Castillo: "First Diaz, then Corrales and Tszyu!"

10/02/2005

Castillo: "First Diaz, then Corrales and Tszyu!"

World lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo of Mexico said today he will deal with Julio Diaz on March 5, then "take on Chico Corrales and Kostya Tszyu in 2005. "I'm going to fight the best, starting with Julio Diaz and I expect to win every world title fight this year," Castillo said today from his training facility in a mountain region north of Mexico City.

Bob Arum of Top Rank said "this is like the old days when the champions fought other champions. That's why I'm excited about Castillo against Diaz on March 5 because it leads to even bigger championship events. It's great for all fight fans - and for boxing - that the lightweight champions are willing to fight each other."

Arum discussed the compelling Castillo vs. Diaz matchup at a press brunch today at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Castillo, the WBC and Ring Magazine champion, will defend both of those belts vs. Diaz at the Mandalay Bay Event Center. Castillo vs. Diaz will be televised live on Showtime.

Diego 'Chico' Corrales, 39-2-0 and holder of the WBO world lightweight title belt, has said he will fight the winner of Castillo vs. Diaz at Mandalay Bay on May 7 -- live on Showtime.

Castillo said he has "no problems" taking on Corrales and afterwards wants to take on Kostya Tszyu who is the IBF light welterweight champion.

NOTEBOOK -  One of Top Rank's best teenage prospects, 18-year-old Victor Ortiz of Oxnard, Calif. will box on the hot fight Telefutura fight card at the San Diego Convention Center tomorow night. Ortiz is a 5'9 southpaw lightweight who can punch -  he's 5-0 with three knockouts. He will take on Joel Ortega of Mexico in a four round bout......Unbeaten teenager Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will open the Telefutura telecast on Friday night....TR's Ricardo Jimenez will be at ringside in San Diego.......