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Corrales-Casamayor III Could Be a Classic
FRI Semptember 29, JULIUS STECKER - Ring Magazine Lightweight Champion Diego Corrales, 40-3, is chomping at the bit. After being denied a chance to redeem himself earlier this year against Jose Luis Castillo, because of Castillo’s mishap at the scale, Corrales will finally get his opportunity to shine.
Fortunately for boxing fans, we get an opportunity to see him in with boxing’s most underrated fighter, Joel Casamayor, 33-3-1, on Saturday October 7th at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, live on Showtime. Both are very familiar with each other, with the their series tied at one a piece. Since fight fans did not get an opportunity to see Corrales-Castillo III, they will get an opportunity to see the next best thing. One thing is for sure; this will be a fight to remember.
“We had a great camp. I’m looking forward to going to Las Vegas and going to war. I have had a nice long break. The year off has done my body very well. I have had a rough go at it the last few years, especially with (Jose Luis) Castillo. My body feels great and I am looking forward to closing the book on this chapter with Casamayor,” explained Corrales at the recent conference call.
Corrales earned that much-needed break he was talking about. He engaged in perhaps the 2 most grueling fights of recent memory. When he went toe to toe with Jose Luis Castillo in 2005, the first fight between the two was considered by many to be the best fight of the decade. He was scheduled to take on Castillo in a rubber match this past June, but Castillo failed to make, thus nixing the much-anticipated match-up. Corrales was extremely disappointed, but now he gets an opportunity channel his displeasure and he gets to face his other nemesis, former Jr. Lightweight Champion Joel Casamayor.
Back in October of 2003, Casamayor scored a 6th round TKO victory over Corrales in a back and forth slugfest. The rematch was much different as Corrales outboxed Casamayor in March of 2004, winning a 12 round razor thin split decision. Needless to say, Casamayor is not short on his dislike for Corrales.
“Corrales talks a lot of garbage about me. I am going to put the mouthpiece through his mouth again. He loses every time he fights in October and he will again. He talks a lot of trash about my family. If he wants to fight on the street too, we can do that,” stated Casamayor. But Corrales quickly shot back with,“ I never brought anybody’s family into this. You guys can pump this kids head with lies and I will deflate them Oct. 7.”
With an exchange like that you know there is bad blood between the two. And where else better to settle it but in the ring, and just maybe this fight will be the scrap we thought we would get this past June when Castillo-Corrales III was canceled. What Will Happen
Almost everyone is picking Diego Corrales to win this fight, but it is not that simple. Joel Casamayor is just as good a fighter as Corrales is. He just does not have Corrales’s bone crunching punching power. In see this as a pick’em fight. Casamayor has the edge in speed and skills, but Corrales has the edge in punching power and size.
With that said, I am picking Diego Corrales to win via a close majority decision. Joel Casamayor will control the early action with his speed, but Corrales will catch up to him, and probably hurt him. But Casamayor underrated heart will keep things close. Boxing Next Superstar?
Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero
It may be way too early to tell, but the featherweight division and boxing in general, may have its newest star, IBF Featherweight Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (19-1-1). On September 2nd, Guerrero dominated Erik Aiken in route to winning his 1st world title at the age of 23. Guerrero displayed patience and skill in dismantling Aiken in 8 brutal rounds. We caught up with new champ to get his take on winning the title and what the future holds.
“The way I was feeling that day I knew I was going to win. I was physically and mentally ready to go that night,” stated the Ghost.
Guererro before his win against Aiken, he avenged his only defeat, by destroying Gamaliel Diaz in 6 rounds. In their previous fight he lost via a 12 round split decision. Guererro in the rematch showed the heart of a champion, and he did what all-good champions do, improve.
“The first fight with Diaz was tough, he was a crafty fighter, but that experience prepared me for tough fights in the future. It gave me a look that I had never seen,” explained Guerrero.
Guerrero, who is unusually big for a featherweight at 5’9”, suggested that he might eventually climb through the weights and try to win titles all the way up to Lightweight (135). He also thinks he may get an opportunity to fight the sports elite very soon. He explained, “God willing, hopefully by next year I will get an opportunity to fight guys like Manny Pacquiao, Erik Morales, and (Marco Antiono) Barrera.”
But first comes a possible title defense this November 4th against the rugged Orlando Salido (27-9-2). And if Guerrero gets past him, we me be seeing one of boxing’s next true stars.
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