23.02.04 – 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 World Boxing Organization (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., three-time world champion and current WBO Super Flyweight Champion Mark “Too Sharp’’ Johnson defends against unbeaten WBO No. 1 115-pound contender and mandatory challenger Luis Bolano. The Johnson-Bolano 12-rounder replaces the scheduled 12-round bout between undefeated Jeff Lacy and Tito Mendoza that was cancelled after Lacy sustained an injury.
The world title fights 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 doubleheader 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 against Casamayor 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.
Johnson (42-3, 27 KOs), of Washington, D.C., is making the first defense of the 115-pound title he won in his most recent outing when he impressively earned a 12-round decision over defending titlist Fernando Montiel on Aug. 16, 2003. Johnson is a former two-time IBF champion. The quick, talented southpaw captured the IBF flyweight title with a first-round knockout over Francisco Tejedor on March 4, 1996. After seven successful defenses, Johnson moved up a notch in weight and won the IBF 115-pound crown with a 12-round decision over Ratanchai Vorapin on April 24, 1999. After winning his pro debut on Feb. 24, 1990, Johnson lost his second start when he dropped a four-round decision to local favorite Richie Wenton on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) in Belfast, Ireland. Johnson won 39 straight after the loss. The lengthy winning streak ended when he came up on the wrong end of a 10-round split decision to Rafael Marquez on Oct. 6, 2001. The bigger, stronger Marquez also won the rematch on Feb. 23, 2002.
Bolano (38-0, 28 KOs), of Cordoba, Colombia, is making his third consecutive start in the United States and fourth overall. In his most recent outing, he captured the FECARBOX 115-pound belt with a unanimous 12-round decision over Cecilio Santos on March 28, 2003. Bolano, who turned pro on Dec. 15, 1989, fought his first 33 fights in his homeland. He won the Colombian super flyweight title in his ninth fight, and made two successful defenses. In his stateside debut, the southpaw-boxer-puncher registered a first-round TKO over Andy Agosto on June 16, 2001.
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 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.