one for the ages

dont know if it been posted yet but I think this is a good article with good info. By Mike Swann Las Vegas, Nevada--There is just no simple way to describe this fight. The record book will show that WBO titleholder Diego Corrales defeated WBC champion Jose Luis Castillo by TKO at 2:06 of the 10th round. But it was so much more. It was Napoleon and Wellington, Grant and Lee, and Rommel and Patton. In fistic terms it was no less than Gatti-Ward or Barrera-Morales. It was a career defining fight, one that elevates very good fighters to greatness, even if for just one night. Ironically this historic confrontation, postponed twice and acknowledged in the boxing world as a sure-fire fight of the year candidate mysteriously drew only 5168 fans to view it. It wasn’t overpriced considering its magnitude. The top priced seats were selling for $400, but it was the $45 seats that were so curiously empty as to appear that they had been cordoned off by police crime scene tape. Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank For the record, as the combatants entered the ring, the mini-crowd seemed to favor Castillo, from Mexico, over Corrales, who now resides in Las Vegas. The first round set the tone for the fight. Corrales chose to fight at close quarters. Castillo began his vicious body attack and scored with good uppercuts, while Corrales scored with some good flurries, jabbing well. Corrales won the second round with good power punches in the last minute, while Castillo whacked the body and head inside. In the third, Castillo scored to the body and landed good uppercuts, a strong left, and a one-two, leaving Corrales stunned during the last 10 seconds. Corrales came out firing in the fourth, with fast, hard combinations. Castillo closed the round with a good uppercut and left hook. It was in that round that Castillo was cut on the left eye by an accidental head butt, Corrales benefiting from his strategy of fighting inside. Both men had their moments in the fifth, but Corrales appeared to land the harder, cleaner shots. At this point Castillo’s left eye was noticeably swelling. Castillo hurt Corrales in the sixth, starting with an uppercut, then a flurry wobbled Corrales. Corrales’ right eye was badly swollen at this point. Castillo began the seventh with a good left hook, then Corrales returned with a flurry. Castillo landed a good straight right while continuing his inside attack. At the end of the round, Castillo’s cheek is badly swollen and Corrales’ left eye is closed. There was no more pretense of defense in the eighth with a give and take of Morrales-Barrera quality. Corrales did appear to be staggered at one point in the last minute. Castillo seemed to have the advantage in the ninth, bouncing bombs off of Corrales’ head. After a low blow warning to Castillo, Corrales returned fire, and then the two had a good exchange. Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime The controversial 10th will be a hot topic for boxing fans for years to come. It’s doubtful that Hollywood would film the story for fear that no one would believe it. Castillo sent Corrales to the canvas twice, appearing to be on the verge of victory. On the second knockdown, Corrales had a point deducted for intentionally spitting out his mouthpiece for the second time. It was worth it. With the extra moments of recovery time, Corrales fought with brutal fury, nailing Castillo with a big left hook, then a barrage against the ropes that left Castillo helpless, his eyes spinning like a slot machine from the casino. Referee Tony Weeks moved in to stop the fight to protect the helpless Castillo, making Diego Corrales the comeback winner. This is where a great fight ends and controversy begins. The victor, with one eye fully closed and the other more than half closed was met in the ring by trainer Joe Goossen, the men triumphant in victory. Castillo, with his left eye and cheek badly swollen was raised up in his corner to hear the cheers of the crowd. Fans were stunned by the fast turn of events. Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime Did Weeks stop the fight too soon? Should he have called a knockdown when the ropes apparently held up Castillo? Did Corrales receive an unfair advantage with the extra time to replace the discarded mouthpiece? After the fight Corrales said, “ I knew that I was going to get up. My mouthpiece came out the first time; I didn’t mean to drop it the second time.” Castillo said, “ I thought the referee gave him a lot of chances; he didn’t give as many to me. The fight should have ended earlier in the 10th. He was hurt. I should have won…I thought the referee came in a little early.” Corrales needed an extra 20 minutes before he could join the post fight press conference. So Castillo came out first, introduced by co-promoter Bob Arum as “champion.” Castillo was asked if there was a rematch clause and Arum firmly answered “No.” “I, as an individual, would never want to do this fight again,” -Gary Shaw, Promoter Arum said that he thought it was a good fight, and he left it to the referee’s discretion, but he had concerns. Arum claimed that the mouthpiece incident took 28 seconds and he believed that Corrales should have been required to fight without it. He also felt that the end of the fight should have been called a knockdown, since his fighter was held upright by the ropes. Arum continued, “Then he gets an eight count and if he spits out his mouthpiece…” Arum did say that it was a great fight and a “prime candidate for fight of the year.” He added that there would be a rematch “if the people want it.” The Corrales contingent appeared with the fighter wearing dark glasses, led by co-promoter Gary Shaw. “I, as an individual, would never want to do this fight again,” Shaw said. “They’re such great champions, they stand in front of each other and throw power punches and someone could get hurt and I don’t think it’s worth it.” Shaw had some well-chosen words to reply to Arum. “ There’s nothing worse than taking away from a champion on a night like this.” Showtime’s Jay Larkin said that although it is not their normal policy, the network planned to show a replay, details to follow next week. The press conference ended abruptly, with Shaw saying that Corrales had to leave in an ambulance to go to the hospital to be checked and tested thoroughly after the grueling bout. The 15 Rounds reporter asked Shaw if he was disappointed in the attendance. “Yes damn right I’m disappointed in the attendance. I don’t know what else I can do. I spent the money. But nothing should take away from these fighters tonight."