Corrales “shocked” by Castillo’s slap on the wrist

Some think it is fair. Others think it equates to a slap on the wrist. Either way, the Nevada State Athletic Commission punished Jose Luis Castillo on Thursday for failing to make weight and forcing the cancellation of his June WBC lightweight title fight with Diego Corrales.

The Commission unanimously agreed to suspend Castillo for the rest of 2006, fine him $250,000, and prohibit him from fighting at less than 140 pounds in Nevada in the future.

In what was to be the rubber match of their thrilling trilogy, Castillo weighed in at 139½ pounds, which is 4½ pounds over the lightweight limit. Corrales weighed 135. At the hearing in Reno, Castillo said that he was advised to draw blood from his body before the weigh-in, and have it returned afterwards

“That story was totally concocted,” Corrales’ promoter Gary Shaw told reporters. “It’s ludicrous. Instead of the commission congratulating Castillo for not doing that, how about recognizing that Diego Corrales did make weight? That deserves congratulations.”

Corrales was not pleased with ruling either.

“That’s it?” he said to the Los Angeles Times. “I’m shocked. I’m at a loss for words. That’s just not right. It’s mind-boggling. I thought for sure they’d give him a year. But that’s the commission. They get to do what they want to do.”

Corrales is understandably upset, as it was the second time Castillo had not made weight for one of their fights. After losing his WBC light title to Corrales in a thrilling 10th-round TKO in May of 2005, Castillo showed up for their October rematch weighing 138½ pounds. The title implications were negated, but Corrales fought anyway and was knocked out in the fourth round. In that instance, Castillo received a $120,000 fine.

Corrales returns to the ring October 7 to settle another exciting rivalry between Joel Casamayer. He has said in the past that he has no intention of doing business with Castillo again.