In a fight that can best described as the 2005 fight of the year, and arguably perhaps the most dramatic lightweight title fight ever … Diego Corrales defeated Mexican Jose Luis Castillo for Castillo’s WBC lightweight title in the tenth round with a TKO stoppage.
Fighting pain as much as fatigue, Diego Chico Corrales did the impossible. After being battered to the canvas twice by the heavy handed Mexican, Corrales slowly peeled his swollen and blood spattered body off the canvas to beat the count. In an ending that could only be described as pure Hollywood, Corrales somehow managed to find the strength and a burst of energy to corner the champion into the ropes, and let go a barrage of unanswered power punches that prompted referee Tony Weeks to put a halt to the action at 2:06 seconds of the tenth round. Bringing himself back from the oblivion of unconsciousness, Diego Corrales KOed a champion that had never been knocked down in 59 fights!
After both knockdowns, Corrales summoned the wherewithal to spit out his mouthpiece and buy some precious seconds to regain his composure. This cost him a point deduction, but after the two knock downs (a round that would have been scored 10-6 for Castillo), Corrales must have known that if the fight went to the judges he would most likely loose the fight. With his eye closing fast, it was an all-or-nothing gamble that paid off in silver dollars for Corrales! He had to buy time to compose himself, and he had to stop Castillo.
It’s unfortunate that referee Tony Weeks was forced to stop the fight when he did, but it was the right call. After Corrales’ brutal assault, Castillo’s hands dropped to his waist, his body sagged into the ropes and his eyes rolled up into his head. When Castillo stopped defending himself, Weeks had no other choice other than to stop the fight.
Fatigue and a loss of focus allowed Corrales to catch Castillo with his back against the ropes. When Corrales connected with his combinations, there was no place for Castillo to fall. Had Corrales connected his combinations in the middle of the ring … Castillo no doubt would have fallen … but he most likely would have been given an eight count instead of having the fight stopped. It was a tough break for Castillo… but not for fans.
Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo will go down as one of the very best lightweight championship bouts in the history of boxing.
--The Mighty Moe
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