By James Blears
World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman has confirmed that Jose Luis Castillo actually did shed the excess pounds and made the weight for his highly anticipated bout against Timothy Bradley, last Saturday in Cancun, but was not medically fit enough to fight.
Castillo missed the seven day weigh in, and had to lose a touch over three kilos in twenty-four hours to reach the limit.
Don Jose said: “Jose Luis Castillo made the weight, by eleven o'clock, on the morning of fight day, but the doctor told us he was not in good condition to fight, as he had high blood pressure.”
It’s by no means the first time that Jose Luis Castillo has bungled weigh-ins and it’s cost him dear.
Following his failure to make the weight on June 2nd 2006, which resulted in the scrapping of the trilogy bout with Diego Corrales. The Nevada State Commission fined him a quarter of a million dollars, suspended him for the rest of the year, and prohibited him from fighting below 140-pounds.
Don Jose confirmed there would be no financial penalty this time and commented: “I think, he’s thinking to retire. I believe Jose Luis Castillo should not box any more, because he if he does, it will not be at the same level that he did when he was in his prime.”
Timothy Bradley, who weighed in a pound under the required limit and was in truly magnificent shape, is now seeking a fight with the junior welterweight champion Junior Witter.
Don Jose explained: “We will appoint Tim Bradley as number-one challenger, once we get the voting of the Board of Governors, but he will be confirmed.”
Timothy Bradley showed real class by saying: “I’m not upset with him (Castillo). I have no grudge towards anybody from his camp. It’s just disappointing. I feel that if you have a great camp that your team would watch and monitor your weight and would do everything they can possibly do to help you get that weight down, and they didn’t with him.”
Tim explained that the priority is to get into the ring with Junior. But if Junior’s not immediately available, he’ll find an opponent: “Because I’m ready to get back into the ring. I’ve been off since August, and I’m hungry to get in there and fight.”
And Tim’s message to Junior is: “I know Junior Witter has a lot of things to say about me. I know he has a big mouth. It’s all good. He can say whatever he wants to say. That I’m not ready, that I’m young, this and that. But hey! He’s going to have to fight me, and it’s definitely going to be a great fight, for which I’ll be in the best shape of my life, so he better be ready because I’m coming to get that green belt!”
