*Interview with Jose Luis Castillo at the Weigh-In before his Fight in
Chicago on ESPN 2*
*Interview By Sam Geraci*
The following interview with Jose Luis Castillo took place on July 12th, 2012 at the Palmer House in Chicago immediately before Castillo made weight for his July 13th fight at the UIC Pavilion.
*SG: Jose, thanks for giving the time right before your weigh-in to sit for
a few minutes. It’s an honor. *
JLC: No, No, Thank you.
*SG: Because we don’t have too much time, let’s get right to it. As a
someone who has watched you over the years, I gotta ask: other than the
money, why do you keep on fighting?
JLC: Since I lost to Ricky Hatton I lost my desire to box. All of a sudden
I have it back again and I want to show the world that I am still a
champion.
*SG: Assuming you win on Friday, how many more fights do you want?*
JLC: I don’t know. I am in great shape so it could be one more or it could be ten more.
*SG: In your prime, you could have fought with anybody at 140 from any era.
In fact, I, as well as many others who follow the sport, think you fought
Mayweather the best and probably should have gotten the nod in the first
fight. With all of that and your legendary bouts in mind, how is it for
someone like you to fight at this level now? *
JLC: I feel very motivated like I did when I first debuted. I am starting
again. I want to do everything the right way. My heart is still there.
*SG: Not to keep talking about the Mayweather fight, but if you had gotten
the nod in that first bout, where would you be now? *
JLC: Who knows?
*SG: Why do think that fight doesn’t get the publicity it deserves? You
know, they try to show Mayweather’s toughest fights as being against Cotto
or even Corrales or De La Hoya?*
JLC: No, no, no because he is supposed to be the best P4P fighter. And
according to me he is the best fighter. I believe he is the best fighter.
*SG: What has been your best performance? Your best fight?*
JLC: At home with my wife (laughs).
*SG: That’s a good one. All of us (laughs) *
* *
JLC: I have several; I have been in the game so long. The first one when I
won the championship. The second one when I fought Mayweather and I won.
The fight with Corrales, even though I lost, that was an awesome fight. I
could go on but the best is at home (laughs).
*SG: With the Corrales fights, what does it feel like to know that you were
involved in some of the greatest fights in the history of the sport? *
JLC: I have a lot of pride and I don’t watch my own fights but my sons do.
These fights are for my children and my grandchildren to know that I was
there and what I accomplished.
*SG: Even though you don’t watch them, when it’s going, what do you feel
like when you’re in a fight like that? I mean do you know it’s something
special?*
JLC: No, no it just happened. It was the styles with both of us and we both
fought like warriors.
*SG: With the titles, the battles, the wins, even the first fight with
Mayweather, what do you want to be remembered as? How do you want to be
remembered most?*
JLC: I just want to be remembered as a humble boxer and fighter. Someone
who could get into the ring with anyone and make him pay.
*SG: There have been great fights but for the most part the best fighters
aren’t always in the types of fights you’ve been in. What makes you the
combination of the fighter who can fight the tough fights but is still very
skilled? What was you inspiration? What made you like this? *
JLC: I don’t know. I always wanted learned from the best. I used to do
sparring with one of the best in Chavez Sr. and I always wanted to learn
from the best. I always wanted to pick up the good things from each fighter
I fought and sparred with.
*SG: Going back to Chavez, I have to ask you about what Arum is calling the
“Hispanic Super Bowl” in the Martinez-Chavez fight. Who wins?*
JLC: I have a very good relationship with the Chavez family and I think
it’s going to be a good fight. It’s a very difficult fight and it’s a close
fight.
*SG: Besides Chavez Jr., which of the younger fighters do you like? Who’s
good?*
JLC: There are a few. There’s Rigondeaux, Nonito…
*SG: Who wins that? *
JLC: Very good fight. They’re very good fighters who are fast and strong
and they come in very prepared. They’re very talented but you can’t forget
the legends and the older fighters (smiles).
*SG: Now, I’ve been asking this to a lot of the older fighters so I’ll stay
with it. Do you think the older fighters are still good or the younger
fighters today just aren’t that great? *
JLC: Who knows? We all have our moments and all have our strengths and
weaknesses. It’s very difficult to tell. Who knows?
*SG: Okay, what’s the biggest problem in boxing today?*
JLC: The managers.
*SG: Can you expand?*
JLC: Like in Mexico and other parts, they take advantage of the fighters.
The fighters are just taken advantage of too often by the managers.
*SG: When it’s time, and many of us who have been watching you over the
years wonder if it’s time, what are you going to do when it’s time to
retire?*
JLC: It’s not time but I don’t know exactly. In August, I am going to start
studying at the university. I just finished high school so I am back to
school and I am very focused on that aspect of my life.
*SG: When you fought at 140lbs that really was one the stronger weight
classes in recent times. Besides you, who was the best of Casamayor, Judah,
Mayweather, Tszyu, Freitas, and Corrales?*
*JLC: Mayweather is number one. Judah was a very good fighter. Freitas
would have to be at the end of the line. I want to add that when Judah was
a lightweight he was a very good fighter. If he had stayed at the lighter
weights, he wouldn’t have lost. He would have been the best pound-for-pound
and gone down in history. As he moved up in weight he lost a lot of power
and strength. *
*SG: Is there anything else you want to add? *
JLC: I am happy to be in Chicago. My third son was born here in Chicago. I
am going to put on a good show and a good fight.
SG: Is there anything you want the fans to know?
JLC: I hope they enjoy that I am back and enjoy every minute that I am in
the ring.
SG: Thanks champ.
