Castillo-Montiel, Mijares-Navarro Land on 2/16

By Cliff Rold

Originally reported by Maxboxing’s Steve Kim and confirmed through promoter Lou DiBella this evening, the sensational February 16th non-title rematch between World Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (32-0, 29 KO) and former champion Jermain Taylor (27-1-1, 19 KO) is all set to deliver something rarely seen on pay-per-view: a world-class undercard in support of an easy sell main-event.

30-year old Ring Magazine #1 contender and former WBA 115 lb. titleholder Martin Castillo (33-2, 17 KO, Ring Magazine #1 contender) of Mexico City, Mexico will attempt to dethrone 28-yeal old current 115 lb. titlist Fernando Montiel (35-2-1, 26 KO, #5, WBO) of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico.  Montiel will make his first start since surviving a war with veteran contender Luis Melendez in October. The bout saw both men hit the canvas. 

This will be Castillo’s fourth start since being stopped on a cut against Japan’s Nobuo Nashiro in July, 2006.   His previous three bouts came against mid-level opposition and Montiel marks a return to form for a Castillo with two wins over current WBA titlist Alexander Munoz. 

DiBella, the promoter for Taylor, credited Top Rank’s Bob Arum, the promoter for Pavlik as well as Montiel and Castillo, for making the fight and commented that both he and the ageless Arum had committed to each make an excellent bout for this undercard.  It appears they have succeeded and then some. 

This undercard will mark an unofficial tournament of sorts at Jr. Bantamweight.  Previously announced, DiBella’s end of this undercard gold mine will feature Mexico’s 26-year old Cristian Mijares (33-3-2, 14 KO, #4, WBC) versus 26-year old three time title challenger and 2000 U.S. Olympian Jose Navarro (26-3, 12 KO) of Los Angeles, California. 

In one of those challenges, Navarro was on the short end of a highly controversial decision loss to then-lineal World 115 lb. champion Katsushige Kawashima.  In October 2007, Navarro lost a narrow, competitive decision to IBF titlist Dimitri Kirilov. 

Mijares comes off of a career year that featured a one-side win over former World Jr. Flyweight champion Jorge Arce and a devastating knockout of Kawashima.

When asked if these two fights could be leading to a unification showdown later in 2008, DiBella did not shoot down the idea.