Connect with us

Articles of 2006

The War to Settle the Score: Corrales-Castillo

Published

on

A proud father, WBC lightweight champion Diego “Chico” Corrales arrived Wednesday at the IBA gym in Las Vegas carrying a special guest, baby Daylia. Diego’s smallest and most beloved fan, she was decked out in Corrales gear, including sneakers that read “Team Corrales” and holding her tiny finger in the air signifying that her dad was number one. Born two-and-a-half months ago, Daylia was on hand to see her father greet the media and pose for photos as the final chapter of his trilogy with Jose Luis Castillo nears. The “War to Settle the Score!” as it has been logically named is set for Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Away from the scorching Vegas heat, Corrales was his usual, relaxed self inside the gym, engaging the media as he always does even with his newborn in tow. Patting his daughter with a damp towel, he spoke of how he trained harder than ever before for this upcoming fight with Castillo and how nice it’ll be to stop talking about the same opponent. There won’t be any disappointment when Castillo is finally in his rear-view mirror for good. “It’ll definitely be nice to fight somebody else,” he said.

As an example of his fun-loving demeanor, Corrales even took time to reminisce about his affinity for daring stunts such as skydiving and bunjy-jumping and offered to show me the tapes as proof that he was in fact telling the truth after I jokingly doubted the authenticity of his claim.

Daredevil stunts aside, Corrales believes he’s the smarter, more adaptive fighter and plans to prove it Saturday when he steps into the ring against Castillo for the grand finale. If you’re awaiting a toe-to-toe brawl as would be expected by their previous meetings then you may be in for quite a surprise as Corrales has other tactical ideas.

“I’m going to teach this guy a lesson. If you thought I boxed against Casamayor then you’re not going to believe this,” Corrales said. “I’m taking it to a new level and when the fight is over I’m going to smile at him (Castillo) and say, ‘I thought you were going to knock me out.’”

The bettors so far agree with Castillo that he’s going to knockout Corrales as the odds on that wager are even money, only adding fuel to the underdog’s fire as he seeks revenge for what happened back in October. On the day before that fight, Castillo failed to make weight, nullifying his title opportunity, but at the same time giving him a seemingly unfair advantage that ultimately culminated in the brutal knockout.

We heard De La Hoya speak of how important the motivational factor was in readying him for his fight with Mayorga. He wanted to teach his trash-talking opponent a lesson and he did just that. Castillo is no Mayorga as he’s far-better skilled and far-less a potty-mouth, yet Corrales has used the scale-tipping incident and the disrespect that he feels his opponent continues to give him as motivation to seek revenge and quiet Castillo once and for all.

“I’m sick of all his yapping,” he explained. “He’s going to get what’s coming to him.”

Corrales’s trainer, Joe Goossen, is happy his fighter is the underdog and that he’s spurred on by Castillo’s antics.

“When Diego wants something this badly he gets it,” said Goossen.

As for Castillo, word is that his weight was right around 140-pounds as of Wednesday. That didn’t mean much to Corrales.

“I’ve been in this business too long to believe that. They can’t try that on me. He’s probably more like 145-pounds,” Corrales speculated.

We’ll have to wait until Friday’s weigh-in to see whether or not Castillo can make the lightweight limit of 135-pounds. Supposedly, the WBC has been monitoring him closely to make sure we don’t have a repeat of last time’s scale mockery. If he inexplicably does not make the weight then there likely won’t be a fight. But as Corrales said, “We’ll cross that bridge when it comes.”

Let’s hope for the sake of our sport that we never reach that bridge and that we get to see another captivating duel in this “War to Settle the Score.” A memorable fight would not only forever conjoin these two fighters, but also enshrine them together in the lore of boxing’s greatest trilogies. Think Ross-McLarnin, Zale-Graziano, Ali-Frazier, Barrera-Morales. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Results-and-Recaps-from-New-York-Where-Taylor-edged-Serrano-Once-Again
Featured Articles3 days ago

Results and Recaps from New York Where Taylor Edged Serrano Once Again

From-a-Sympathetic-Figure-to-a-Pariah-The Travails-of-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr
Featured Articles1 week ago

From a Sympathetic Figure to a Pariah: The Travails of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Results-and-Recaps-from-NYC-where-Hamzah-Sheeraz-was-Spectacular
Featured Articles2 days ago

Results and Recaps from NYC where Hamzah Sheeraz was Spectacular

Catterall-vs-Eubank-Ends-Prematurely-Catterall-Wins-a-Technical-Decision
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catterall vs Eubank Ends Prematurely; Catterall Wins a Technical Decision

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Philadelphia-Welterweight-Gil-Turner-a-Phenom-Now-Rests-in-an-Unmarked-Grave
Featured Articles3 days ago

Philadelphia Welterweight Gil Turner, a Phenom, Now Rests in an Unmarked Grave

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Paro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

Avila-Perspecrive-Chap-334-Back-to-Back-Boxing-Cards-in-the-Big-Apple
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 334: Back-to-Back Boxing Cards in the Big Apple

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

Results-and-Recaps-from-NYC-where-Hamzah-Sheeraz-was-Spectacular
Featured Articles2 days ago

Results and Recaps from NYC where Hamzah Sheeraz was Spectacular

Results-and-Recaps-from-New-York-Where-Taylor-edged-Serrano-Once-Again
Featured Articles3 days ago

Results and Recaps from New York Where Taylor Edged Serrano Once Again

Philadelphia-Welterweight-Gil-Turner-a-Phenom-Now-Rests-in-an-Unmarked-Grave
Featured Articles3 days ago

Philadelphia Welterweight Gil Turner, a Phenom, Now Rests in an Unmarked Grave

Avila-Perspecrive-Chap-334-Back-to-Back-Boxing-Cards-in-the-Big-Apple
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 334: Back-to-Back Boxing Cards in the Big Apple

From-a-Sympathetic-Figure-to-a-Pariah-The Travails-of-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr
Featured Articles1 week ago

From a Sympathetic Figure to a Pariah: The Travails of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

Catterall-vs-Eubank-Ends-Prematurely-Catterall-Wins-a-Technical-Decision
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catterall vs Eubank Ends Prematurely; Catterall Wins a Technical Decision

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mexico's-Francisco-Rodriguez-Jr-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-June
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr is the TSS Fighter of the Month for June

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Paro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending