Boxing Preview: Corrales And Casamayor Mix It

By Simon Jackson

There is bad, bad blood between Diego Corrales and Joel Casamayor who on Saturday night meet to decide the WBC and RING lightweight titles.

And they can’t wait.

“I feel strong and I am just waiting for the bell to ring because on October 7 we are going to war,” Joel ‘El Cepillo’ Casamayor – 33-1 (21KOs) – said in this week’s pre-match conference call.

“From the start, we got off on the wrong foot and stayed on that foot,” Diego ‘Chico’ Corrales – 40-3 (33 KOs) – was quoted as saying when the Gary Shaw promoted event at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino was confirmed.

“We are like oil and water, we do not mix,” the 29 year old Las Vegas resident continued. “He doesn’t like me; we are going to fight.”

This acrimonious pair’s previous meetings have frighteningly resulted in one contentious win apiece.

The heavily favoured Corrales lost the first battle at this venue in October 2003 in a bitter contest where both fighters were down – Corrales twice – before the bout was stopped in the sixth due to severe cuts to the inside of his mouth. The much publicised animosity had already been in evidenced with Cuban born Casamayor being penalised a point for fouling his noticeably despised opponent.

The animosity increased when Joe Goossen, 35 year old Casamayor’s trainer, defected to the opposition and is widely credited with ensuring Corrales’ tactical victory in the March 2004 rematch.

In a vicious contest, Sacremento born Corrales was ahead on points when Cuban born Casamayor rallied late, knocked him down in the tenth and finished with a flourish only to suffer the frustration of seeing the winning post flash by with Corrales’ otherwise well-defended nose still in front.

Casamayor, who reportedly abandoned his five year old daughter, girlfriend and parents in Guatanamo to come to the United States in 1996 to box professionally, misses no opportunity to reaffirm his loathing of Corrales.

“I am going to put the mouthpiece through his mouth again. He talks a lot of trash about my family. If he wants to fight in the street too we can do that.”

“I never brought anybody’s family into this,” retorted Corrales. “You guys can pump this kid’s head with lies and I will deflate them Oct 7.”

UK bookmakers feel his confidence is justified and the majority agree with Ladbrokes 2/5 for a Corrales victory against Casamayor’s 7/4.

There must though, be a concern within the favourite’s camp as to their charges ‘match fitness’.

Corrales’ last ring appearance was in October 2005 when he was knocked out in the fourth round of his rematch with the hard-punching Jose Luis Castillo.

Five months earlier he wrested the WBC and WBO belts from Castillo and although beaten in the October rematch, retained both titles due to his opponent’s much publicised weigh-in irregularities.

Unsurprisingly Corrales refutes any fitness concerns, saying: “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 Castillo. My body feels great and I am looking forward to closing this chapter with Casamayor.

“The layoff has been awesome. It was a needed break. I had camps in between to stay sharp. I am happy, my body feels good. I will continue to put on great shows. Oct 7 will be the same thing. I have one job, Oct 7 and it’s Joel Casamayor.”

“Every fight is tough” added Casamayor, “…Oct 7 I am going to win clearly. There will be no questions.”

There is no question either, as to whether they like each other.

Courtesy www.frankmaloney.com