Paul Briggs - Jorge Castro April 13!

By Tony Nobbs

31.01 - Rod Waterhouse, trainer manager of WBC number eight Lt Heavyweight Paul Briggs, confirmed to Eastside today that Argentinia's former WBA Middleweight Champion of the world Jorge Castro has agreed to terms and will meet his charge at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast on Sunday, April 13.

"I have just been informed that Castro has accepted the offer and the fight will be a great opportunity for Paul to move up in the WBC ratings as Castro is currently three positions above Paul at number five. With Roy Jones moving to Heavyweight and Antonio Tarver and Montell Griffin fighting for he IBF Title, the winner of his fight will be in a great position. And to snare it in Australia is a bonus. Castro is a genuine big name who has been in with everybody and has unbelievable experience." said Waterhouse from his Gold Coast home-gymnasium. Waterhouse added that the bout was organized in conjunction with Samson Lukawitz and Australian agent Danny Leigh.

The thirty five year old Castro has a 123-8-3, 85 KO record and last fought in December, scoring a nine round knockout of Miguel Angel Robledo in Santa Cruz, Argentina. He went twelve rounds with Vassily Jirov for the IBF Cruiserweight Title in Febuary last year and went ten with JC Gomes for the WBC 190 lb belt in December 2000. A professional since 1987, he captured the 160 lb world Title by outpointing Reggie Johnson in Tucuman Argentina, August 12, 1994. He made four successful defences including his come from behind ninth round knockout of John David Jackson in 1994's fight of the year and a repeat decision over Johnson in October 1995.He lost the Title to Shinji Takehara in Tokyo, in December of '95. Prior to winning the Title he'd lost on points to Terry Norris in Paris for the WBC 154 lb belt in 1991 and a ten round verdict to an up and coming Roy Jones in Pensacola in 1992. He split two decisions with Roberto Duran in 1997.

The raging 27 year old "Hurricane", Briggs (19-1, 16 KO) scored a 1st round TKO over Mississippi's Brad McNeil on the Tszyu-Leija undercard on January 19 and He has recorded stoppages in his last seven bouts, including a four round KO of Glenn Kelly on September 18.