03.12.04 – By Wray Edwards: As we walk down into the media viewing area for the weigh-ins at Mandalay Bay, there is a great hubbub in one corner. Stepping closer reveals the cause of all the excitement. It’s none other than “Manos de Piedra”. The venerable Roberto Duran (53) is holding court with his many admirers. He is enthusiastically waving those famous arms and bringing smiles to all with his endearing chat. Duran has been closely involved with the training camp of Joel Casamayor and is in Vegas to continue his support.
The festivities begin with a rousing introduction of the Main Event boxers by Jimmy Lennon Jr. WBC Lightweight World Champion Jose Louis Castillo and challenger Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor (Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime) take center stage to hit the scales amid loud applause, whistles and cat calls. Then the fun began. Both fighters were “one ounce” over weight. Frowns, arm-waving, confusion and huddles were followed by the bringing out of the towels. People scurry around to hold up towels so that the boxers can take off even their shorts to make weight.
Both guys fail to do so. The towels must not have been totally effective, as there were some quite revealing (no pun intended) exclamations from the women in the crowd. More huddles, more urgent whispering, as an expectant hush filled the room; was a deal being cut? Finally, all was settled when Tony Lato, Jr., the Chief Inspector of the Nevada State Athletic Commission steps in and puts his considerably authoritative foot down and stops the camp-to-camp wrangle. “Make weight, or you don’t fight. This is a championship match and what’s right is right.” Well that was the end of that. Jimmy announced the fighters would return in about twenty minutes to try again.
It only took about ten minutes. Both boxers came back after, one assumes, having made a quick trip to the garden to water the palm trees. The third time’s the charm and they both tip the bar at the required 135. Of course it will be a different story tomorrow night after they re-hydrate and chow down during the intervening twenty-nine or so hours. Casamayor looked fit and smiled confidently to the crowd. Castillo was the more somber of the two, raising his arms and looking fit as well.
The experts, as well as the fans milling around in the hours before the weigh-in, were about evenly divided as to whom they thought would be victorious. Casamayor, newly arrived to the division, brings the experience of a record-breaking amateur career and a very successful professional run which is only marred by very close losses to the likes of Frietas and Diego Corrales. Castillo is a horse of a vastly different color. He has fought three times at welter weight and faced generally stiffer competition than Joel. It is likely that Jose will win the weight gain contest leading up to the fight, and also posses a slight height advantage.
Just looking at the two, as they posed together, there did not seem to be any outward sign of physical advantage. As this writer has mentioned before, Joel seems a bit self-conscious and the less serious of the two. The boxing ring is no place to come anywhere near the emotion of embarrassment. The stakes and issues are just too important for such frivolous fare. A dead-serious intent with no concern for what people might think is the only proof of a champion’s heart and will. There will be plenty of time to schmooze the fans after a victory, should that be the outcome for Joel.
Yours truly believes that a totally serious effort by Joel will carry the day. Otherwise he will find Castillo unforgiving. His recent merry-go-round of trainers from Goosen to McGirt, to Duran, and new faces in the corner, is probably a mixed blessing. Casamayor is the type of fighter who intently listens to, and follows the between-round instructions of his corner. We will soon know if the iron will of Roberto Duran has found a proxy in Joel.
Also weighing in were Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy (27) and Omar Shika who will contend for the IBF Super Middleweight title. Lacy is riding momentum gained from his October 2nd victory over Syd Vanderpool who was rescued by the ref in round eight. Sheika has been given an unusual number of title shots considering his recent propensity to hit others in the fist with his face. For some, that would not be so problematic, but Sheika has pretty soft skin and likes to do the Lamata/Marciano thing with blood. The key phrase here is “left hook”.
Next we had Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter and Jeremy Williams rumble on stage. Well to be more accurate, Peter rumbled while Jeremy sort of strolled. Samuel (247 lbs) will probably outweigh Jeremy by twenty to twenty-five pounds by the time the first bell rings as they go to war for the vacant NABF HW title. The two fighters posed for photog row, and indulged in a little good-natured grab-a** with that vignette ending, when Williams pinched Peter on the butt, as he walked away, and gave a limp-wristed gesture. These days most heavyweights look a little fleshy to say the least. They did not have six-packs as did the other four. They had what one might call – oh what’s the word? – Tummies.
This night of boxing should be a credit to Showtime and Mandalay Bay. The event personnel at Magna Media are very professional, and the hospitality at Mandalay Bay is beyond reproach. It is a beautiful venue and the promotional effort has been phenomenal. We should all come away with blood sweat and tears on our cameras; and that’s the way it should be.