24.03.08 – by James Slater: It seems like everyone wants to fight Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao right now. With everyone from David Diaz, Ricky Hatton and even Oscar De La Hoya being mentioned as future opponents for Pac-Man, Cuban lightweight great Joel Casamayor is the latest fighter to want a part of the reigning super-featherweight king.
Moments after finishing off the gutsy effort of Australia’s tough Michael Katsidis in their ten round war and fight of the year candidate on Saturday night in California, Casamayor called out Pac-Man.. The 36-year-old Casamayor, 36-3-1(22) looked a completely different fighter against Katsidis, compared to how he looked when winning what was widely considered a gift decision over Jose Armando Santa Cruz last November. Indeed, the aging Casamayor looked so dreadful in “beating” Santa Cruz, many people expected his time at the top to be brutally terminated by the young and powerful Katsidis. Instead, the Cuban, who perhaps now has to be looked at as one of the modern day greats, rejuvenated his career with a superb and thrilling victory.
Casamayor felt so good in turning back the challenge of Katsidis, he was calling out Pac-Man almost as soon as the dust settled from their awesome shootout. Casamayor made it clear he is not interested in a second fight with the new WBA/WBO/IBF 135 pound champion, Nate Miller, and stated it was Pacquiao, who is soon expected to make the jump up to lightweight, that he wanted next.
“I’ve already beaten Nate Campbell (back in a non-title fight in 2003) and I did it on just three weeks of training. Now I want to fight other guys, like Pacquiao or [Marco Antonio] Barrera,” stated the Cuban.
Will Casamayor get the fight with Pac-Man? Such a match-up would certainly be an intriguing one, and who knows? maybe Pacquiao will go for it. A southpaw like the Cuban warrior who also has fine boxing skills, the much younger Pac-Man would have his hands full with the man known as “El Cepillo,” despite his youth advantage. In the war with Katsidis, Casamayor proved he is still in possession of the stuff needed to win against the very best, and whoever the veteran faces next it is to be hoped he earns himself a nice payday.
After fighting an extremely formidable list of talented fighters (Diego Corrales x3, Jose Luis Castillo, Campbell, Acelino Freitas and now Katsidis, among others) throughout a pro boxing career than began back in 1996, Joel has more than earned it!