Corrales-Castillo II: The Weight is Over

LAS VEGAS (October 7, 2005) – Jose Luis Castillo failed to make weight for Saturday’s eagerly anticipated rematch with WBC/WBO lightweight champion Diego Corrales of last May’s classic war.

Castillo, the former two-time WBC lightweight champion, failed to make the required weight of 135 lbs. for the lightweight championship during the official weigh-in for Saturday’s Showtime Pay-Per-View Event at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Castillo weighed-in at 137 lbs. He had two hours to make weight and returned to the scale an hour later, having gained weight. Now Castillo weighed 138½ lbs. He was the same weight on his third attempt.

Marc Ratner, executive director Nevada State Athletic Commission, fined Castillo 10% of his $1.2 million purse, or $120,000, half of which will be added to Corrales' $2 million purse; the other half goes to the state.

Saturday’s rematch between Corrales and Castillo will still go on for 12 rounds as scheduled, but it will be a non-title affair, so if Corrales loses the fight he will still retain his titles.

“We have an iconic event between the two best lightweight fighters in the world today,” said Showtime Executive Producer Jay Larkin. “Their first meeting is already down in the history books as one of the all-time best. These two guys will fight tomorrow night.”

Promoters Gary Shaw of Gary Shaw Productions and Bob Arum of Top Rank have agreed to allow Castillo to weigh-in again at 3 p.m. on Saturday, with a maximum weight of 147 lbs.

If Castillo is over the agreed weight at that time, he will be fined $75,000 per pound. Corrales, having made official weight, is not subject to these sanctions.

The fight is on. The wait is over. The weight is over.