The December 4, 2004, lightweight championship clash between Jose Luis Castillo and Joel Casamayor at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas produced one of the era's most debated decisions. The Showtime-televised bout saw Castillo retain his Ring Magazine lightweight crown via split decision, with scoring that sparked immediate controversy.
The judges' cards reflected the bout's complexity: Carol Castellano scored it 115-113 for Casamayor, Dave Moretti saw it 117-111, and James Jen Kin 116-112 for Castillo. The disparity in scoring, particularly Moretti's wide card, became a focal point of post-fight discussion.
Casamayor, the Cuban Olympic gold medalist entering with significant momentum in the lightweight division, weighed 135 pounds, while Castillo made 134. The bout represented a critical juncture for both men—Castillo defending his position as the division's lineal champion, while Casamayor sought to add another significant victory to his already impressive resume.
The fight's controversial nature added another chapter to both men's careers of hotly debated decisions. For Casamayor, it joined a list of contentious verdicts, including his battle with Acelino Freitas, followed by equally disputed outcomes against Jose Armando Santa Cruz. For Castillo, the victory bolstered his reign as lightweight champion, though the decision's legitimacy remained questioned by many observers.
The bout, refereed by Vic Drakulich, was a prime example of the era's fiercely competitive lightweight division. Elite-level matches often produced razor-thin margins and disputed outcomes, and this fight was no exception. The result stands as one of several controversial decisions in both fighters' careers, reflecting the often subjective nature of professional boxing's scoring system.
