29.01.04 – Two classy, former 130-pound world champions with a combined record of 67-3 with 50 knockouts collide when Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor faces Diego “Chico” Corrales in an eagerly awaited rematch for the WBO 130-pound title abandoned recently by Acelino Freitas on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday, March 6 (9 p.m. ET/PT*). In the co-feature from Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., unbeaten Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy defends his WBC/CA, NABA/USBA super middleweight crowns against WBC Latin Americas 168-pound champion Tito “El Misil’’ Mendoza.
The bouts will mark the conclusion of a successful first-quarter year of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING in which the network unveiled its new, fan-friendly scheduling strategy of providing viewers and boxing fans with the best possible event on the first Saturday of every month. The Casamayor-Corrales, Lacy-Mendoza 12-rounders will be promoted by Cedric Kushner Promotions, LTD in association with Team Freedom and Gary Shaw Productions, LLC.
Casamayor (30-1, 19 KOs), of Guantanamo, Cuba, came out the winner in the first fight when the wild brawl was stopped at the end of the sixth round with Corrales bleeding badly from the mouth. The ex-World Boxing Association (WBA) champion knocked down Corrales twice, and hit the canvas once himself in a slugfest that drew cheers when the boxers went at it, and “boos” when it was abruptly stopped by the referee. Despite losing a point for holding and hitting, Casamayor was ahead on all the judges’ scorecards at the finish.
One of the most prolific amateur boxers in history, Casamayor captured the WBA interim 130-pound title with a 12-round decision over Antonio Hernandez on June 19, 1999. The 1992 Olympic gold medalist captured the WBA world title with a fifth-round TKO over Jongkwon Baek on May 21, 2000. Casamayor made four successful defenses before suffering his only defeat on a close 12-round decision to undefeated, then-WBO 130-pound boss Freitas on SHOWTIME Jan. 12, 2002. Since the defeat, the current WBO No. 1 130-pound contender has gone 4-0.
Corrales (37-2, 31 KOs), of Sacramento, Calif., wanted to continue and vigorously protested the stoppage, but the ring doctor said the former International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion could not go on because of two cuts on his top lip and one inside his mouth that sent blood flowing down his chest.
The disputed defeat to Casamayor was the first in five 2003 outings for Corrales, who was inactive for two years due to well-documented personal, managerial and promotional problems. After capturing the IBF belt with a seventh-round TKO over Robert Garcia on Oct. 23, 1999, on SHOWTIME and successfully defending it three times, Corrales lost a battle of unbeatens when World Boxing Council (WBC) titleholder Floyd Mayweather defeated him on Jan. 20, 2001. Corrales entered the grudge match in less than stellar condition and wound up suffering a 10th-round TKO.
Lacy (16-0, 13 KOs), of Tampa, Fla., is coming off an eighth-round knockout over North American Boxing Federation (NABF) light heavyweight champion Donnell Wiggins on Dec. 13, 2003, on SHOWTIME. Lacy, despite fighting with a slightly swollen left eye, ended his eighth appearance on SHOWTIME impressively when he landed a big overhand right hand that dropped Wiggins. The bout was stopped moments later at 2:33. The talented Lacy, who has steadily ascended the 168-pound world rankings since turning pro, is ranked No. 7 by both the WBC and WBO, No. 8 by the IBF and No. 13 by the WBA. He went 209-12 in the amateurs, won numerous competitions and made it to the second round of the 2000 Olympics.
Mendoza (31-4, 24 KOs), of Veraguas, Panama, has won four straight by knockout, all inside three rounds, and 16 out of his last 17 bouts. Mendoza’s lone loss came on a fifth-round technical decision to Robert Allen in an IBF middleweight elimination bout on July 25, 2002. In his most recent start, he registered a third-round TKO over Etienne Whitaker on Jan. 17, 2004. Mendoza has held several minor titles since turning pro on April 29, 1995. Besides the WBC Latin Americas crown, he also has captured belts at 140 pounds (Panamanian), 147 pounds (FECARBOX), 154 pounds (NABO and WBA Fedecentro) and 160 pounds (NABF). The 6-foot-3 Mendoza, who is tall for a super middle, debuted as a junior welterweight.
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s Steve Albert and Al Bernstein will call the action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast is Jay Larkin, with David Dinkins Jr. producing and Bob Dunphy directing.
For information on upcoming SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and “ShoBox: The New Generation” telecasts, including complete fighter bios and records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at http:www.sho.com/boxing.
*Tape delayed on the west coast