Corrales Finally Has Shot at Castillo

Diego Corrales still has a bitter taste in his mouth from the last time he stood in the ring at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

On that night 19 months ago, his throat filled with blood from two ugly cuts in his lip, his jaw badly bruised, more blood trickling from a cut above his left eye, Corrales saw his career possibly slipping away through a bloody haze. It was the sixth round of his fight against Joel Casamayor, but there would be no further rounds by ruling of ringside physician Margaret Goodman, who determined Corrales could not continue.

Corrales remained convinced he could beat Casamayor and, once healed, he proved it, winning a rematch -- and the World Boxing Organization super-featherweight title -- by decision in March 2004. Then in August, Corrales added to his reputation and his belt collection, boosting his record to 39-2 with 32 knockouts by beating Acelino Freitas on a 10th-round TKO for the WBO lightweight championship.

But a new figure was looming. Or, rather, an old face in a familiar place.

Jose Luis Castillo (52-6-1, 46) had ruled the World Boxing Council’s lightweight division five years ago after winning the title from Steve Johnston. Castillo is a tough veteran with brutal power, but that didn’t serve him well enough against Floyd Mayweather Jr., who used his blinding speed and consummate ring skill to beat Castillo in a pair of WBC title matches in 2002.

Then, last year, Castillo regained the title by beating Juan Lazcano. A fight with Corrales seemed a natural. All that was needed was a contract.

Easier said than signed.

Negotiations bogged down for a December fight between Corrales and Castillo, so Castillo fought and beat Casamayor.

Negotiations bogged down for a March fight between Corrales and Castillo, so Castillo fought and beat Julio Diaz.

All Corrales could do was wait and fume and shadow box, fantasizing that his punches were smashing into his long-awaited foe.

Tonight, in a main event to be shown on Showtime (tape-delayed at 9), Corrales and Castillo will meet.

“It was tough being idle,” Corrales conceded. “The fight just wasn’t happening. But it’s happening now.”

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Tonight’s semi-main event matches World Boxing Assn./International Boxing Federation featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (43-2-1, 33) of Mexico against Victor Polo (34-4-3, 24) of Colombia.