CASTILLO vs CORRALES: SHOWTIME PRESENTS LIGHTWEIGHT SHOOTOUT By Xavier 'El Mago' Cepeda

This Saturday, May 7, Showtime will showcase the talents of Diego “Chico” Corrales against Jose Luis “ El Temible” Castillo for the dominant position in the lightweight division.  The talk on this fight has not been the belts up for grabs, but rather whose pressure will prevail.  Corrales and Castillo have both been recognized in their sport for being pressure fighters.  Corrales has stated that he is interested and excited about fighting someone like himself who comes at you as opposed to a boxer.  Castillo has always been known to be an in your face fighter whose chin is as sturdy as his determination.  I, like most fight fans, have been waiting for this one as well.  This year has been and will be  a very exciting year for the fight game.  We have seen exciting performances by Tszyu, Cotto, Judah, Morales, Barrera, Gatti, Margarito, and many others.  This fight should be one that will compete for fight of the year.    Corrales brings a lot to the table at this weight.  The 6 foot California native is a lightweight trapped in a welterweight frame, a tall welterweight at that.  He stands tall for the division, and punches tall as well.  Corrales’ record is 39-2 with 32 KO’s.  He carries knockout power in both gloves.  Regardless of his height, Corrales likes to come into close quarters to unleash his bombs.  With his recent partnering with trainer Goossen has helped his boxing abilities tremendously.  His ring generalship has increased, and he is not the same fighter that lost to Mayweather.  His fights with Casamayor, Freitas, and Mayweather all validate the ring experience that Chico brings to the table.  This will be a necessity considering the veteran Castillo has been in with the best in the business, including the great Julio Cesar Chavez.    Castillo is a frontward assaulting machine.  He consistently comes conditioned to go the distance without missing a beat.  His solid ring generalship has been displayed time and time again.  In his recent fight with young lion Julio Diaz, Temible showed us that he still has a lot left in the tank at 31 years of age.  Castillo has basically seen it all within the four corners, having fought the likes of Mayweather, Diaz, Casamayor, Stevie Johnston, and Juan Lazcano.  Some argue that he won his first fight with Mayweather, although Mayweather pulled off a solid win in their rematch.  Castillo’s strengths don’t necessarily lye in his technique, he is not a Finito Lopez or Juan Manuel Marquez, but his work rate is tremendous.  With a record of 53-6-1 with 46KO’s equates to a 77% knock out ratio.  He can punch, and he can punch in numbers.  Some feel that he is going to be too much for Chico.    Both fighters will enter the ring on Saturday night extremely conditioned.   If this goes the distance, as highly unlikely as it is, it is going to be some of the most exciting 12 rounds witnessed this year.  Castillo and Corrales have both had extremely good camps in preparation for this fight.  In the beginning rounds we will see both fighters come right at each other as neither know anything else but attack.  We will witness phone booth action early.  Both can punch and both will be looking to land power shots.  Castillo gets the edge in chin.  Corrales has been knocked down by several opponents, but also, in Trinidad fashion, has been known to get off of the canvas and impose his will.  One thing is for sure, after having witnesses Corrales wanting to continue with a torn and bloody lip in his first fight with Casamayor, there is no denying the fact the he is a blood and guts fighter.  Corrales may go down early in this fight, but he will most likely bounce back. The real question here is how Castillo deals with the power of Corrales. The two will exchange feverishly until the middle rounds where we will see an early stoppage.  Corrales by knockout in the 9th.  5-06-05 Brought to you by Saratogamist copyright 2001-2005