State of the Boxing Union: The Lightweight Division.

With such a huge lightweight fight between Jose Luis Castillo vs. Diego Corrales taking place this coming Saturday, May 7, I figured this was as good a time as any to give my two cents on the state of the lightweight division. Once again, I used quality of opposition, and activity as the main factors in deciding my rankings. Without further ado, here are my top-ten lightweights.

1. “El Temible” Jose Luis Castillo (51-6-1 with 45 KOs/WBC and Ring Magazine’s champion): The current WBC, and Ring Magazine’s lightweight champion is as tough as they come, but has more style and substance than he is given credit for having. For the exception of Floyd Mayweather who, I don’t care what the scorecards read, as Jose Luis won the first fight, Castillo has dominated every top lightweight of his era. He holds wins over Stevie Johnston, Juan Lazcano, Joel Casamayor, Julio Diaz, Cesar Bazan, and the rugged Saul Duran. Add to the fact that “El Temible” has been one of the most active champions, with one of the most impressive bodies of work in recent memory. This tough and gritty Mexican has earned the right to be considered the “Kingpin” of this very deep division the old-fashioned way; he’s beaten everyone out there.

2. Diego “Chico” Corrales (39-2-0 with 32 KOs/WBO champion): “Chico” is truly a success story in boxing and he has come a long way from being knocked down five times by Floyd Mayweather, and doing a stint in the joint. Since his return, Corrales has notched some impressive performances, and wins against guys like Joel Casamayor, the tough Roque Cassiani, Damien Fuller, and Acelino Freitas. This Californian has great power, and has rediscovered his underrated boxing skills under trainer Joe Goossen. He’s going to need all the help he can get this coming Saturday, as Corrales is doing battle with the beast of the division, and my number one guy, Jose Luis Castillo.

3. Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz (27-0-0 with 13 KOs/ WBA champion): This young University of Houston pre-law student has not done much over the last twenty-four months, other than defeat such solid perennial contenders as Julian Lorcy, and Billy Irwin, and has beaten tough fighters like Lakva Sim, Eleazar Contreras, Joel Perez, and Francisco Lorenzo. This kid’s activity level has also been high in a time when top contenders/champions at the most fight twice a year; Diaz has fought four times in the past twelve months. It would have been five, but an injury caused him to pull out of the fight against Ebo Elder. The “Baby Bull” is a relentless puncher with excellent technique, and a solid chin. If only Diaz could punch a little harder. Yikes!

4. Juan “Hispanic Causing Panic” Lazcano (33-3-1 with 25 KOs): This tough Texan had a solid winning streak going, with wins over Jesse James Leija, Dorin Spivey, John John Molina, and Stevie Johnston, snapped by the number one guy on my list. Although Lazcano took a horrible beating at the hands of Castillo, he did have his moments in the fight, never quit, and showed he could hang in there with the best lightweight on the planet. Who knows if he is a ruined fighter, but until he proves me wrong, I believe he belongs here.

5. Julio “Kidd” Diaz (30-3-0 with 22 KOs): The “Kidd” is another lightweight who had his solid winning streak broken by Castillo. Julio beat the likes of Ernesto Zepeda, Miguel Angel Huerta, Courtney Burton, and Javier Jauregui, but he challenged the lightweight king himself, only to lose by tenth round stoppage. Hey, as other guys on this list have learned, there is no shame in losing to Castillo.

6. Javier “Chatito” Jauregui (49-11-2 with 34 KOs): This is the only man on the list to beat the reigning lightweight king, Jose Luis Castillo, twice. The thing with those wins is that they occurred early in Castillo’s career, and were fights that were stopped on cuts, and took place in Jauregui’s home state in Mexico. Still, “Chatito” is a rugged, tough as nails fighter that is no easy night for anyone on this list. His recent run includes wins over perennial contender Leavander Johnson, and tough guys like Miguel Casillas, Juan Gomez, and James Crayton. Jauregui is the type of fighter that, if you don’t bring your “A” game, he will beat you.

7. Acelino “Popo” Freitas (36-1-0 with 31 KOs): If you are scratching your head with this one, you’re not alone. Freitas is the only guy on this list that to whom I gave the benefit of the doubt. Acelino’s level of competition leaves a lot to be desired, especially with his recent opponents, and remember also the fact that he pulled a “No Mas” in his fight against Diego Corrales. Still, “Popo” has fought some mid-level opposition and has beaten some decent fighters in his time. He has a lot of ring intelligence, solid boxing skills, and good power. If Freitas can get a winning streak going and build his confidence, he may be able to climb up the lightweight ladder. Only time will tell, but it should be fun to watch.

8. Lakva Sim (19-4-1 with 16 KOs): Once referred to by Larry Merchant as a “one man Mongolian hoard,” this tough and rugged former WBA belt-holder is a very dangerous foe. Sim is a brute that has some serious pop in both of his fists. Also, in the tradition of Asian fighters, his stamina is amazing, and he can take a punch. Lakva is one guy most fighters will not face unless they have to. If given the opportunity, Sim may be able to climb up this list.

9. “King” Artur Grigorian (37-1-0 with 23 KOs): This Uzbekistan-bred fighter is kind of an unknown commodity in the division. He sports a sparkling record, built on limited opposition. Still, “King Artur” has beaten some decent competition in Ray Martinez, Stefano Zoff, Mat Zegan, and Raul Balbi, and is the former WBO lightweight champion. Gregorian knows how to fight, and can possibly beat one of the guys rated under number six on my list.

10. Julian “Bobo” Lorcy (56-4-2 with 41 KOs): This former WBA lightweight champion has become sort of the gatekeeper of the division. Lorcy is your typical perennial contender, in that he beats all the “B” level type fighters, but, when he steps up, although he always gives a tough fight, Julian ends up losing. Still, “Bobo” has good skills, decent power, experience, and a solid chin to give anyone in the division a hard time.

Well fight fans, there is my two cents on the current state of the lightweight division. It is not impossible to believe that, come this Saturday, number one and two on this list will switch places, but I think Castillo will win, and keep his Kingpin status.

Sergio Martinez can be reached at srg_mrtnz@yahoo.com