Lightweight Debate: The Best vs. The Champ

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Jake Donovan - As the fighting Diaz lightweights (Juan, Julio and David) inch closer toward deciding who is the best Diaz in the lightweight division, another question arises: will the winner also determine who is the best lightweight in the world?

Some, in fact, many argue that such distinction belongs to Joel Casamayor. The Ring magazine ranks him as their lightweight champion, by virtue of beating the late Diego "Chico" Corrales in their rubber match last October. Corrales won their version of the title with a 10 th round TKO of Jose Luis Castillo in a May 2005 bout not only among the greatest of all time, but also the last time two fighters contending for the magazine's belt actually made the lightweight limit. [details]

[brently1979]

We need to see Katsidis fight again, sooner than later.

[Hydro]

Good article Jake.

[crold1]

Great piece Jake. This is why it's nice to have Casa as champ though; if he holds, eventually he and Diaz will have built some mo' and increased the worth of their bout.

[JakeNDaBox]

Thanks Cliff and Hydro.

Cliff, I agree with you IF the respective moves of Casa and David Diaz lead to an eventual fight. However, if Casa wants to play the "you're not worthy of my presence" bull**** that seems to consume every top fighter these days, then he might find himself permanently left in the dark.

If David winds up fighting and beating someone like Katsidis, he makes a name for himself, and the networks will continue to be more interested in him than a stinker like Casa. As such, they'll continue to push for another Diaz-Diaz fight - this one being David vs. the winner of Juan-Julio (Juan).

Purists will argue that the winner of that will have earned the right to fight Casamayor. I'll argue that the winner will have earned the right to be considered the best lightweight in the world.

If Casa fights someone noteworthy, say within six months of his fight next month, then I'll back off a bit and respect him as champ. But what I will no longer do is reward guys like him, Hopkins and other old timers looking to sit on their lead with this once-a-year bull**** and bypassing more noteworthy challengers in the process. Passing over #1 to fight #2 or 3 is one thing; skipping over every top challenger is another.

[crold1]

I don't get that; what the heck has Julio done besides be the same "beat B and lose to A fighters" fighter he's always been? I agree Joel made bad business, but he's still only been out a year and will fight ONE fewer time than Juan this year.

[Hydro]

Jake should send this article to The Ring, he writes better than a lot of their writers.

He should also tell The Ring what he thinks of its owner GBP.