10.10.05 – By Chris Ireland: Last night, Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo fought for the second time this year in front of a large crowd at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. Their first fight, held in May, is already part of boxing folklore. Many writers have compared the initial meeting, won by Corrales via 10th round TKO, to various classic fights of the past. Perhaps it’s most fitting to not to compare it to anything, because frankly, it outdid everything.
If their first fight was by all means incomparable, their second fight is opening up the floodgates for many fans who were around in 1985 – the year Thomas Hearns and Mavin Hagler fought for the middleweight championship of the world. In three rounds, Hagler and Hearns managed to pack more violence in a fight than the normal human being could in 10, 12, or for that matter, 15. “Chico” and “El Temible” managed to not only pick up where they left off in May, but where Hagler and Hearns did 20 years ago.
The nervous energy before the fight was palpable. As both men were introduced and listened to the final instructions, fans said one last prayer for the fighters. If the brutality of the first fight was to be repeated, which it most likely would be, all one could hope was that both men walked away the same man they were before.
That seemed unlikely.
Corrales and Castillo had to have been nervous before the bell as well. To stand in front of a man who punished you so severely only five months before, and know that you’ll probably go through the same thing again is enough to strip even the bravest among us of their courage. But when the bell rang, all human emotions were set aside. Once the fight began, Corrales and Castillo were no longer men, violent machines with no regard for their well-being. Saturday night at approximately 11:45 ET, it was round 1, October 8th, round 11, May 7th, round 4, 1985.
From the beginning it was clear that Castillo had found a home for his left hook. After failing to make weight the day before, many thought that he had a poor training camp, and couldn’t sustain himself in another war the way Corrales could. That concern quickly vaporized. Corrales didn’t have an answer for Castillo’s best weapon. The champion stubbornly stood in his opponents punching range, just as he did in the first fight.
Something was different this time. Neither man had changed his strategy from the first fight, but Castillo seemed stronger. He was moving Corrales with shots like he hadn’t before. By the second round, both men were throwing bombs. The crowd roared for every haymaker that connected. Castillo was getting the best of it. During a furious exchange, Corrales was cut, just like Castillo had been in their first meeting.
There was blood again.
Corrales was the first to blink. For the first half of the third round, both men appeared to be fighting on even terms. Castillo would work the body while Corrales answered with 1-2 combos to the head. Another left landed for Castillo midway through the round. This time Corrales couldn’t answer. He stumbled backwards, nearly falling into the ropes as the fans stood and roared.
A brave stand was made by Corrales. Left hooks peppered him, spray painting his face red. The champion would still march forward, firing combinations, going toe-to-toe when wisdom told him not to. He might have had a better chance if he had boxed from the outside, kept his determined opponent at bay, and used skill instead of courage to defend his title.
Corrales isn’t that kind of champion.
In the fourth, “Chico” remained determined to prove to the world that he there wasn’t a braver soul on the planet. He continued to throw combinations at a furious pace as he body was pounded, his head battered by left hooks. Castillo was too strong this time. Early in the fourth, Corrales finally succumbed. Another left hook smashed into his jaw, sending him crashing into the canvas. He tried to rise, as expected from the gallant champion, but Castillo’s revenge was inevitable. After roughly 15 seconds of stumbling around and regaining his senses, Corrales was able to safely walk back to his corner without serious injury.
A prayer answered.
Seldom has there been so much ferocity in just four rounds of action. The rematch between Jose Luis Castillo and Diego Corrales wasn’t quite as violent as Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns’ meeting 20 years ago, but it is perhaps the modern day version of it. For those of you who are disappointed that Corrales and Castillo could wage war for only four rounds on Saturday, remember that at the rate that they were going, their careers might have been ruined if another extensive battle was to take place. Perhaps it’s a blessing it ended so early.