By Matthew Hurley
 
Jose Luis Castillo still feels the sting of disappointment over his loss to Diego Corrales in what has already been regarded as one of the greatest title bouts of all time.  So thrilling was the lightweight battle, and so close was Castillo to victory, that the bout's dramatic ending, which saw Corrales crawl off the canvass from two knockdowns only to storm back and stop Jose in the tenth round, elevated Castillo in respect and popularity.  Such a phenomenon is rare in the sports world and it speaks volumes about the fight's drama and the courage of its participants.
 
But in the end, it gnaws at Castillo.
 
"Maybe I was too confident," he said in a call from Mexico.  "I had him and then."
There is a definite sense of anger, tempered by an enormous respect for Diego Corrales within Jose Luis Castillo.  He feels that but for a momentary lapse he would have been the man lauded as the winner of the unquestioned "fight of the year."  Much like Thomas Hearns in 1985 after his legendary slugfest with Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Castillo has said all the right things and was the epitome of class in a heroic losing effort.  Unlike Hearns though, Castillo will have his shot at redemption on October 8 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
 
"I'm ready," Castillo says confidently.  He even affords himself a bit of braggadocio in predicting that Corrales won't last seven rounds this time around.  But the gentlemanly Castillo hardly comes across as an arrogant braggart.  There is almost a polite hesitation in his voice when he says he will knock his nemesis out.  Once you've been to hell and back with a man you can't help but feel bonded to him.
 
Still Castillo isn't comfortable being number two in the buildup to this much anticipated rematch.  He feels he lost the fight through carelessness rather than Corrales won it.
 
"I was maybe overconfident," he says.  "I really felt one more shot anywhere, the head, the body, and the fight would be over.  That's all I was thinking.  I felt the fight was won.  One more shot.  And then he got me."
 
The former champion has agonized over that now historic round for months and it has helped him in preparation for the return bout.  
 
"I think about it.  I think about how close I was.  I've felt sad for a long time at letting myself get caught like that.  I had the fight won."
 
Diego Corrales has called the rematch, "Round 11".  Should the two take up where they left off in their first struggle the rematch will live up to all expectations.  It's almost laughable in hindsight that only five thousand plus fans were on hand to witness such an epic encounter.  The rematch promises a live gate nearly three times that.  It's a mark of distinction and respect from the boxing community that both fighter's relish.
 
"He gave as good as he got," Corrales recently commented on Castillo.  "I expect nothing different."
 
Jose Luis Castillo agrees with that assessment, to a point.  This time, he says, things will be different.  "I will knock him out."  His smile and quiet charm may belie his words but his gaze unmasks a wicked intent.  All will be revealed when that opening bell rings and round 11 explodes, pulling Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo back into the depths of hell.