Entitlement

Friday, Dec. 3, 2004 | 9:26 a.m.

It's no secret that world lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo desires a big, perhaps career-defining, fight against Kostya Tszyu, the reigning title-holder at 140 pounds.

By no means, though, is Castillo looking past Saturday's opponent, Joel Casamayor, a former super featherweight champ and 1992 Olympic gold medal winner from Cuba.

"I think he's a magnificent fighter," Castillo said. "He's very intelligent, and he does a lot of things well in the ring. We're going to have to be very careful with him."

Castillo (50-6-1, 45 knockouts), of Mexicali, Mexico, and Casamayor (31-2, 19 KOs) will clash for Castillo's WBC belt in the main event of Saturday night's card at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

In the featured undercard bouts, Jeff Lacy (17-0, 14 KOs) defends his IBF super middleweight title against Omar Sheika (26-6, 17 KOs) and unbeaten heavyweight Samuel Peter (20-0, 17 KOs) takes on Jeremy "Half Man-Half Amazing" Williams (41-4, 36 KOs) in a scheduled 12-rounder.

Ticket prices range from $50 to $300 for the show, which will be televised by Showtime (9 p.m. PST, tape-delayed).

Castillo first won the lightweight title by upsetting Stevie Johnston in 2000, but lost a pair of championship fights to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2002. After fighting several tuneup bouts at higher weight limits, Castillo reclaimed the vacant 135-pound title by beating Juan Lazcano in June at the MGM Grand.

He figures he needs a strong showing against Casamayor on Saturday, then another against Diego Corrales -- who beat Casamayor at 130 pounds in March -- to earn a shot against Tszyu.

"If (a fight against) Corrales was first, I'd have to fight Casamayor, anyway," Castillo said. "I feel I'm going to have to fight both of them (before) the big fight I really want, which is Kostya Tszyu. I hope I can get it; I really want to take advantage of this opportunity."

Castillo, 30, turned pro at age 16 and has long been known as a tough, aggressive brawler who comes right at his opponent, working the body and applying relentless pressure.

Casamayor, a 33-year-old southpaw, is a tricky counterpuncher who has been accused of being a "dirty" fighter by opponents such as Acelino Freitas, who beat Casamayor in a super featherweight title bout in 2002. Castillo has downplayed those concerns leading to Saturday's fight.

"I haven't seen anything (to indicate) he's a dirty fighter," Castillo said. "He had a head butt with Corrales in one fight, but that's normal when you have a left-hander and a right-hander. After the fight I'll tell you if he's a dirty fighter or not."

Casamayor tipped his hand at a news conference Thursday at Mandalay Bay and said he just might go toe-to-toe with Castillo in an effort to beat the champ at his own game.

"I'm going to come right at him and show that I can trade punches, too," Casamayor said. "This will be a Mexican-style fight. We're going to give the fans what they want."

Castillo is a minus 170 favorite in the Mandalay Bay sports book. It's minus 130 that the fight will go the entire 12 rounds; the "won't go" is even money.

Lacy, who became the first 2000 U.S. Olympian to win a pro title when he stopped Syd Vanderpool in October at Caesars Palace, is a hefty minus 1400 favorite against Sheika.

"Lacy knows everything he has worked for since age 9 is on the line," trainer Dan Birmingham said. "He will protect his belt like a mean, hungry dog protecting a piece of meat."

There was no betting line on the heavyweight fight at Mandalay Bay, but some offshore sports books have Peter favored by odds of nearly 2-1.

A confident Williams did not sound like an underdog Thursday.

"This is a rookie coming against a veteran," Williams said. "I'm like Michael Jordan facing a rookie. He's good, but not as good as me. I guarantee I will beat him Saturday."

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