Mayweather and Castillo Look to Clear the Smoke

Diego Rodriguez

06.12 - Eight months ago, boxing hosted a world championship bout between the best of the best, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Jose Luis Castillo, on April 20th 2002. This was a highly anticipated bout between the two champions, as they looked to move forward and give us the true champion of that division. Ring Magazine announced its champion in the lightweight division when the judges' cards were tallied. However, both men walked away from that bout with a decision that made its mark in history, but left an abundance of doubt, once again.

This rematch gives both fighters a chance to prove, once and for all, who won the first fight. It also, possibly, gives Ring Magazine the opportunity give the Ring Magazine Championship title to the true winner of this bout. Since leaving his father, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has lost some of what he once had earlier in his career when he was being trained by Floyd Mayweather Sr. Since the departure between father and son, Mayweather Jr. has been much easier to hit; I first took notice of this when he faced Burton, all of a sudden, it looked as if "Pretty Boy" Floyd wasn't so pretty. Burton, being the warrior that he is, found ways to draw in the younger fighter, and for a while, I thought Burton would find a way to stop him, however, Mayweather got through that test. But in his fight with Castillo, Floyd showed the same type of performance, as the fight moved along Castillo, began to figure Floyd out, and started to take control of the fight. I, myself, have never seen Floyd be hit that clean, let alone that much, in a fight. Sure, Floyd has had an impressive knock out ratio, but make no mistake, when you press forward and try to knock fighters out, you do leave yourself open to get knocked out yourself.

Castillo has had a fight in Mexico since "losing" to the "Pretty Boy," winning a third round KO over Verdell Smith, whereas Floyd hasn't had a fight since; this different level of activity may or may not play a role in Saturday's slug fest.

The only thing that Castillo needs to do to win this fight is to cut the ring off a lot earlier and mix up his combinations-top and bottom. I noticed that it took Castillo a while in the first fight to find Floyd, which, in part, could have been due to his uncertainty of what Floyd was bringing with him into the fight; but as each round progressed, it appeared that Castillo thought, "If he hasn't dropped me by now, I may be onto something." Suddenly, the fight took another turn, and it seemed that Castillo had found his man, scoring with punches-just about anywhere he threw them, they landed.

After the bout, it seemed pretty cut-and-dry that Castillo had won the fight; yet, the victory was awarded to Mayweather Jr. The following week, I remember tuning in to Friday Night Fights, and Kellerman said that he felt that Mayweather Jr. had won the fight, and that usually when a fighter you never see get hit gets hit, you tend to give the round to the other guy. I will ask you again Max, how do you explain that to people who have never seen Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight before? Even HBO experts felt that Castillo had won the fight, but then again, they couldn't be right could they? I mean they also felt that Lewis won the fight with Holyfield in March of '99. But no, Mr. Kellerman has got to be right doesn't he? Get a clue Max, I respect those opinions, but I take them for what they truly are: opinions.

This should be a good fight, whether people realize it or not. The undercard bout for McCline vs. Klitschko may just make for a good night of championship boxing-a night of the best vs. the best, and it should produce the true Ring Magazine Champion of the World.

Castillo will stop Floyd Mayweather Jr., late TKO.