Code Red! Code Red!
Saturday is the final clash between Diego “Chico” Corrales (40-3, 33 KOs) and Jose Luis Castillo (54-7-1, 47 KOs) for the lightweight championship of the world. Though 70 pounds south, they’re true heavyweights. Sportsbook odds are Castillo -220, Corrales +180 – based on what?
Tale of the tape: Corrales, 28, is a lightweight freak, 5-11 with a half-inch fist, forearm and thigh advantage over the 5-8, 32-year-old Castillo – plus a one inch bigger expanded chest, reach, bicep and calf. Castillo needs a ladder to reach him (on paper).
Corrales has had great success against smaller, aggressive guys. Castillo is strong enough mentally and big enough physically (He demonstrated that last time with Chico) to mete out plenty of pain of his own.
But the physical discrepancies don’t apply here. “Chico” doesn’t fight tall. He likes to walk in and unload hooks and rights – bang on the inside, fight short. He likes it physical.
Reviewing their first bout, I was amazed at Corrales’ success when he made space. When he pushed off on Castillo and attacked from the outside, he was effective dropping right hands and short hooks. He used the jab to control the pace – Castillo had no answers.
