Kostya Tszyu vs Jose Luis Castillo at 140

[gilgamesh]

I think at one time this could've been a real solid fight. Granted JLC would've never quite been at his very best at 140, but by the time he would've been big enough to move up and fight Kostya, Kostya wouldn't have necessarily been a spring chicken either. I think it would be a good fight with Kostya getting the better of the first 4 rounds with his superior boxing ability, I could see JLC taking his share of the middle rounds with his in-fighting and body attack, I get the feeling Kostya would come back late and take enough rounds to win a decision or more likely bust up JLC with his thunderous right hands and force a TKO due to cuts.

[Rover]

I think at one time this could've been a real solid fight. Granted JLC would've never quite been at his very best at 140, but by the time he would've been big enough to move up and fight Kostya, Kostya wouldn't have necessarily been a spring chicken either. I think it would be a good fight with Kostya getting the better of the first 4 rounds with his superior boxing ability, I could see JLC taking his share of the middle rounds with his in-fighting and body attack, I get the feeling Kostya would come back late and take enough rounds to win a decision or more likely bust up JLC with his thunderous right hands and force a TKO due to cuts.

JLC's jr. welter resume isn't that impressive.
He won a very close decision over Ngoudjo, not a big puncher.
He KO'd Corrales when he missed weight (if you want to count that).
He got KO'd by Hatton.
I'd confidently take Tszyu in this one by a middle or late rounds stoppage. I wouldn't be surprised if Tszyu would straight up KO Castillo with his right hand. JLC never faced a jr. welter puncher like that.

[gilgamesh]

True, but both Tszyu and JLC usually fought at fairly measured paces. Which is why I figure it would last a while. JLC was pretty tough too, despite the Hatton blowout which I think is fairly misleading to what he could've been capable of at 140.

[Rover]

True, but both Tszyu and JLC usually fought at fairly measured paces. Which is why I figure it would last a while. JLC was pretty tough too, despite the Hatton blowout which I think is fairly misleading to what he could've been capable of at 140.

I agree it would probably last a while. Tszyu could be very patient. But I'm just going by JLC's jr. welter career. Some guys can successfully move up. He never showed me he could--unless you count the time he came in overweight against Chico, a win I give him no credit for.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I like Castillo big in this fight, he really should have moved up earlier than he did. Tszyu weakness was in tight and Jose was a master there. Both of them at their best I like Castillo by clear decision or late TKO.

[misterpunch]

good points but KT was a genuine 140 pounder with serious power in that exocet right hand. he has opportunities to land it clean from as early as the fifth due to his greater strength. he eventually connects in 8. castillo rises but its soon waved off.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Castillo had a concrete chin in his prime. I don't see much chance of him hitting the deck.

[Rover]

Castillo had a concrete chin in his prime. I don't see much chance of him hitting the deck.

At jr. welter?

[Rover]

good points but KT was a genuine 140 pounder with serious power in that exocet right hand. he has opportunities to land it clean from as early as the fifth due to his greater strength. he eventually connects in 8. castillo rises but its soon waved off.

About how I view it.

[misterpunch]

exocet missiles easily break concrete

[Rover]

exocet missiles easily break concrete

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Castillo had a concrete chin in his prime. I don't see much chance of him hitting the deck.

At jr. welter?

Must we play this game again? I don't have an issue putting a huge Lightweight at 140 for a mythical fight. Yes, in his prime his chin was amazing and it would have been at Jr Welter.

[Rover]

Castillo had a concrete chin in his prime. I don't see much chance of him hitting the deck.

At jr. welter?

Must we play this game again? I don't have an issue putting a huge Lightweight at 140 for a mythical fight. Yes, in his prime his chin was amazing and it would have been at Jr Welter.

I'm not as confident of that.

[misterpunch]

me neither

[SaadOffTheDeck]

At jr. welter?

Must we play this game again? I don't have an issue putting a huge Lightweight at 140 for a mythical fight. Yes, in his prime his chin was amazing and it would have been at Jr Welter.

I'm not as confident of that.

You never are, that's your prerogative. It's like when at least 95% of this board laughed at me before Pac/Marquez 3 for picking Juan to win, but lose the dec, simply because the fight was at 147.

It's a slippery slope just talking divisions in mythical fights. Take for example if this fight was Castillo/Pryor. Do you know how much bigger JLC was at Lightweight than Aaron was at 140? Significantly.

[Rover]

You never are, that's your prerogative. It's like when at least 95% of this board laughed at me before Pac/Marquez 3 for picking Juan to win, but lose the dec, simply because the fight was at 147.

It's a slippery slope just talking divisions in mythical fights. Take for example if this fight was Castillo/Pryor. Do you know how much bigger JLC was at Lightweight than Aaron was at 140? Significantly.[/quote]
Wasn't Pac/JMM III the 144 fight?
I know we disagree on this, but I did score it for Pac; I thought JMM would lose a wider decision than I thought he ultimately lost, though.
I don't know how much "bigger" JLC was than Pryor.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

A bit taller, longer arms, probably 5-7 pounds heavier in the ring. Bigger in every way, but he fought at 135 & pryor fought at 140. It's case by case, not just numbers.

I can't respect that card at all.

[gilgamesh]

JLC was a particularly big, strong Lightweight. Tszyu would not look bigger than him come fight time

[Jpreisser]

JLC was a hard-nosed banger with power and a good chin. He had a strong body attack and threw in combination well. I can see how that would give Tszyu trouble, as long as he punches with Tszyu or if he can back Tszyu up. He was stopped on cuts multiple times however, which may prove detrimental to a sharp punching bomb thrower like Tszyu. And the fact he wasn`t too hard to hit. Tszyu has a noticeable handspeed advantage too. He was also strong for 140. I would favor Tszyu over Castillo in a head-to-head match-up.

[misterpunch]

castillo may have been big at the lower weight but KT was big at lightwelter and strong too. he does not get bullied by castillo in close. hatton had success with this but ricky was a galvanised human dynamo that night and he was strong. kostya moves him around if castillo tries that. tszyu wins all night for me, good watchable fight though

[vagabundo55]

The very reason why they underestimate Kostya, step back from that inside fighting and you get a nice cross. On the other hand, for the truth is, Tszyu was naturally the bigger man, it would be more fair to talk about something like Duran vs Tszyu at 140 or JCC vs KT at 140, though the truth is, JLC has more a chance than not to stay in front and bang that body up enough to nullify the starting power of KT who through his cross early enough to damage a low handed defense (kickboxing style) Zab Judah. While JLC, well both of these fighters are all time greats, the difference is, one was lightweight champion before moving on up.

[Esquire]

I couldn't agree more with SaadOffTheDeck on this one. JLC was a monster at 135 pounds and had he moved up in weight earlier he would have had better outcomes.

I've heard the most respected broadcasters in boxing call him a future hall of famer (before he fought on too long and compiled more than 9 or 10 losses). I concur.

JLC was a monster at 135 and at 140 (at the right time) he would have kicked some ass. Ricky Hatton made his career with one body shot against a wilted JLC at 140. Flame away my British friends, but JLC is one of the baddest motherfvckers you ever saw and but for some bad decisions by his management team he would have retired with a record the equivalent of some of the best Mexican champions of all time.

Oh, and he beat the shit out of Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their first fight. Don't argue with me on this. I nearly put my foot through the T.V. when I watched it live and could still generate rage this many years later if I watch it again. Floyd simply wasn't ready for the bigger, stronger, tougher, man that night. He had no idea what he signed up for. When they fought the rematch he knew as the better fighter how to handle Castillo. He lost that first fight fair and square.

[Rover]

I couldn't agree more with SaadOffTheDeck on this one. JLC was a monster at 135 pounds and had he moved up in weight earlier he would have had better outcomes.

I've heard the most respected broadcasters in boxing call him a future hall of famer (before he fought on too long and compiled more than 9 or 10 losses). I concur.

JLC was a monster at 135 and at 140 (at the right time) he would have kicked some ass. Ricky Hatton made his career with one body shot against a wilted JLC at 140. Flame away my British friends, but JLC is one of the baddest motherfvckers you ever saw and but for some bad decisions by his management team he would have retired with a record the equivalent of some of the best Mexican champions of all time.

Oh, and he beat the shit out of Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their first fight. Don't argue with me on this. I nearly put my foot through the T.V. when I watched it live and could still generate rage this many years later if I watch it again.

I absolutely detest Floyd, but I had it a draw.

[Esquire]

I couldn't agree more with SaadOffTheDeck on this one. JLC was a monster at 135 pounds and had he moved up in weight earlier he would have had better outcomes.

I've heard the most respected broadcasters in boxing call him a future hall of famer (before he fought on too long and compiled more than 9 or 10 losses). I concur.

JLC was a monster at 135 and at 140 (at the right time) he would have kicked some ass. Ricky Hatton made his career with one body shot against a wilted JLC at 140. Flame away my British friends, but JLC is one of the baddest motherfvckers you ever saw and but for some bad decisions by his management team he would have retired with a record the equivalent of some of the best Mexican champions of all time.

Oh, and he beat the shit out of Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their first fight. Don't argue with me on this. I nearly put my foot through the T.V. when I watched it live and could still generate rage this many years later if I watch it again.

I absolutely detest Floyd, but I had it a draw.

I edited my post but a draw could be seen on the low side of reasonable. While JLC won in my eyes, Floyd had his moments and he was the "star" that night so I wouldn't fist-fight you over it. I simply thought JLC won comfortably.

[Rover]

I couldn't agree more with SaadOffTheDeck on this one. JLC was a monster at 135 pounds and had he moved up in weight earlier he would have had better outcomes.

I've heard the most respected broadcasters in boxing call him a future hall of famer (before he fought on too long and compiled more than 9 or 10 losses). I concur.

JLC was a monster at 135 and at 140 (at the right time) he would have kicked some ass. Ricky Hatton made his career with one body shot against a wilted JLC at 140. Flame away my British friends, but JLC is one of the baddest motherfvckers you ever saw and but for some bad decisions by his management team he would have retired with a record the equivalent of some of the best Mexican champions of all time.

Oh, and he beat the shit out of Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their first fight. Don't argue with me on this. I nearly put my foot through the T.V. when I watched it live and could still generate rage this many years later if I watch it again.

I absolutely detest Floyd, but I had it a draw.

I edited my post but a draw could be seen on the low side of reasonable. While JLC won in my eyes, Floyd had his moments and he was the "star" that night so I wouldn't fist-fight you over it. I simply thought JLC won comfortably.

I agree the case for Castillo is easier to make.