On October 15, 1999, at Plaza de Toros Calafia in Mexicali, Jose Luis Castillo claimed the vacant IBA Super Featherweight title with a fifth-round TKO victory over Jorge Paez. Referee Fernando Sorroza stopped the contest at 1:04 after Paez failed to beat the count following a precise counter left hand to the jaw.
The bout represented contrasting career trajectories. Castillo entered with momentum, riding a five-fight winning streak, including an eighth-round knockout of Sandro Marcos just two months prior. His 85% knockout rate indicated significant punching power. On the other hand, Paez was attempting to rebound from a seventh-round knockout loss to Augie Sanchez five months earlier, a defeat that had left him with a more modest 53% knockout rate.
The stoppage maintained Castillo's impressive finishing rate while extending Paez's losing streak to two fights. The outcome validated Castillo's rising status in the super featherweight division, with the counter-punching finish demonstrating his technical development and established power.
