Castillo's run at 135 was one of the best ever

[Fox McCloud]

I think Castillo's run at 135 might be one of the most underrated things in boxing. Have you gone to boxrec and seen the plethora of badasses he fought? And even more impressive, he did them all almost back to back to back, etc.

1. Beats Stevie Johnston, then gets a draw against him... considered the top talent in the lightweight division when Shane Mosley left. Slick beyond slickness. Two time WBC lightweight champion, losing it to Cesar Bazan, but avenging that loss in a rematch, regaining the WBC belt.

2. Has two close fights with Floyd Mayweather Jr. (one is a toss up on whether he won or not for most people). Mayweather had just had a great run at 130, dominating Diego Corrales and beating Jesus Chavez, two future lightweight champions. To this day, he made Mayweather fight the hardest for a victory. Mayweather won the WBC title in the first fight.

3. Cesar Bazan, the man who gave Stevie Johnston his first loss was a former WBC lightweight champion when he fought Castillo.

4. Juan Lazcano, who was actually considered a top challenger in the division, held a win over Stevie Johnston to get a shot at Castillo's WBC belt.

5. Joel Casamayor, after a good run at 130, jumps up to challenge Castillo. Eventually won the WBC lightweight belt from Diego Corrales.

6. Julio Diaz, had just won the IBF lightweight title from Javier Jauregui before losing to Castillo. Later, regained the IBF lightweight title from Jesus Chavez.

7. Diego Corrales, had an extremely good run at 130 that got him P4P ranked for a time. Won the WBO lightweight championship from Acelino Freitas in his first fight at lightweight. Beat Castillo in the first fight (although I felt Castillo definately had the momentum in that fight until the KO), but was avenged in the rematch by a 4th round KO. Also held the WBC lightweight championship

I mean, wow. 11 fights at lightweight, and he compiled the names of 7 really good, if not great fighters. The second Corrales fight doesn't count at lightweight, so that is why it's not 12. Including the rematches with Johnston and Mayweather, that means that 9 out of Castillo's 11 fights were against top contenders or former/current/future champions. 9 title runs were represented between the 6 fighters listed above (Lazcano didn't win a title).

Absolutely incredible.

[The Hammer]

Excellent thread and post.

Jose Luis Castillo definitely belongs in the Hall of Fame.

[Slotff]

It is really amazing, I despite that his career is clearly on the downslide (if not over) I think he has stamped his ticket to Canastota.

Wins over
1. Corrales
2. Casamayor
3. Diaz
4. Lazcano
5. Bazan
6. Johnston
7. Mayweather

Losses to
1. Corrales
2. Mayweather
3. Hatton
4. Jairugei
5. Lujan

Draw with
1. Johnston

That is very impressive. Just about every one there is a name. And he was always valiant in defeat. I know you listed it better D, I was just summerizing,

[adrsan84]

I think Castillo's run at 135 might be one of the most underrated things in boxing. Have you gone to boxrec and seen the plethora of badasses he fought? And even more impressive, he did them all almost back to back to back, etc.

1. Beats Stevie Johnston, then gets a draw against him... considered the top talent in the lightweight division when Shane Mosley left. Slick beyond slickness. Two time WBC lightweight champion, losing it to Cesar Bazan, but avenging that loss in a rematch, regaining the WBC belt.

2. Has two close fights with Floyd Mayweather Jr. (one is a toss up on whether he won or not for most people). Mayweather had just had a great run at 130, dominating Diego Corrales and beating Jesus Chavez, two future lightweight champions. To this day, he made Mayweather fight the hardest for a victory. Mayweather won the WBC title in the first fight.

3. Cesar Bazan, the man who gave Stevie Johnston his first loss was a former WBC lightweight champion when he fought Castillo.

4. Juan Lazcano, who was actually considered a top challenger in the division, held a win over Stevie Johnston to get a shot at Castillo's WBC belt.

5. Joel Casamayor, after a good run at 130, jumps up to challenge Castillo. Eventually won the WBC lightweight belt from Diego Corrales.

6. Julio Diaz, had just won the IBF lightweight title from Javier Jauregui before losing to Castillo. Later, regained the IBF lightweight title from Jesus Chavez.

7. Diego Corrales, had an extremely good run at 130 that got him P4P ranked for a time. Won the WBO lightweight championship from Acelino Freitas in his first fight at lightweight. Beat Castillo in the first fight (although I felt Castillo definately had the momentum in that fight until the KO), but was avenged in the rematch by a 4th round KO. Also held the WBC lightweight championship

I mean, wow. 11 fights at lightweight, and he compiled the names of 7 really good, if not great fighters. The second Corrales fight doesn't count at lightweight, so that is why it's not 12. Including the rematches with Johnston and Mayweather, that means that 9 out of Castillo's 11 fights were against top contenders or former/current/future champions. 9 title runs were represented between the 6 fighters listed above (Lazcano didn't win a title).

Absolutely incredible.

great post man, listing it like that makes you realize how accomplished he truly was. Too bad he had the weight problems both for his legacy and his financial future.

[SnoopySmurf]

The mileage ruined him more than the boxers.

The training and punishment he got from JCC Sr as a sparring partner didn't help his longevity, either.

I remember when i first saw him - he was fighting Jorge Paez. He beat the living day lights out of him. Paez was old too...but he was made to look like an amateur. Castillo was gracious to Paez after he KO'd him. He showed that he was respectful of his past career. I immediately liked Castillo then.

When he was at 135, he was on my favorite active fighter's list down below. Then he moved up and I had to take him off. He lost his power, his speed.

[Flawless]

7. Mayweather

,

Mayweather is 39 and 0. When did he lose???

[-Antonio-]

That's why he's a Hall of Famer.

[black.ink]

Castillo will remain an Era's great. One of my favourite fighters of all-time. Sure will miss him.

[SnoopySmurf]

Mayweather is 39 and 0. When did he lose???

People say that Castillo SHOULD have won their first match. Mayweather was fighting with a hurt shoulder then. The rematch was all Mayweather....but still boring.

[Fox McCloud]

great post man, listing it like that makes you realize how accomplished he truly was. Too bad he had the weight problems both for his legacy and his financial future.

The mileage ruined him more than the boxers.

The training and punishment he got from JCC Sr as a sparring partner didn't help his longevity, either.

I remember when i first saw him - he was fighting Jorge Paez. He beat the living day lights out of him. Paez was old too...but he was made to look like an amateur. Castillo was gracious to Paez after he KO'd him. He showed that he was respectful of his past career. I immediately liked Castillo then.

When he was at 135, he was on my favorite active fighter's list down below. Then he moved up and I had to take him off. He lost his power, his speed.

I think you are right Snoopy that Julio Cesar Chavez sparring sessions probably shortened Castillo's career...

But, really... I think it was the first Corrales fight that took EVERYTHING out of Castillo. He couldn't make weight anymore, at almost any weight after that fight. I thought he looked pretty good in the rematch with Corrales, but when I rewatched, whoever told me that he was only throwing the left hook because he knew Corrales couldn't take it was right. He was getting hit a lot more than he did in the first fight (or at least unnecessarily so). It's a shame Corrales ended up KO'ing Castillo in the first fight. I thought Castillo was winning pretty handily, and he definately had it under control... he just got too careless!