Jorge Castro speaks out on Paul Briggs!
By Tony Nobbs
26.03 - Former WBA Middleweight Champion of the World, Jorge Castro, yesterday claimed he was going to "school" Paul "Hurricane" Briggs in their official WBC Lt. Heavyweight eliminator at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast in Queensland on Sunday April 13. In a conversation with Briggs' trainer Rod Waterhouse who is also promoting the fight, Castro said via interpreter and agent Sampson Lewkowizz "Briggs is too green and I will show Australia how an Argentine warrior, who has had over 130 fights will teach Briggs a lesson. When I boxed Vasily Jirov I took him for a taxi ride until I suffered a dislocated shoulder in round six. I boxed the next six rounds with that injury. I plan to take Briggs to school - not for a ride. After the win I will fight for the WBC Lt. Heavyweight Crown and Briggs can learn from this experience. I call for all Argentine people living in Australia who can come to the fight to bring their Argentine flag and support their countryman. I am very fit and training hard, the win over Briggs will put me on the top again".
The winner of the scheduled ten rounder has been guaranteed a number two rating with the WBC. Castro (123-8-3, 85 KO) is currently rated #5 by the WBC and #7 by the IBF and WBA. Briggs, (19-1, 16 KO) is ranked #7 by the WBC and #10 by the IBF. Waterhouse added that it was the Argentine camp's choice to fly in to town on April 9, just four days before facing his twenty seven year old charge. Waterhouse had originally intended to bring Castro over around two weeks prior to the fight.
The card dubbed "Quest of the Hurricane" also marks the return, after three years absence, of Craig Mordey to the promotional business. Mordey, whose father Bill promoted Jeff Fenech, Jeff Harding and Kostya Tszyu to World Championships is due to arrive on the Gold Coast on April 1.
"Craig knows his work and having him here will allow me to focus on the final stages of Paul's training. Which is all I want to be concerned with prior to such an important fight. We are not underestimating Castro, we know he is still a dangerous fighter, but Paul is a real talent who can punch as well" said Waterhouse. After losing on points to Jirov for the IBF Cruiserweight Belt in February last year, Castro has won three bouts, scoring knockouts over countrymen Sergio Martin Beaz and Miguel Angel Robledo and outpointing American Eteinne Whitaker over ten.
In the main support to Briggs-Castro, former Briggs victim Glenn Kelly squares off with IBF Pan Pacific Cruiserweight Champion Simon Paterson, with the vacant OPBF Belt also up for grabs. In other bouts, Jason Delisle defends his Australian Lt Heavyweight Title against war horse Paul Smallman who decisioned him in an eight round non title fight in September.
Former Australian Middleweight Champion John Wayne Parr returns after 18 months when he faces of with fellow tough nut Mike Cope, the Victorian State Middleweight Champion. Queensland State Champions Paul Tapley (Welter) and Ty Allen (Lt Welter) go at it for he third time in their brief pro careers in a Welterweight match up and Steve Ng fights Victorian Paul Le at Lt Middleweight. The latter three bouts are scheduled for 6x3 minutes.
The show starts at Noon and is Televised live on the Main Event PPV Station.
