At 135 DLH's size advantage vs JLC isn't that great.. and JLC will be on him from start to finish. I see DLH fading late, but hanging on to get the D - possibly controversially.
JLC was a tough MF with a near granite chin. I think he would weather De La Hoya's early storm and put it on him in the later rounds. Obviously DLH was a better boxer than Corrales.. but I don't see how that's relevant, since Chico didn't even try to box JLC.
thats my point, though in there with a tall power puncher who didn't even attempt to use that advantage and who was hardly granite chinned, Castillo slugged away nonstop, exactly HIS type of fight, for 10 rounds and wound up getting KOd Hoya, as tall as Corrales, had every bit as much pop in his left hook, had more handspeed, far better overall skills and a world-class jab to go along with it... he's not going to be right in front of Castillo 3 minutes per round for 10 rounds... he's going to jab him and move and look to fuck him with the hooks... I don't see Castillo being able to overcome all of the advantages Hoya has over him
Yeah but it's important to bear in mind that Castillo also stood up to Chico's worst and was on his way to knocking him out. Yeah, Corrales got the W, but he basically had to cheat to do it (re: mouthpiecegate). If JLC could stand up to Chico's worst for 10 rounds and still be ahead, why wouldn't he be able to take Oscar's, especially when Oscar is less likely to take risks than Chico? DLH was a much better lightweight than Corrales, no question. The problem is that even at the lower weights, he showed a tendency to fade if the fight went rounds. Again, I see Castillo weathering De La Hoya's early rounds onslaught, and coming on strong at the end. I still think DLH wins, but Castillo gives him a good argument.
But he also had a ton of opportunities to punch Corrales all night long, those opportunities happen far less often against a quick, skilled guy like Hoya... and I still maintain that Hoya hit every bit as hard or harder than Corrales and much faster
Obviously, DLH is in a different league compared to Jose Luis Castillo. But we're talking about Oscar at 135 here, who, I think was still finding his feet and was relatively still developing. I see him beating JLC because he's simply the better fighter, but for sure, he'd be in for a rougher night than he had against, say, Jon Jon Molina.
Sure.. but on the flip side of the coin, De La Hoya will also take less risks to land bombs on Castillo. IMO a strong, skilled pressure fighter with the chin to stand up to the early onslaught is the perfect recipe for exploiting Oscar's stamina problems. Plus as already mentioned, DLH's size advantage is mitigated here as well.
On the reverse 180 degree back flip side Oscar was skilled fighter who wouldn't have to take risks to land big shots like others. That said, while it's certainly not out of the question De La Hoya stopping Castillo i also think it's a decision win. Close but clear. Oscar was a beast @ 135 but he was still wet behind the ears.
I dont think Oscar would have stopped JLC(although I wouldnt put it past him), but he wins a rather clear UD. Too much speed, and range, and more than enough power to keep JL at bay.
