By James Blears

World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman, says that all concerned in the build up to the third fight between Jose Luis Castillo and Diego Corrales, did not heed a timely warning in black and white from the WBC, that Castillo was too heavy.

The WBC has a rule for fighters, that they must scale no more than ten percent of the required limit 30 days before the fight, and no five percent, within a week. 

In an interview at his Mexico City home, Don Jose exclusively told BoxingScene.com:

“The rule of the pre-weigh that could have saved the embarrassment was not respected. We were ignored by Promoters, by the Nevada Commission and by all the people involved with the different parties."

“At the first weigh in, Jose Luis Castillo did not make it. He was about 20 percent over the allowance. So we wrote to everybody involved in the fight. They should have done something about it, but they ignored the WBC."

“But the worst thing is that they did not comply with the seven-day weigh-in (prior to the fight date). Not the Commission, not the Promoters, not themselves (Camp Castillo). We offered that, and we never received word of where to reach him. I’m infuriated with the Promoter, the boxing commission, with the representatives of the boxer, because if they were going to proceed with the fight it was going to be based on excessive, inhuman practices, that could be very dangerous for the health of the boxer.”

The lion’s share of the blame, has already been placed at the feet of Jose Luis Castillo. The Nevada State Athletic Commission could fine him quarter of a million dollars, and suspend his boxing license. He could also be sued by Diego Corrales who’s lost a big payday, and his Promoter Gary Shaw. Castillo’s Promoter Bob Arum is also the best part of a million dollars out of pocket, and has been left with a lot of egg on his face.

But Don Jose suggests the blame has to be more evenly spread. He suggested: “I believe that if he signed for the fight and started training, he thought he could make the weight. I believe those responsible for these things are the people who are training him, and have been training him for years. They know exactly how his body responds. So for me,  more than the boxer, the blame is to the people responsible for him.”

Much has been said and the deed is now done, because Diego Corrales who had complied with the weight stipulations, and his representatives, rightly decided he should not fight. Last October Jose Luis Castillo failed to make the weight, scaling 138 and a half pounds. Relieved of having to boil down to the required limit, he easily starched a drawn Diego in four rounds with a savage knockout. 

This time round, he was 140 pounds at his first attempt, which is the limit for the next division up- the super lightweight category. Several more attempts after exercise in the sauna and even lifting his arms heavenwards only result in half a pound being lost.

So controversy has reared up yet again, and it’s now most unlikely the third and final chapter of this extraordinary and often bizarre saga will ever reach the record books.