No chance for Castillejo

Unless Francisco Javier Castillejo gets lucky or Oscar de la Hoya shows up drunk, there’s no way the Spaniard will keep his World Boxing Council (WBC) superwelterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this morning (Manila time).

De la Hoya, 28, is just too slick and too classy for Castillejo. Oscar’s got all the tools. If Castillejo couldn’t handle an unheralded Frenchman named Laurent Bodouani (who beat him twice–badly), what more de la Hoya?

Castillejo was dropped twice by Bodouani and stopped in the ninth round in their first meeting in 1995. A year later, they met in a rematch–Castillejo survived the distance but didn’t win a single round in any of the judges’ cards.

Still, Castillejo is the reigning WBC champion. He beat Keith Mullings on points to capture the crown in 1999 and has since repulsed five challengers.

Castillejo’s advantage is experience. He’s figured in 55 fights since turning pro in 1988. De la Hoya has seen action in 35 outings. In terms of rounds, Castillejo has fought 331 and de la Hoya, 207.

But Oscar’s the total package–if his head’s in place. The Golden Boy has lost twice in his career–decisions to Felix (Tito) Trinidad and (Sugar) Shane Mosley. Career distractions were blamed for both losses. De la Hoya split up with the mother of his second child and now plans to marry the Puerto Rican singer Millie C. He also disengaged from promoter Bob Arum and fired long-time trainer Robert Alcazar. Then there was the CD of Latin love songs he recorded last year.

Now that de la Hoya is crownless, his popularity has waned. That’s why he’s more determined than ever to trounce Castillejo.

Since losing to Mosley, de la Hoya has fought only once–halting Arturo Gatti in five. That win marked Oscar’s first fight under new trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr. Annexing Castillejo’s title will bring Oscar’s collection to five world crowns in five different divisions, equaling the feat of Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns.

Fight expert Graham Houston predicted de la Hoya to win in nine. "Castillejo will put up the best fight he can but it is unlikely to be enough," he said. "Oscar will probably have to take some punches and may even get rattled a few times but he simply has too much class and hits too hard."

Castillejo has been in Las Vegas for two months–not gambling but working his butt off, jogging five to six miles every morning at five, sweating it out in the gym, and running again in the afternoon. Although de la Hoya is a big favorite, Castillejo said he’ll pull a surprise. "I have something in my heart and in my mind that tells me that everything is going to be fine and that I will come up with a major upset," he said.

De la Hoya, for his part, said a win over Castillejo will ensure his place in boxing history.

In the undercard, Manny Pacquiao takes on International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior featherweight champion Lehlo Ledwaba in a scheduled 12-round title fight.