12.07.04 – In a good, hard-fought bout in which both boxers got credit for a knockdown in the fifth-round, former WBA junior lightweight champion and current WBA No. 3/IBF No. 5 and WBC No. 11 contender, Joel Casamayor, scored a unanimous 10-round decision over previously undefeated, former NABO featherweight champion Daniel Seda Saturday on SHOWTIME. In the co-feature at American Airlines Arena, unbeaten Eliseo Castillo registered the biggest victory of his career with a unanimous 10-round decision over former two-time heavyweight champion Michael Moorer.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader aired at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast) and was promoted by Team Freedom Promotions with Northeast Promotions, in association with Cedric Kushner Promotions, LTD.
Casamayor (31-2, 19 KOs), of Miami, by way of Guantanamo, Cuba, was more workmanlike than spectacular en route to winning by the scores of 98-92 on the three judges’ scorecards. The cool and classy southpaw boxer-puncher was credited with a knockdown early in the fifth round when he hurt Seda with a barrage of punches. Seda managed to stay upright by grabbing onto the ropes, but was given a standing eight-count. Moments later, however, a straight right hand put Casamayor on the seat of his pants. Casamayor, who is known for starting slowly, broke from the gate quickly and built an early advantage. It was his first start since losing a split 12-round decision to Diego “Chico” Corrales in a rematch for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) 130-pound title on March 6, 2004, on SHOWTIME. Casamayor’s other loss also came on a 12-round split decision in a fight against then-WBO 130-pound titleholder, Acelino Freitas, on Jan. 12, 2002, on SHOWTIME. Perhaps the most prolific amateur boxer in history (380-30), Casamayor won a gold medal as a bantamweight at the 1992 Olympic Games and was a prohibitive favorite to repeat in 1996. Prior to the opening ceremonies, however, he walked away from the Cuban compound in Guadalajara, Mexico, and left a five-year-old daughter, a girlfriend and his parents in Guantanamo.
Seda (20-1-1, 16 KOs), of Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, seemed to gain more confidence and performed much more aggressively after flooring Casamayor, but it was not enough to prevent him from suffering his first defeat. A former WBA No. 1 126-pound contender, Seda was making his third appearance before a paying audience since a match with then-WBA featherweight champion Derrick Gainer ended in a disappointing second-round technical draw on Aug. 24, 2002, on SHOWTIME. Seda entered the ring against Casamayor ranked No. 12 by the WBO and No. 13 by the WBA (No. 13).
Castillo (18-0-1, 14 KOs), of Miami, by way of Havana, Cuba, triumphed by the scores of 99-91 and 97-93 twice. The well-conditioned Castillo, who has been victorious in his last seven outings, utilized fast hands and good movement to outspeed Moorer and win convincingly. Dictating the pace from the outset, Castillo landed the sharper punches throughout.
Moorer (46-4-1, 36 KOs), of Monessen, Pa., weighed a personal-high 251 pounds. The southpaw’s most effective weapon was the counter right hook, which landed on several occasions. But he was unable to land punches in combination and got outhustled from beginning to end. Moorer, now 7-2-1 since returning to the ring in November 2000, is a former WBO light heavyweight and heavyweight champion and WBA/IBF heavyweight titlist.
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s Steve Albert and Al Bernstein called Saturday’s action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast was Jay Larkin, with David Dinkins, Jr. producing and Bob Dunphy directing.
The next SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast is Saturday, Aug. 7. In one of the most eagerly anticipated match-ups of 2004, Freitas (35-0, 31 KOs) will put his undefeated record and WBO lightweight crown on the line against Corrales (38-2, 31 KOs), the WBO junior lightweight champion, in the main event. The telecast will start at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
For information on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts, including fighter bios and records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at http:www.sho.com/boxing.