castillo: corrales....Its time for war!!!

[Gandalf]

www.fightnews.com

June 1, 2006

By Mike Sloan
Photos: Rick Guzman






Las Vegas, NV: The final press conference to promote the highly-anticipated showdown between lightweight champion Diego “Chico” Corrales and challenger Jose Luis “El Temible” Castillo took place earlier today and to say the tension was as thick as Peter Gallagher’s eyebrows would be an understatement.

Gary Shaw took verbal jabs at Bob Arum and Castillo, Corrales used profanity against Castillo and Castillo defiantly scoffed about his weight-making issues. Arum kept his cool, but he kept mixing up the fighters’ names.

“I guess I am getting too old for this,” an understandably worn out Arum laughed.

But aside from a few jokes and one liners tossed at the crowd from Shaw, the presser was devoid of friendly commentary. Castillo was as carefree as ever, but one could tell that Corrales has been boiling over since their last meeting, which ended with Corrales being knocked out in the fourth round.

Everybody on the Top Rank side appeared to be nonchalant about the fight coming up this Saturday inside the Thomas and Mack Center, the opposite from the Shaw Team. It seemed as though Shaw, Corrales and Co. took the last meeting between the two elite fighters rather personal and will stop at nothing until Castillo is knocked out.

“I thought when Bob was talking, he was talking about Diego,” Shaw said sternly. “He’s talking about long bloodlines, seek and destroy. I can tell you that Jose Luis won’t have to seek and destroy anyone. Diego will be right there in front of him.”

Shaw also made it clear about his feelings toward Castillo, stating that is isn’t exactly overly fond of the Mexican warrior. While Corrales and Castillo have a mutual respect for each other as people and neither has openly attacked the other with harsh trash talk Shaw held nothing back, even targeting his kids.

“We have a common bond, Jose Luis and I,” Shaw revealed. “He doesn’t like me and I don’t like him. But I like his kids. Right after the fight, after Diego knocks him out, I am going to offer to take his kids to Disney World.”

Castillo, on the other hand, downplayed the hostility and quickly addressed the media about what they were hoping to hear. He spoke about his weight issue, promised a knockout and left the dais.

“There’s no more speculations over here,” Castillo stated. “There is a lot of speculations about me about making weight or not making weight, but just look at me. Tomorrow you’ll see me even better (looking). It’s going to be a very tough fight like the first two and the only thing that I can tell you is that I am going to win by knockout.”

In a rather rare form, the typically easy-going and fun-loving Corrales kept his words firm and forceful. Gone was the lanky teddy bear and Colgate smile when he addressed his nemesis.

“I don’t have a lot to say. I don’t,” Corrales said. “Except for this: If you think I’m annoying now, Bob, wait until you see me Saturday. (Looks to Castillo) You ain’t knocking out shit! You’re going home with your boss

[amat]

I remember the second fight, I was super excited. It was, along with the scheduled Calzaghe-Lacy bout (that got pushed back) the fight I was looking forward to most that year. It was great while it lasted, though I didn't like how Corrales fought. He has the tools to win the fight imo, he just has to step to the right of Castillo and pop off with his jab and set up with power punches behind that. That is how he had sucess in the first fight and is how he eventually won the fight. In the second I think he and Joe Goosen got caught up in standing in front of Castillo and beating him to the punch instead of focusing on Corrales' positioning and footwork on the inside. Very disappointing imo and that is why so many are writing him this fight because he was disposed of in the second but I think he can beat Castillo. I'm glad this got pushed back from the February date it was scheduled for because I didn't think either fighter was 100% going into the second, especially Corrales. I hope everyone is treated to a great fight on Saturday, I'm to busy with school and finals to really get excited for this one (much less shell out $50 to see it on PPV) but i hope it is a fitting end to the trilogy. he first one was just such a great fight, if this is half of that fight then people got their money's worth imo.

[amat]

HOLY SHIT IT ISN'T PPV?!?!?!? WOW! That just made my day! YES! Think I might be havin people over then. No better way to expose people to boxing then have them watch 2 guys like Castillo and Corrales duke it out. Wow my excitement level is through the roof. Can't beleive this isn't PPV!

[Gandalf]

HOLY S*** IT ISN'T PPV?!?!?!? WOW! That just made my day! YES! Think I might be havin people over then. No better way to expose people to boxing then have them watch 2 guys like Castillo and Corrales duke it out. Wow my excitement level is through the roof. Can't beleive this isn't PPV!

they are showing this one out here too....should be a cracking fight

[9 mili brother]

Diego needs to put castillo on the canvas. Both boxers are good but I think Diego has more will power. Castillo got a lucky left. He lands that left all the time against Diego but with the extra weight it was brutal. Diego KO, no question.

[Wadeb_21]

Does anyone know what time the wiegh in is. Because I'm curious to if Castillo is going to make weight again.

[aangel]

Does anyone know what time the wiegh in is. Because I'm curious to if Castillo is going to make weight again.

Im wondering the same thing, curious to see what both guys come in at.