Underdogs with plenty to gain

Dean Juipe

Friday, Dec. 6, 2002 | 10:05 a.m.

One of the underdogs feels he has a score to settle, while the other can do a great deal not only for himself but for the solvency of his promotional company with a victory Saturday night.

In a doubleheader at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Jose Luis Castillo will challenge Floyd Mayweather Jr. for the latter's World Boxing Council lightweight crown, and Jameel McCline will battle the odds and Wladimir Klitschko in a companion 12-round heavyweight fight with a minor title involved.

Castillo is looking to avenge an earlier loss to Mayweather, and McCline hopes to elevate his career while coming to the aid of his promoter.

"It's very important," said Cedric Kushner, who promotes McCline but has had financial troubles this year, when asked about the possible implications of his man's bout.

"The difference between winning and losing for both Jameel and I is significant," Kushner said Thursday. "A win would give us both a sensational boost."

McCline, 28-2-3, is coming off a series of big wins but is also a plus-325 betting underdog in the sports book at Mandalay Bay. Klitschko, 39-1 and drawing a tremendous volume of attention, is a minus-450 favorite.

McCline will be paid $1 million, while Klitschko gets $950,000. Jay Nady will referee the fight, with Duane Ford, Jerry Roth and Nelson Vazquez serving as judges.

"You have to respect Klitschko as a fighter, but, having said that, the jury is still out," Kushner said. "The way I look at it, a fighter like McCline will be the kind of fighter Klitschko will have to beat for me to feel as strongly as some people already feel about him."

Klitschko, who lost to American journeyman Ross Puritty four years ago, is a native of Ukraine who has impressive wins over the likes of Chris Byrd, Frans Botha and Ray Mercer. He said earlier in the week that he did not believe McCline was more than a passing, and, perhaps, token threat.

"Klitschko has a wealth of amateur experience and has fought before some big crowds (in Europe), but that doesn't come into play for this fight," Kushner said. "I don't have anything negative to say about him and I know he's not scared of Jameel, but Jameel's not scared of him either."

Kushner said his worst fear was that Klitschko would bomb out McCline and do it in quick order.

"One round, the wrong way, that would be devastating to us," Kushner said. "But I think a good performance (by McCline) would be satisfactory."

For Castillo, anything less than a victory over Mayweather will be unsatisfactory.

"I'm real confident I can beat him," he said through a translator. "I'm not sure if it'll be by knockout or decision, but I'm real sure I'll win.

"I got robbed last time. This time you'll see the true champion."

Mayweather defeated Castillo back in April, by 5, 4 and 4 points on the judges' cards. But the decision was in dispute because Castillo landed more punches (203 to 157), although Mayweather was suffering from shoulder and hand troubles.

"Castillo was aggressive, but that's all he was," said Roger Mayweather, who trains his nephew. "We aren't really worried about him. Floyd was just tapping at him with his jab because his shoulder was hurt, but this time he's ready and prepared and it's going to be a completely different fight."

Mayweather, 28-0, is getting $2.4 million for the title defense and he's a minus-400 favorite. Castillo, 46-5-1, gets $150,000 (plus revenue from Mexican television rights) and is a plus-300 underdog. There's an over/under proposition bet up, with a minus 140 on the "will go" 12 full rounds and a plus 120 on the "won't go" 12.

Joe Cortez will referee that fight, with Daniel Van de Weile, Larry O'Connell and Ken Morita named as judges.

"Mayweather knows I can punch, so I can only hope he doesn't spend the fight on the run," Castillo said. "We know each other and I think this fight will be easier for me because we already fought once."

Mayweather skipped the final prefight press conference and has spoken of retiring and losing interest in boxing, but his trainer -- a former world champion himself -- said such musings are typical for fighters.

"Floyd likes the spotlight and he wants to stay in it," Roger Mayweather said. "Fighters always talk about quitting, but they all come back.

"Floyd will be alright once we get past this fight."

But promoter Bob Arum is already counting the days until he can rid himself of the troubles that seem to engulf Mayweather. "Three more and I'm done with him," Arum said, alluding to the number of fights remaining on his contract with Mayweather.

A crowd of 6,500 is expected in an arena curtained back to a capacity of 7,500. First bell is 4:45 p.m.

Six other fights are scheduled, including: Kirk Johnson, 32-1-1, vs. Jeremy Bates, 15-5-1, 10 rounds, heavyweights; John Battle, 7-6-1, vs. Alexander Petovic, 24-0-3, eight rounds, heavyweights; Evangelio Perez, 25-12-2, vs. Toshiaki Nishioka, 22-3-2, eight rounds, bantamweights; Carlos Nevarez, 9-10-1, vs. Dmitry Salita, 9-0, six rounds, lightweights; Alexander Dimitrenko, 5-0, vs. Jeff Ford, 4-5, four rounds, heavyweights; and Steven Kuchler, 2-0, vs. John Nelson, 6-6, four rounds, welterweights. A win would give us both a sensational boost."