By Duke Pahulu: Kevin Iole of Yahoo proclaimed Brandon Rios – Mike Alvarado as the best fight of this century. Now I know the fight just happen last Saturday night but Iole needs to hold his horses. Jose Luis Castillo – Diego Corrales I is still by far the greatest fight this century.

Rios-Alvarado was a fight between a former lightweight champ and a top ten light welterweight for no title. Castillo-Corrales I was for the lightweight championship of the world. Castillo and Corrales were higher ranking fighters than Rios and Alvarado and are borderline Hall of Famers.

Plus the 10th round had the kind of drama you never see in sports. You see comebacks from near defeats here and there but not after nine rounds of severe punishment. That 10th round puts Castillo-Corrales I above any fight this century. The lethal left hooks of Castillo that put Corrales down twice.

The intelligence of Corrales to spit out his mouthpiece to buy valuable recovery time. The frank words of Corrales’ trainer while he was watering the mouthpiece. The right hands out of nowhere that stun Castillo and the flurry that ended the matter. Don’t get me wrong. Rios-Alvarado is clearly the best fight so far this year but it’s nowhere near Castillo-Corrales I.

It’s not better than Israel Vazquez – Rafael Marquez III or Erik Morales – Marco Antonio Barrera I. One thing that hurts Rios-Alvarado is that once Alvarado was hurt, Rios took him out. He didn’t have the where with all to hold and buy some time to see if he can turn the tide. So for those that think Rios-Alvarado is the best fight of this century, go on Youtube and check out Castillo-Corrales I.