Fight of a lifetime

Friday, March 4, 2005 | 11:09 a.m.

Fight facts

As lightweight contender Julio Diaz sees it, Jose Luis Castillo has been The Man in his division for a long time -- his two losses to Floyd Mayweather notwithstanding.

Eager to prove he deserves that title, Diaz has coveted a championship fight against Castillo for years.

"All of the people in the boxing world have him rated as one of the best fighters out there, and so many fighters have so much respect for him," Diaz said this week after a workout at the Top Rank Gym.

"I want to be the one who takes him down, so I can earn that respect."

Diaz (30-2, 22 knockouts), known as "The Kidd," will get his chance to become The Man on Saturday night at Mandalay Bay, when he hopes to put an end to Castillo's long run at or near the top of the lightweight division.

A two-time world lightweight champion, Castillo brings a record of 51-6-1, 45 KOs, into the fight, which will air on Showtime as part of the cable network's free preview weekend. After his defeats to Mayweather in 2002, Castillo regained the WBC belt last year and is coming off a 12-round split-decision victory against Joel Casamayor in December at Mandalay Bay.

In another featured bout, Jeff Lacy (18-0, 14 KOs) risks his IBF super middleweight title against Rubin "Mr. Hollywood" Williams (26-1, 15 KOs).

In the lightweight title fight, oddsmakers favor the veteran, listing Diaz as an underdog of about 3-1.

Diaz said anyone picking Castillo might be overlooking some factors that weigh in the challenger's advantage.

"My natural ability ... being a smart, intelligent fighter who's always able to stay away from danger," Diaz said. "I just have a natural skill to box. ... I'm coming to fight and I'm planning to leave everything out there."

Diaz, of Coachella, Calif., has had his eye on a matchup against Castillo since before Diaz sustained his two losses, in 2001 and 2002, after beginning his professional career with 23 consecutive victories.

That streak was halted by Angel Manfredy, who scored a disputed 10-round split-decision victory against Diaz in 2001 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Diaz was penalized twice when the referee ruled he was throwing low blows.

Among those unhappy with the decision was Bob Arum, who was promoting Diaz at the time under the Top Rank banner and is co-promoting Saturday's card with Gary Shaw Productions. Diaz has since switched allegiances and signed with Sycuan Ringside Promotions, based in El Cajon, Calif.

"Julio Diaz has two defeats on his record, but those two defeats are not really defeats," Arum said Thursday at a news conference at Mandalay Bay. "The first alleged defeat came at the hands of Angel Manfredy. ... The ref saw low blows when no low blows existed, and gave Manfredy a victory he didn't deserve."

Two fights later, Juan Valenzuela jarred Diaz with a short left just after the opening bell and recorded a first-round TKO in Lemoore, Calif.

"Julio was so distraught (about the Manfredy decision) that he was knocked out in the first round," Arum said, "which was understandable because of the way he was feeling. ... As far as I'm concerned his record is unblemished."

Since the loss to Valenzuela, Diaz has crafted a six-fight winning streak -- capped by a 12-round majority decision to top Javier Jauregui in San Diego for the IBF lightweight championship last May.

When he secured the fight against Castillo, Diaz voluntarily relinquished the IBF belt to avert a possible lawsuit involving that sanctioning body's mandatory -- but much less prestigious -- challenger.

It was a long road back from the low point of his career to this fight week in Las Vegas, Diaz said.

"It was tough," Diaz said. "I wasn't in a great state of mind (after the two losses). I felt the boxing world had kind of pushed me aside. It was hard but I wanted to keep fighting for a second chance. ... Nothing has come easy for me."

Diaz, 25, will have to contend with Castillo's solid jaw and his signature shot, the left hook to the body, Saturday night.

But while training for the bout under Lee Espinoza, Diaz said, he has focused on fine-tuning his own style.

"I didn't do much different in preparing for this fight because I believe this fight suits my natural abilities," Diaz said. "I don't watch much tape of my opponents' fights, ever. In the first round, I'll get to know him, because I believe that every fight is different. I'm going to give him something different than he's ever seen before."

Even so, Diaz, mindful that you don't get too many cracks at The Man, acknowledged this is the biggest fight of his career.

"By far," he said. "There are not many fighters out there like Castillo."

The winner of Saturday's bout will be in line for another attractive match, against WBO champ Diego "Chico" Corrales.

"If I was fighting someone other than Julio Diaz, I might feel a letdown because I have been looking forward to defending against Chico Corrales for a long time," said Castillo, 31.

"I still want to fight Corrales, but I know I have to take care of business on Saturday first. One thing I have to do in this fight is start faster. I started way too slowly (against Casamayor). It is not going the distance."

In Saturday's super middleweight title fight, Williams -- who says he got his nickname "because I make my opponents see the stars" -- comes in as better than a 10-1 underdog against Lacy, a former U.S. Olympian who packs an explosive punch.

"Any time a guy fights for a world title he is going to give it all he has got, so there is no way I will take Rubin Williams lightly," Lacy said. "You never know what can happen in a fight.

"I am willing to get in with anybody, any place, if the deal is right. Give me a fair shake, and I will be there. Just say when and what time."