This just in at *********.com

WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo wants a new opponent for his March 5 in Las Vegas. According to Castillo, Showtime would only pay him $500,000 for his proposed fight with WBO champ Diego Corrales, which was far less than what Castillo expected for a unification clash between he and Corrales. "I have always wanted and have searched for these type of fights, interesting combats, big and without a doubt a battle with "Chico" Corrales would be an explosive fight, but everyone knows that a unified title fight is worth much more than what is being offered to me by Showtime and I have to value myself," stated Castillo. The WBC champ spoke of possibly facing IBF champ Julio Diaz, but Diaz' people stated that Diaz' February 11 fight against Levander Johnson is a mandatory defense and that therefore they have to face Johnson.

Well, i wonder who the new opponent will be, hope its some one decent!

I can't believe this

that sucks.

Who's Corrales gonna fight? Maybe with Morales going for Pacman, we'll get a Casamayor rubber match.

Castillo needs to realize he still hasn't hit the big time yet. If he beats Corrales, then he can ask for more money. Until then, shut your trap and fight.

wtf is up w/ these mexicans pricing them selves out of lucrative fights in the '05????????

is winky really black?

Castillo isn't the problem, this ***** ass promoter named Pelullo is.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Jan-15-Sat-2005/sports/25671379.html


KEVIN IOLE: Promoter's greed could pull plug on Corrales-Castillo

All but hard-core boxing fans have probably never heard of Artie Pelullo, and rest assured that Diego Corrales wishes he'd never heard of him.

Pelullo, a fight promoter based in Philadelphia, is obstinately standing in the way of what could be the best lightweight matchup in years.

Corrales, a Las Vegas resident, is slated to fight Jose Luis Castillo on March 5 in a Showtime bout between the world's premier lightweights. Corrales wanted to fight Castillo in December, but his manager, James Prince, wouldn't sign off, so Joel Casamayor became Castillo's opponent instead.

At the Castillo-Casamayor weigh-in Dec. 3, a glum Corrales told Showtime executive Jay Larkin it should have been him, not Casamayor, in the bout. Larkin assured Corrales he'd do everything in his power to make the fight happen.

After Castillo edged Casamayor, Larkin approached Prince, who expressed a willingness to make the bout happen. Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who promotes Castillo, quickly signed off, as did Corrales promoter Gary Shaw, Prince and attorney Jeff Fried.

But because of Pelullo's unmitigated greed, the fight is no sure thing.

As president of Banner Promotions, a small company whose most notable fighters are Acelino Freitas and Antwun Echols, Pelullo has been dogged by allegations of mob ties throughout his boxing career.

Pelullo was rejected for a promoter's license in Connecticut in April 2001 by the state's Division of Special Revenue because he was alleged to be an associate of the Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo crime family in Philadelphia. Pelullo denied the allegation and appealed the ruling. Two years and six hearings later, he was granted a license in May 2003.

Corrales got involved with Pelullo when he knocked out Freitas on Aug. 7. In order to get the fight against Freitas, Corrales had agreed -- if he won -- to give Pelullo options on his next three bouts, one of which was to be a rematch. Pelullo was protecting himself in the event Freitas lost and his value diminished.

Those options are now threatening to kill the Castillo fight. While all other parties have signed off, Pelullo is insisting on a payment of up to $300,000.

Larkin said Showtime is paying a $1.2 million license fee that will serve as the funds for the fighters' pay. Pelullo has suggested no alternate opponents for Corrales and has done nothing to promote or raise interest in him, yet is demanding more than 25 percent of the purse. That would leave about $900,000 to be divided among the fighters, their managers and the other promoters, leaving Pelullo in position to make more than anyone else for doing the least.

Larkin, who correctly called the process of promoters taking options on fighters "inherently corrupt," leaves little doubt why the fight might be scrapped.

"Somewhere in this process, there is one big, enormous fly in the ointment. I'll let you figure out who that is," he said.

Arum was more blunt, saying Pelullo is acting like an extortionist. Shaw offered his entire fee to Pelullo in order to make the fight happen, but nothing has budged Pelullo.

Pelullo failed to return repeated telephone calls.

But his actions might irreparably harm Corrales, who has become a solid citizen and popular figure since serving 14 months in prison in 2001-02 for spousal abuse.

Prince did him a disservice by not making the Castillo fight happen in December, when a victory might've made Corrales the 2004 Fighter of the Year and set him up for more lucrative paydays.

The law should be changed to prevent a fighter from being forced to surrender his future simply to get a fight. But until then, Pelullo needs to do the right thing and make sure his greed doesn't cause Corrales to suffer.

Castillo isn't the problem, this ***** ass promoter named Pelullo is.

What a dick!

He's like a fu*king tape worm.



He did lose his relative cash cow with Freitas though. Dick.

JL Castillo vs Julio Diaz could turn out to be an even more exciting fight IMO.

this is horrible news for fight fans

This sucks, but judging from Castillo's last fight against Cassaymor (a gift decision) he probably should have a tune-up before he fights real competition again.

Castillo would slaughter Julio DIaz.

i cant believe this ******* pelullo.this could have been the fight that would have made diego proven. oh well corrales cant be overlooked at 140 or 135. he'll get a chance against other top contenders. its just that i felt castillos style would of made it easy for corrales. or hopefully when mayweather is exposed against top 147's he'll make the mistake of giving corrales a rematch at 140. i'm pissed off...

I think it was going to be a great fight, but one in which Corrales overcame adversary to KO his man

that sucks.

Who's Corrales gonna fight? Maybe with Morales going for Pacman, we'll get a Casamayor rubber match.

Now thats a fight I wanna see, the rubber match! It does suck however that Castillo is pulling out! Damn, these guys are killing me..get my hopes up and then drop the bomb! :mad: It gets tiresome after a while..first JMM vs. Marquez bottoms out, and now this :confused:

JL Castillo vs Julio Diaz could turn out to be an even more exciting fight IMO.


Yea, i agree..

This sucks, but judging from Castillo's last fight against Cassaymor (a gift decision) he probably should have a tune-up before he fights real competition again.

Gift decision, that is certainly not what happened...you can make a case for Joel in their fight but to say that JL was given a gift is ridiculous...he gave Casamayor the worst beating of his career!

Hopefully somehow someway this fight still comes off, yeah Diaz and Corrales or Castillo would be good but the two best and in my mind the two most exciting 135 pounders in the world are Castillo and Diego...this is horrible ****ing news!

Yea, i agree..

I dont know...I dont think this matchup is very wise for Diaz..I'm worried that Castillo will eat him up! :eek:

Your right Castillo would eat him up...I was looking forward to watching Castillo eat up Diego as well...if there is anyone on this site that wants Diego against JL im all in with my chips...

This fight is still going to happen, I have a good feeling that something will get worked out, obviously I am basing the good feeling on absolute **** but like I said I have a good feeling.

can we add Castillo to the pans list along with Marquez and Winky?

Your right Castillo would eat him up...I was looking forward to watching Castillo eat up Diego as well...if there is anyone on this site that wants Diego against JL im all in with my chips...

This fight is still going to happen, I have a good feeling that something will get worked out, obviously I am basing the good feeling on absolute **** but like I said I have a good feeling.

Oh yeah, I'd love to see Castillo hand Diego his own ass too! Hopefully your "****" feeling will be a correct "****" feeling! :D

I mostly feel bad for Corrales. And myself.

Castillo will probably be able to fight somebody (though Diaz' reaction is less than heartening) but Corrales probably will not. Castillo, after all, is considered a much more legitimate champion - the Ring belt being my measuring stick - and has less people involved in the process. With Pelullo involved, Corrales is probably out till June.

can we add Castillo to the pans list along with Marquez and Winky?


I won't speak for the other two men you mentioned but JL is no *****, be patient him and Diego will hook up and when they do you will realize that he is no *****...500K is an insult.

I would pay too watch this fight on payperview if for nothing else then to ensure that JL gets treated fairly...there may not be a better fight in boxing today then these two guys hooking up...Morlas v. Manny is outstanding but this fight is every bit as outstanding.

come on, man, you know you're pissed at Castillo deep down

come on, man, you know you're pissed at Castillo deep down

We all read a paragraph that is suppposed to tell us the whole side of the story...this is boxing and in negotitations Im sure there is plenty of blame to go around...how much is Corrales getting? It's not like Diego is a monster draw...

Who knows who is too blame, let's wait and see it is far to early to tell and there is not much info out yet, again lets wait and see.

Anyone who questions Jose Luis Cstillo's willingness to fight will only make themselves look foolish. Castillo's resume speaks for itself.

and by the way, when did Julio Diaz become a bum? Diaz is a very good fighter in his own right.

By not fighting Corrales, he is really taking a step down in character

By not fighting Corrales, he is really taking a step down in character


are you slow?

did you not read the article Atman posted?

I was starting to like Wright, and Marquez,
but after playing the same game everyone else was playing against them

i lost respect for them

about to be same for castillo

Did nobody read the article??

Caswtillo is not Marquez or Wright. He is not a guy who still has to prove himself. He's more than proven and his willingness to fight top guys is more than proven also considering he has already fought guy who were better than Corrales.

bottom line is you either fight or you don't, and castillo is opting not to. nothing else needs to be said.

bottom line is you either fight or you don't, and castillo is opting not to. nothing else needs to be said.


If thats your stance then your a dumbass.

couldn't agree more, these guys are fighters, that's not just their job, but their life that they've chosen. It's like being a soldier: you don't pick your wars, you fight the ones that come and you try to win no matter what. These people that fight for money are mercenaries and will never be as great as those who fight just for the love of the sport.

meant to reply to the dude above me who said that "either you fight or you don't...nothing more needs to be said"

wut the ****!
he should've been given more money that 500,000...
this fight will sell foreal.

This just in at *********.com

WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo wants a new opponent for his March 5 in Las Vegas. According to Castillo, Showtime would only pay him $500,000 for his proposed fight with WBO champ Diego Corrales, which was far less than what Castillo expected for a unification clash between he and Corrales. "I have always wanted and have searched for these type of fights, interesting combats, big and without a doubt a battle with "Chico" Corrales would be an explosive fight, but everyone knows that a unified title fight is worth much more than what is being offered to me by Showtime and I have to value myself," stated Castillo. The WBC champ spoke of possibly facing IBF champ Julio Diaz, but Diaz' people stated that Diaz' February 11 fight against Levander Johnson is a mandatory defense and that therefore they have to face Johnson.

Well, i wonder who the new opponent will be, hope its some one decent!


What the ! I was planning on betting a lot of pts on this great match-up :(

couldn't agree more, these guys are fighters, that's not just their job, but their life that they've chosen. It's like being a soldier: you don't pick your wars, you fight the ones that come and you try to win no matter what. These people that fight for money are mercenaries and will never be as great as those who fight just for the love of the sport.


People like this get on my nerves. They show zero knowledge of the sport or how the sport works.

Corrales is having a million problems with his promotor and for them to expect Castillo to take only $500,000 for such a big fight is a joke especially when this fight would be huge in the Mexican comunity.

And NO fighter fights just for the love of the sport all fighters fight for money and to think otherwise is foolish.

wtf is up w/ these mexicans pricing them selves out of lucrative fights in the '05????????

is winky really black?
LOL, that's funny, dude! I think he has a little Mexican in him. Although, I hear Tito is willing to make $9M now so Winky can get his $5M so we'll see.


couldn't agree more, these guys are fighters, that's not just their job, but their life that they've chosen. It's like being a soldier: you don't pick your wars, you fight the ones that come and you try to win no matter what. These people that fight for money are mercenaries and will never be as great as those who fight just for the love of the sport.
This is the dumbest post I've seen in a long time. So, you expect fighters to get in the ring and fight for $100? It ain't gonna happen, brotha. Fighters, just like you, work for a living. You wouldn't go to work for $.25 an hour, would you? You consider that you know your job and should be paid accordingly, right? It is the same for fighters. There is a risk every time they step into the ring and for the promoters or networks to make more than the fighters is just plain stupid. Why whould someone who is not putting his life on the line earn more money than the person in peril?

wtf is up w/ these mexicans pricing them selves out of lucrative fights in the '05????????

is winky really black?

As bad as it sounded this gave me a chuckle

People like this get on my nerves. They show zero knowledge of the sport or how the sport works.

Corrales is having a million problems with his promotor and for them to expect Castillo to take only $500,000 for such a big fight is a joke especially when this fight would be huge in the Mexican comunity.

And NO fighter fights just for the love of the sport all fighters fight for money and to think otherwise is foolish.

I agree, although I think this is one of the biggest fights out there for him. Who else can he fight for more money? I agree that you have to price yourself respectively and that he deserves more but I also think that if your stock is not as high as it should be, you have to be prepared to make sacrifices to bring it up.

I hope this **** can get ironed out, & the fight made.
I was looking forward to this fight as much, if not more, than Pacquiao-Morales.

$500K is a ridiculously small amount for this level of fight.
This is a great fight...Castillo a top-notch, proven fighter....& he's going up against a fairly popular fighter who happens to be the biggest hitter in the sport.

Anyone who questions Jose Luis Cstillo's willingness to fight will only make themselves look foolish. Castillo's resume speaks for itself.

and by the way, when did Julio Diaz become a bum? Diaz is a very good fighter in his own right.

I dont consider him a bum at all...just dont think he can handle Castillo. Maybe later in his career but right now just doesnt seem like the best idea (time) to me :confused:

I don`t think Diaz will win but he has a shot next to the other man. I think it is a little too soon but all the great fighters had to answer questions when asked and Diaz is young, experienced to an extent and might be able to prove something. I hope he gets this shot and takes full advantage of it!

I've lost a lot of respect for Castillo

My only problem with Castillo not agreeing to fight for 500K is if Corrales is willing to fight for that same amount.
Granted, Pellullo is linked to Chico, & his large take could result in Corrales taking more of his 500K home than does Castillo.

Corrales is the draw. He has defeated better opposition.

I think the MATCHUP is the draw, actually.

Not quite. Everyone knows Corrales. Castillo is not a name yet.

Jose Luis Castillo needs to realize that his WBC title belt doesn't automatically make him an attraction. I think that he needs to fight Corrales and KO him to become an attraction. Until then, he can fight Stevie Johnston for $100,000 for all I care.

Not quite. Everyone knows Corrales. Castillo is not a name yet.


Who is everyone ?
Certainly not the regular sports fan.


Behind trinidad, Corrales is my favorite fighter...so, I don't want you thinking I'm in any way against him.

Jose Luis Castillo needs to realize that his WBC title belt doesn't automatically make him an attraction. I think that he needs to fight Corrales and KO him to become an attraction. Until then, he can fight Stevie Johnston for $100,000 for all I care.

yep...sacrifices dude sacrifices.

I think the MATCHUP is the draw, actually.

I think so too, but if I had to pick between watching Corrales and/or Castillo fight someone other than each other, then I'd much rather watch Castillo! The match up is the attraction..but Castillo is my fav. between the two.

I've lost a lot of respect for Castillo


Dude, you are not too bright now are you. Did you see the story that explains the reasons why this fight would not be made? You can hardly blame it on Castillo, or even Corrales. We're talking about the greed of one guy here.

And if Castillo doesn't want to fight for 300K, good for him. He deserves more than that, especially for this fight.