a problem with the fact that Tony Weeks flubbed the call. If your mouthpiece falls out, you're supposed to keep fighting until there's a lull in the action and there wasn't. Corrales should have never gotten the extra time," stated Arum.
Castillo feels adamant that the belts Corrales holds are currently "borrowed". "I tell you why it's going to be different this time," asserted Castillo. "I will have more rest for this fight than the last one. I will be even stronger in body and mind and I plan to knock out Corrales by the sixth or seventh round. I promise you that." Castillo will be the challenger for the WBC and WBO lightweight titles along with the "Ring" championship belt which was presented to Corrales today by Ivan Goldman.
Corrales feels the result will be the same, "I said it was going to be hell or high-water the first time and I'm saying it again. I will go through hell to win this fight." Corrales as usual feels motivated and strong willed. Two important assets that have made the 27 year old of Mexican and Afro-American descent a champion in two divisions. "My proudest moment was to be able to get up from those knock downs and win," stated Corrales. Corrales seemed on the verge of being knocked out in the tenth round as he was dropped for what seemed to be the final time. Corrales got up barely able to see from both eyes and fought on, catching Castillo enough times to leave the Empalme, Sonora native extremely hurt and dangerously vulnerable to more big bombs that could have possibly ended in tragic consequences. Referee Tony Weeks stepped in and one of the greatest comebacks in boxing had been witnessed by a paltry crowd of less than five thousand. Just how did Corrales summon the strength? "My motivations are my kids. What wouldn't you do for those you love? That's why I get up when I get knocked down. Nothing can motivate you more than that," Corrales said.
Corrales and Castillo I caught the interest of many mainstream sports fans and part II should prove to be a hot seller in the PPV market. Arum is predicting around 500,000 buys for the event which would eclipse the Hopkins-Taylor and Mayweather-Gatti Pay Per Views which generated approximately 350,000.
The card will take place at the Thomas and Mack Center and can be seen on Showtime Pay Per View. The telecast will start at 6:00 p.m.
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