By Giancarlo Malinconico: Throughout many of his promotional tours throughout his career, Floyd is quick to criticize his opponents for receiving gift wins, while touting his undefeated record. Mayweather claims Pacquiao lost to Marquez both times. He also said De La Hoya lost to Ike Quartey. But Mayweather seems to neglect his own controversial decision victory against Jose Luis Castillo in April 2002.
Mayweather was moving up to challenge the WBC 135-pound champion Castillo after dominating the super featherweight division. Mayweather was an overwhelming favorite coming into the fight; Castillo had four losses all by TKO. So the consensus was that Castillo was selling his title to the younger, hotter rising star, Mayweather. But the pundits failed to consider that Castillo had developed into a better fighter, a ferocious body puncher who can take a licking and keep on coming. The pundits were not the only ones writing off Castillo in this fight; his opponent, “Money” Mayweather, was as well. Mayweather hardly mentioned Castillo in any of the prefight interviews, preferring to discuss his growing wealth and exposure.
Although Mayweather seemed overly confident in his ability to win, he seemed to be in very good shape for his big fight. Mayweather would outbox Castillo effectively using his jab to take rounds 1 and 2. Castillo would start landing more in the 3rd, taking the round by landing power shots downstairs.
Round 4, would go to Mayweather, as he effectively landed lead-left hooks and right hands. The 5th round leaned Castillo, as he out landed Mayweather 15 to 7 in power shots. Castillo would have his best round in the sixth, pinning Mayweather to the ropes, and continuing the assault to the body.
Castillo would have another big round in the 7th with a sustained body attack, occasionally landing upstairs as well. Castillo continued to land power shots to the body and win round 8, but the ref (Dracula as I like to call him) deducted a point from Castillo for hitting on the break. It was a very questionable call. Larry Merchant continually criticized the ref for being overly involved in breaking up the action. The ref’s judgment was questioned further by the commentators when a frustrated Mayweather blatantly threw a punch after the bell in round 9, but was not deducted a point. It was a close round to score; I have no argument if you wanted to give it to Mayweather.
In the 10th, the ref, probably trying to justify his mistake in the previous round, deducts a point from Floyd for a forearm. Castillo, nevertheless, won the round pounding the body of a backpedaling Floyd (10-8 round for Jose Luis). In round 11, Mayweather surprisingly decides to stay in the pocket and exchange with Castillo, which turned out to the make the fight exciting, but it was the wrong strategy. Although Mayweather landed some nice shots, he allowed Castillo to impose his will and pound Floyd to the body, outworking him to win the round. Castillo started the 12th round fast and never took a break. Castillo ended the fight big, clearly out working Floyd up until the final bell.
Harold Lederman scored the bout 115-111 for Castillo. But the scorecards read (a laughable): 116-111, 115-111 and 115-111 in favor of Floyd. Castillo had been the aggressor, threw more and landed more, especially when it came to power shots. Floyd was clearly defeated on this night, but the judges granted “Money” Mayweather a bailout. I understand Floyd complained of shoulder and hand trouble throughout the fight, and Floyd won a very close decision in the rematch, which ironically was closer on the scorecards than the first fight. That does change what happened on the night of April 20, 2002 nonetheless.
With the Mayweather/Marquez match looming perhaps many are wondering if Juan Manuel can have the same success that Castillo had. Marquez is not as big, does not have the chin, and does not have the power to the body that Castillo had. Marquez, nevertheless, is an excellent fighter who has stated he will target Floyd’s body, keying in on those recently injured ribs.
My head says Mayweather will convincingly win. But we will wait and see if Marquez can prove me and the odds makers wrong (as he is listed as a 4-1 underdog), and cause Mayweather to experience the déjà vu of the first Castillo fight.
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