Diego Corrales vs Jose Luis Castillo II

The rematch between Jose Luis Castillo and Diego Corrales on October 8, 2005, at the Thomas & Mack Center carried significant controversy before the opening bell. Castillo stepped onto the scales at 138½ pounds, missing the lightweight limit by 3½ pounds. The situation worsened when a Castillo team member was caught tampering with the scale, resulting in a fine and suspension.

Despite the weight issues, the bout proceeded. Castillo, technically ineligible to win any titles, dominated the early action. All three judges had him ahead through three rounds, with two scoring it 30-27 and one at 29-27. The statistical dominance was reflected in the punch stats, with Castillo landing at a 59% clip (98 of 166) compared to Corrales's 47% (69 of 147).

Corrales absorbed significant damage in the third round, suffering a cut to his right eyelid, puffiness around the same eye, and a swollen nose. The end came swiftly in the fourth round when Castillo unleashed a devastating left hook to the head at the 0:47 mark. Corrales showed his characteristic heart by making it to his feet, but his legs betrayed him. Referee Joe Cortez completed the ten count with Corrales standing but unsteady.

The outcome starkly contrasted their first meeting five months earlier, which had seen Corrales emerge victorious in what became the consensus Fight of the Year. Where that bout went into the championship rounds, this one barely made it past the opening quarter, demonstrating how dramatically fortunes can shift in professional boxing.