Mike Samuels

25.09 - With the recent news of a postponement involving Jose Luis Castillo's rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. due to an ankle ailment by Castillo during training, one "self-proclaimed" top130lb fighter in the world, Joel Casamayor, has made it his mission to seek and destroy the brash 'Pretty Boy.'

"I'll knock [Mayweather] him out in six or seven rounds. Maybe even three," explained Casamayor when considering the possibility of fighting in Castillo's place October 5th on HBO.

A fight between Casamayor (27-1, 17 KO's) and Mayweather (28-0, 20 KO's) would bring a heated controversy to the public's eye. Casamayor has stated his dislike for Mayweather ever since Mayweather went up in weight to challenge Jose Luis Castillo, thus canceling any plans of a Casamayor/Freitas-Mayweather clash later during the year.

Casamayor lost a controversial (and what some consider to be poorly officiated) fight between champion Acelino Frietas, of Brazil, back in January. The fight was very close and some points were taken away from Casamayor without proper warning, as well as a knockdown that still remains a big question of the fight.

After suffering his first defeat as a professional fighter and losing one third of his 130lb title, Casamayor wasn't pleased but felt deep down in his heart that he won the fight rather easily.

"I definitely won the fight," Casamayor said after losing to Freitas. "I do not know what the judges were watching. I kicked his [Freitas'] butt even though the ref took points away. If Freitas is a man, he will give me a rematch."

Mayweather shook his head at the fight press conference. "You should have knocked him out like you said he would," he taunted Casamayor.

Regardless of what the judges saw, Casamayor decided then and there to move on with his career by calling out the man who he says has been "running" from him since day one - Floyd Mayweather.

"I will go after Mayweather and fight him at any weight," Casamayor said. "I do not mind giving him three-to-four pounds. I will give him five pounds. I do not care how much he weighs.

"Mayweather has a big mouth, but I am a born warrior who loves to fight. Everybody likes to talk outside the ring, but it is a different story inside. I take care of people with big mouths in the ring."

Although a fight with the 'Pretty Boy' is number one on Casamayor's agenda, he is going to have to wait his turn to get a shot at the highly arrogant, brash, and controversial Floyd Mayweather.
Mayweather's management team rejected an offer made by Casamayor's handlers, understanding the danger the fight could possibly put their fighter [Mayweather] in. Mayweather hasn't had adequate time to train for the slick southpaw style of Casamayor, and in the same breath, Casamayor is letting emotion run wild in wanting a fight with an undefeated Mayweather on such short notice.

Mayweather has never been shy with his voice during his career and his ideas on a fight with Casamayor didn't go quietly either. The Pretty Boy has said countless times that his team has brought the contracts over to Casamayor and they were rejected - leaving him no other possible fights - and that is the reason Mayweather decided to move up to the 135lb weight class.

Casamayor doesn't believe it for a second.

What many people see as an "Arum-job" in Mayweather's last fight with Castillo, one thing cannot be denied, and that's the fact that the fight was closer than most people realize. But it's been Mayweather's attitude outside of the ring and his willingness to make up excuses after big fights, that has made him a target for downfall. What people want to see - what they always want to see - is the so-called "villain" take a beating.

Ding, Ding, Ding! Floyd Mayweather is boxing's next contestant.

The show's host, in this case, is Joel Casamayor, and its audience is the millions of fans 'round the world that are foaming at the lips with the thought of Mayweather put in his place.

For those who watched the Tyson-Lewis pay per-view rip off, you were treated to watching Casamayor make his first appearance in the squared circle since losing in January to Acelino Frietas. The treat was like that of a sour candy in a Halloween bucket, as Casamayor walked around the ring not doing much of anything. He looked sluggish - almost punch drunk. What makes matter worse is that he was going up against a tomato can and couldn't finish with in the fashion he was supposed too. This fight was supposed to go out with a bang and get the attention of Floyd Mayweather, thus erupting the final blaze to a showdown later in the year. The plan was a disaster and while Mayweather looked far from his usual dominating self against Castillo, he was allowed a cushion because he was moving up in weight without a tune up, and fighting what most consider being the BEST fighter of the class in Jose Luis Castillo.

The public's awe is definitely in with a rematch between Castillo and Mayweather (hopefully going down in late December or early 03'), but Casamayor doesn't see it that way. He wants Mayweather regardless of his own personal performance in June, and feels that he would knock him out within half the distance of the fight.

I have the utmost respect for ANY fighter who steps into the ring, but I have a hard time taking Casamayor seriously. If he was to step into the ring with Mayweather right now, tomorrow, or next year, I'd be the first to put my money AND mouth on Mayweather whoopin' him like Freitas couldn't do. The bottom line is, while both Freitas and Casamayor are solid fighters and decent champions, neither (especially Casamayor) are in the Pretty Boy's league. Granted that Floyd was taken to town by Castillo in a close fight in April, but one bad night - or even one loss for that matter (think De la Hoya-Trinidad) - doesn't damage a fighters stock completely. Mayweather still is two steps ahead of Casamayor, and he's got experience on his side as well. He's fought the tougher competition by far in Manfredy, Corrales, Hernandez, and Chavez to name a few. And he's come up big in the fights that he's needed too.

Casamayor didn't display the dominance he needed to against Freitas, and looked extremely ordinary in his last fight. There's no doubt that he has a bright and prosperous future left in his career. But taking on Mayweather would be a big mistake for the young fighter.

And to think, how much bigger would Mayweather's mouth get if he cleaned out Casamayor?

Saying that, let's stick with the rematch for now.

Mike Samuels can be reached at Tyson180@aol.com