By Jake Donovan

The way Walter Castillo, he was twice cheated out of a chance to beat Sergey Lipinets.

It’s likely not an opinion that will be shared with the majority of the boxing public. Still, the slugger from Nicaragua was left dissatisfied over the manner in which he was dealt a 7th round knockout loss in their Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on ESPN main event Friday evening at Horseshoe Casino in Tunica, Mississippi.

Lipinets overcame a slow start – and a deep cut over his left eye – to break down Castillo before eventually forcing the stoppage. Neither fighter was dropped, but referee Bill Clancy was of the belief that Castillo had absorbed too much punishment at the point the fight was stopped.

Ever the prideful warrior, the defeated boxer was left to disagree.

"They stopped it too early. I was still fighting. I was fine,” Castillo (26-4-1, 19KOs) insisted after the contest. “I was not hurt. I don't know why they stopped it. I was waiting him out and about to open up. I am a veteran.

“If I was hurt, I would have taken a knee. How do you stop a fight without a knockdown?”

Perhaps changing the course of the bout was a 4th round ruling that a cut over Lipinets’ left eye was ruled as the result of an accidental headbutt. Replays showed it was a right hand shot that caused the wound, which could’ve prompted both boxers to react different.
 
“I had him fighting scared with the cut," said Castillo. "He was fighting desperate and that was his last try. I'm very upset. I was able to fight. It was a good fight and that ruined it.

Castillo is now 1-2-1 in his last four starts. The draw could have easily been a loss as many considered him fortunate to have escaped with a majority draw versus Keita Obara in their title eliminator last November.

A rematch was in the works, only for Castillo’s team to move in a different direction. Obara will eventually face Eduard Troyanovsky for a portion of the super lightweight crown, while Lipinets (10-0, 8KOs) figures to be on that stage by no later than this time next year.

Meanwhile, it’s back to the proverbial drawing board for Castillo, who just wishes – in his mind – that a more definitive outcome came of his most recent adventure.

“I don't mind losing but not like that,” Castillo explained. “Let me go down swinging.”

Twitter: @JakeNDaBox_v2