By Jack Welsh

Jose Luis Castillo and Jeff Lacy are world champs in different weight classes, but what they will have in common Saturday at Mandalay Bay is the kind of kayo power that triggers sellouts.

Showtime will televise both 12-round title bouts on what the cable network calls its’ Free TV Preview Weekend with defenses by Castillo and Lacy being assured larger purses by co-promoters Top Rank and Gary Shaw in the immediate future.

Castillo, with a 51-6-1,45 KOs resume out of Sonora, MX., is in his second tenure as WBC lightweight champion and will be making his second defense against Julio Diaz, from Coachella, CA., with a 30-2, 22 KOs credential, and a winner of the IBF 135-pound diadem in his last start last May13 with a majority12-round decision over Javier Jauregui in San Diego.

Awaiting the winner is WBO lightweight ruler Diego “Chico” Corrales of Las Vegas for a unification bout May 7 at the Mandalay Bay. Castillo was originally scheduled to meet Corrales Dec.4 and Feb.26, but a contract controversy involving Art Pelullo, who had options on Corrales, repeatedly jeopardized the fight.

“The public knows what to expect of me every time I fight which is 100 per cent and I say that was even before I won my first title when I beat Stevie Johnston in June 17, 2000,” Castillo recalled.

“I came late into the championship so there is no way I can give anything less than go all out. I definitely want to take advantage of my opportunities and put on a good show. There is no way I will let down against Diaz or underestimate him. He is a very good fighter and he has wanted to fight me since the first I was champion. I figure he will give 100 percent, just like me.”

Turning pro at16, two of the 31-year-old Castillo’s top performances were going 24 rounds with undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and never lost his footing in 2002.

Mayweather, moving up from super featherweight champion, challenged Castillo for his WBC 135-pound crown in Las Vegas. It was a controversial verdict with some observers feeling “Pretty Boy Floyd” was fortunate to win on Apr.20 but all three judges saw it 115-111, 115-111, and l16-111 for the new titleholder.

A dedicated practitioner, Castillo had no truck with excuses, but after the fight he told the media, “I hurt Floyd a lot more than he hurt me. Remember, I told you this was a year of surprises. Shane Mosley lost, Bojado lost, and tonight you know that Mayweather lost.”

Perhaps fight buffs constantly railing the decision prompted Mayweather to agree to a rematch on Dec.7, again in the Valley of the Dollars.

If promoter Bob Arum’s mega super-star took Castillo lightly in the original, it wasn’t going to happen again. Mayweather frustrated one of Mexico’s greatest warriors with constant movement and more accurate punching. This time ringside judges had it closer 115-113,115-113,and116-113 but it was still for the incumbent.

“I could never figure his style out and it got me out of what I wanted to do. I thought Floyd fought a much more intelligent fight this time. I’m okay with my effort. I did the best I could. He was just better this time around.”

Diaz, 25, is versatile in the ring with slick ability to box or punch.

“When I won the IBF title, I thought it was on a unanimous decision. But I have to admit nothing has ever come easy for me, but with experience I have learned how to roll with the punches,” Diaz admitted.

“I was suppose to fight Castillo once before, but he backed out. I respect him now for acting like a true champion and In taking this fight. These are the kinds of fights the fans deserve to see. I have always wanted to fight someone who is really dangerous, where all the odds are against me and then I would beat them in an impressive way. Now I feel this is my chance.”

In the second main event, Lacy likes to fight “every three or four months” and keep sharp with his 18-0,14 KOs record for a challenger like tough Rubin Williams from Detroit. The latter will try to take Lacy’s IBF168-pound championship while risking his own 26-1,15 KOs ledger.

Lacy, 26, of Tampa, Fla., will be making his 12th appearance on Showtime and will be making the second defense of the crown he won last Oct.2 with an eighth round TKO of rugged Syd Vanderpool in an outdoor bout at Caesars Palace.

Two months to the day, the body-punching specialist made his first defense and was extended to a hard-fought 12-round decision over Omar Sheika on a Showtime offering from Mandalay Bay.

Lacy, the first member of the U.S. 2000 Olympic team to win a pro title after going 209-12 in the amateurs, was fully extended by Sheika in a bruising pairing. He came on in the late rounds to get the nod on scores of 115-113 (twice) and 117-111.

Regarding his busy pro schedule, Lacy said he “liked to fight often and win. Now this guy Williams is coming to take something away from me, and it is my job to stop him from doing it.

“I love to stay in the public’s eye and I work on my skills and learn as much as I can. Since I hold a world title with only 18 pro fights, a lot of the guys I enter the ring against have more pro experience than I do. I try to cut that in half and do the best I can to stay off the injured list. I want to fight this year at least three or four times.”

Williams has won seven in a row since suffering his only loss almost three years ago. In his last outing Jan.28 in Warren, Mich., the Motor City hammer won a 10-round decision over Aaron Norwood in defending his International Boxing Union belt.

Trained by Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward, Williams won his first 19 starts since turning pro in 2001. Rubin won his IBU title with a 10-round decision over Tim Bowe Oct.8, 2004 in Warren.

Ambition?

“It’s every boxer’s dream to fight for a world title. This is my chance to show the world what I am all about. I know I’ll box in my first title shot. I know I’m not a household name in boxing, but I will be after I knock out Lacy. In preparing, I am working blood, sweat and tears. I know I am ready to rumble. There are a lot of my fans who call me ‘Mr. Hollywood’ because I made my opponents see stars.”

(Jack Welsh is a syndicated columnist headquarters in Las Vegas and is a regular contributor to Boxing Press, Boxing Insider, Ringsports.com, and other American sports publications.....)