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By Jake Donovan - "You don't want to dance on the man's grave until you're sure (he) is dead."
Credit to Reg E. Cathey, whose The Wire character, Norman Wilson belted out aforementioned quote in episode seven of this past season. Of course, it had nothing at all to do with boxing, but the quote can easily apply to the career of Joel Casamayor, as we know it today.
No sooner than the end of his painfully dull 12-round dance with Jose Armando Santa Cruz came about did the court of public appeal dismiss the outspoken Cuban as a shell of his former self. It mattered even less that he was somehow declared the winner of their bout last November; not only was the lightweight division officially up for grabs, but Casamayor (35-3-1, 21KO) was suddenly out of the running.
This is the same Joel Casamayor that many still refer to as, controversial decision notwithstanding, the reigning linear lightweight champion, a title that can only be won or lost in the ring, or voluntary vacancy due to retirement or moving up (or down) in weight.
Not good enough, said the boxing public, who will be damned to recognize an inactive 36-year old on the downside of his career as their lightweight champion. With such glaring flaws in a thought-to-be foolproof system, it was decided that the true lightweight king would be the man who collected the most belts, or at least notable scalps.
That would be Juan Diaz, who in consecutive fights forced titlists Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz to quit on their stools after eight completed rounds. Both fights, as well as an optional defense late in the prior year, took place in the 13 months Casamayor spent in inactivity.
Then came March 8, 2008. Down goes Diaz, not on the canvas, but on the cards, where another 36-year old – Nate Campbell – buried him deep en route to a shockingly one-sided decision win in Mexico. With Campbell's win comes Casamayor's instant shot at redemption, a chance to once again reaffirm his place atop the lightweight division.
With Campbell's win, the lightweight crown is once again Joel Casamayor's to lose. A win over unbeaten contender Michael Katsidis this weekend (Saturday, HBO, 10:05PM ET/PT, Cabazon, Cal.), and the lightweight division is once again Joel's casa. [details]
Credit to Reg E. Cathey, whose The Wire character, Norman Wilson belted out aforementioned quote in episode seven of this past season. Of course, it had nothing at all to do with boxing, but the quote can easily apply to the career of Joel Casamayor, as we know it today.
No sooner than the end of his painfully dull 12-round dance with Jose Armando Santa Cruz came about did the court of public appeal dismiss the outspoken Cuban as a shell of his former self. It mattered even less that he was somehow declared the winner of their bout last November; not only was the lightweight division officially up for grabs, but Casamayor (35-3-1, 21KO) was suddenly out of the running.
This is the same Joel Casamayor that many still refer to as, controversial decision notwithstanding, the reigning linear lightweight champion, a title that can only be won or lost in the ring, or voluntary vacancy due to retirement or moving up (or down) in weight.
Not good enough, said the boxing public, who will be damned to recognize an inactive 36-year old on the downside of his career as their lightweight champion. With such glaring flaws in a thought-to-be foolproof system, it was decided that the true lightweight king would be the man who collected the most belts, or at least notable scalps.
That would be Juan Diaz, who in consecutive fights forced titlists Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz to quit on their stools after eight completed rounds. Both fights, as well as an optional defense late in the prior year, took place in the 13 months Casamayor spent in inactivity.
Then came March 8, 2008. Down goes Diaz, not on the canvas, but on the cards, where another 36-year old – Nate Campbell – buried him deep en route to a shockingly one-sided decision win in Mexico. With Campbell's win comes Casamayor's instant shot at redemption, a chance to once again reaffirm his place atop the lightweight division.
With Campbell's win, the lightweight crown is once again Joel Casamayor's to lose. A win over unbeaten contender Michael Katsidis this weekend (Saturday, HBO, 10:05PM ET/PT, Cabazon, Cal.), and the lightweight division is once again Joel's casa. [details]
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