Written By Nat Gottlieb & William Trillo
In what is the culmination of incredible , behind the scenes
demonstration of hypocrisy and greed, the WBC suspended Jose
Luis Castillo for six months yesterday and ordered him to
undergo a series of health checkups following his failure to
make weight for last Saturday's rubber match with Diego Corrales
for the WBC Lightweight title.
The suspension, while seemingly admirable on the surface, is
self serving and disgraceful when compared to statements made in
an exclusive email exchange between WBC President Jose Sulaiman
and Boxing2006/Pound4Pound.com.
In his Email, Sulaiman reveals he apparently was willing to let
the fight go on, despite the fact that he had received a
dire report on Thursday that Castillo looked like he was ready
to collapse.
Mexican Sports reporter Mr. Jose Luis Gomez Camarillo felt the
situation in Las Vegas was so grave that he placed a call to the
WBC himself letting them know Castillo’s weakened condition was
something like he had never seen before, sighting serious signs
of dehydration, fatigue and lack of proper food and water as
reasons for his concern.
After hearing of Castillo’s condition what did Sulaiman do? He
had WBC Executive Mauricio Sulaiman contact Keith Kizer, the
new Nevada State Athletic Commissioner, to let him
know explicitly that if Castillo could not make the 135 pound
limit and Corrales could, and that if the fight went on as in
their last fight, with Castillo coming in over the weight limit,
that it would still be considered a title fight by Corrales,
thus it would be officially sanctioned by The WBC. Sulaiman told
Kizer he was giving him this information in case anyone from the
media questioned The Commissioner about sanctioning.
Kizer did confirm he spoke to the WBC about the sanctioning of
the bout, but no mention was made to the new commissioner about
the weakened state of Castillo.
By doing so of course, Sulaiman had gotten on record that the
bout would be officially sanctioned by The WBC, thus insuring it
got its substantial fees from the fighters
The bottom line here, fans, is that Sulaiman, knowing Castillo
was in bad health, was willing to let the challenger in the ring
in an impaired state to face one of the most feared punchers in
boxing, then 5 days later, suspend him in order to "protect"
Castillo’s future health and well being.
If Castillo was in such terrible shape, even hydrating and
eating overnight would not restore him to the point where he
could enter a prizefighting ring and face a fighter like
Corrales. If Castillo had, that would be a real major league
health risk. Talk about the tail wagging the dog.
For the unaware, the alphabet bodies get roughly 10 pct. of each
fighter's purse in a championship event. With this fight valued
in the multi-millions, Corrales would get roughly $1.5 and
Castillo was set to pocket just shy of a million. Ten per cent
of their purses would come to about a quarter of a million
American dollars.
So with $250,000 to pad their pockets, the WBC would be willing
to overlook serious risk of life to Castillo, and maybe even
Corrales, who brutalized his body to make the 135 pound required
weight for a lightweight fight.
Clearly, the one who should be suspended from Boxing is the WBC
and Sulaiman! What a disgrace.
And let us not forget the other culprits in this huge black eye
for boxing: Castilllo's promoter Bob Arum; and Showtime.
Why, if Castillo was not making weight deadlines, as stipulated
by Sulaiman (see below), didn't Arum intervene with Castillo's
handlers and insure fans that the fighter would make weight
and a bout, in which they were paying lots of money and booking
hotel rooms and spending money on food, would go on?
Pure greed on Arum's part. “ Let the buyer beware.”
And then, in another odious show of hypocrisy, Arum had the
“Cajones” to bitch after the fight was called off and blame
Castillo in sanctimonious terms.
As for Showtime, ineptness is old hat. Here was a network which
almost lost its last fight between these two boxers over weight
issues, had invested time and marketing money in the third
fight, and never once thought it might be a good idea to protect
its subscription viewers by doing their own checking of the
weight loss progress. Duh? Anybody awake over at Showtime?
Here is the official suspension press release the WBC put out
today:
HERE’S THE ROUGH DRAFT PRESS RELEASE
ISSUED TO BOXING2006 EARLY….
…. WITH OUR COMMENTARY ADDED
(in red)
June 7 2006
Having heard some statements in an interview by ShowTime, as
well as some media articles and direct questions with the WBC,
in regards to the failure of Jose Luis Castillo making the
weight in his title fight against champion Diego Corrales, the
WBC feels compelled to issue the present statement.
1. In 1997, as a result of the First World Boxing
Medical Congress, attended by ring doctors from 83 nations, the
WBC instituted ule 4.6 to mandate three weigh-ins of contending
boxers for a WBC title, 30 and 7 days weigh-ins with a 10% and
5% overweight allowed, respectively, as well as the final and
official weigh-in 30-24 hours before the bouts.
2. On occasion of the first time that boxer Jose Luis
Castillo could not make the official weight on October 8, 2005,
the second bout with Diego Corrales, the WBC sent a letter to
the Nevada State Athletic Commission ‘NSAC’, and the promoters,
dated October 13, 2005, as well as an international press
release, where the WBC requested specific actions for a future
fight if it would be held, including the three weigh-ins and
medical examinations.
3. Unfortunately, the WBC did not receive a response
from anyone.
4 On April 17, 2006, the WBC sent a letter to Top Rank
for our approval of the WBC title fight between Corrales and
Castillo. The letter contained several conditions, including
point number 6 of that letter that stated: “we must receive the
30-day weigh-in of both fighters on May 3, as well as the 7-day
weigh-in of both fighters on May 27, 2006”.
5. Unfortunately, the WBC did not receive a response
from anyone.
6. As the promoters did not send to the WBC the 30-day
weigh-in requested from them by May 3, 2006 and specially
because of the precedent of October 7, 2005, and in lieu of the
precedent experience and the WBC’s commitment to safety as an
utmost priority, the WBC sent on May 9 WBC officer, Juan
Carlos Manzano, together with the Executive Secretary of the
State of Mexico Boxing Commission, to the mountains of Temoaya,
Toluca, which is 3 hours away from Mexico City, to register the
weight of Jose Luis Castillo. Castillo registered then a weight
of 68.200 kilograms.
7. As this was in excess of the 10% allowed by the WBC
Rules, on May 12, 2006, the Executive WBC Office sent a letter
to Top Rank Promotions, Promociones Zanfer, NSAC, NABF and
Gary Shaw Promotions, stating that Jose Luis Castillo
was found with 2 pounds over the 10% limit on the 30-day
weigh-in prior to the bout. The excess weight over 10%
was even more critical, as there were only 3 weeks
to go for the bout, and not the 30 days prescribed in the
Rules that the parties did not go through.
8. Unfortunately, the WBC did not receive a response
from anyone.
9. The WBC decided, due to the circumstances, and again
based on safety considerations, to make another trip to the
mountains in Temoaya on May 17, 2006, for a second weigh-in of
Jose Luis Castillo. Again, WBC officer Juan Carlos Manzano
attended, this time in company of Dr. Jose Luis Ibarra,
Commissioner of the Mexico City Boxing Commission. The result
was 66.800 kilograms (147 pounds).
10.
(SO WHY THE STINK NOW MR. JOSE, IF HE MADE WEIGHT WITH ONLY 14
DAYS LEFT, INSTEAD OF 30)
The WBC issued on the same date, May 17, 2006, a letter and a
press release stating that Jose Luis Castillo was within the 10%
parameter of the 30-day weigh-in rule. It was very clear to all
concerned, however, that this weigh-in was done 2 weeks before
the event.
This letter stated that the next weigh-in should be performed on
May 27, 2006, just 7 days before the fight, as stated by WBC
Rules, when Castillo must register 142 pounds at the most.
11. Unfortunately, the WBC did not receive a response from
anyone.
12.
(AGAIN, IS HE SAYING HERE THAT THE WBC DOESN’T HAVE ANYBODY IN
THEIR ORGANIZATION IN VEGAS TO LOOK AT THIS? THEY CAN’T FLY TO
VEGAS TO WEIGH CASTILLO? DOES THAT MEAN THE WBC DIDN’T HAVE THE
INITIATIVE AND THE SMARTS TO CALL THE COMMISSIONER AND INFORM
HIM OF THE SITUATION? AND WHY ALL THE LETTERS? DOESN’T ANYBODY
AT THE WBC OWN A PHONE? IF THEY REALLY CARED THEY WOULD HAVE
PICKED UP A PHONE AND MADE A CALL. BY SHRUGGING OFF
RESPONSIBILITY WITH LETTERS, THEY WERE IN ESSENCE REVEALING
THEIR HAND: “WE DID OUR PART, IT’S NOT OUR PROBLEM NOW”)
On May 27, 2006, 7 days before the fight, as the WBC inquired on
the status of the 7-day weigh-in, we were informed that Jose
Luis Castillo was already in Nevada. The WBC did not receive
notice from Castillo’s representative, his promoter or the NSAC,
advising the WBC in connection with the 7-day weigh-in, as
indicated and required on the various letters described herein.
13. Mr. Luis Escalona, WBC Executive Weight Supervisor,
being in Las Vegas for the NABF convention intended to check up
Castillo, but he had to fly to Mexico City due to a serious
sickness of his mother, who very sadly died on June the 2nd,
2006.
14.
(HERE COMES THE DAMNING PART)
The Morning of Friday June 2 the WBC received the call from the
prestigious writer of the top sports newspaper in Mexico Esto,
Mr. Jose Luis Gomez Camarillo, who called with serius concern
about the health of Jose Luis Castillo stating that he noticed
him excessively weak and pain, as he has never seen him before.
-
He believed that he had sserious signs of dehydration, with his
lips all around his mouth excessively dried and looked very
fatigued.
-
On the evening of Thrusday, he noticed that Castillo went to the
Caesars Palace that was closed.
-
He also found from Castillo that he ate only little fruit and
one can of “ensure” during the whole day of Wednesday.
-
On thrusday he only had one can of “Ensure” and drank no water.
(ONE FRICKIN DAY BEFORE THE FIGHT THEY FINALLY MAKE A PHONE
CALL???)
Due to those circumstances, the President of the WBC called the
office of the NSAC, trying to talk to Mr. Kizer, but his call
was transferred to his cell, which did not answer. The
President intended to let the commission know the report of the
writer.
(KIZER
SAYS HE GOT A MESSAGE)
(WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?? THAT THE WBC IS SAYING THE TITLE FIGHT
COULD GO ON IF CASTILLO DIDN'T MAKE WEIGHT??? HOW COULD THEY DO
THAT AFTER ALL THE TALK ABOUT THEIR SECOND FIGHT AND CASTILLO
HAVING CHEATED)
Mauricio Sulaiman contacted Mr. Kizer to let him know the
position that Diego Corrales would defend successfully his title
if he made the weight and Castillo could not after the 2 hour
extension period.
(THAT MEANS, THE SHOW MUST GO ON, EVEN WITH A SEMI-CORPSE, KIZER
CONFIRMED THAT HE SPOKE TO MAURICIO, BUT ALL THAT WAS DISCUSSED
WAS THE SANCTIONING OF THE BOUT, AND NOTHING MORE)
Since at least October of last year, the WBC was very insistent
to all parties concerned, directly and constantly, regarding the
extreme importance of monitoring the weight of Jose Luis
Castillo. The WBC, very sadly, got no information back, ever,
from any of the camps of the 2 boxers, nor from the promoter,
the representatives or the NSAC. We feel compelled to admit
that the WBC was simply ignored and the WBC feels very bad about
the whole situation, as everybody lost and nobody won.
(BUT YOU WOULD HAVE WON JOSE, IF THE CORRALES CAMP DECIDED TO
GO ON WITH THIS FARCE)
The President of the WBC has expressed, that even when he was
going into a long medical treatment UCLA in Los Angeles, he is
extremely sorry for what happened and even when the WBC did
everything possible to prevent this problem, he takes full
responsibility
(DAMN RIGHT)
for his not taking action on the non response of the parties,
due to his permanently friendly attitude towards all of them;
(AND THEIR MONEY)
Mr. Sulaiman also feels bad for having accepted to be ignored.
(GET ME A TISSUE PLEASE, I NEED TO WIPE MY EYES)
Some of the actions of the WBC for the future will be:
1. Concerned about the health of Jose Luis Castillo, the
WBC will issue a medical suspension for 6 months during which he
must get a full medical examination at UCLA in Los Angeles,
under the supervision of Dr. Gerald Finerman, Chief Medical
Advisor to the WBC, as well as an examination for a body
metabolism fat level.
If the body metabolism fat level shows that Castillo can safely
remain in the 135 pounds, the WBC will issue a fine to his team
and to the boxer himself.
If the metabolism shows that he can not make safely the 135
pounds, the WBC will rate Jose Luis Castillo in the appropriate
division according to such medical test.
2. In Regards to champion Diego Corrales, the WBC will
authorize him a voluntary defense at his convenience against any
of the WBC rated fighters
Having the experience that many times happenings more than words
show the good and bad of matters, the WBC expects that boxers.
Representatives and promoters take this very important safety
rule in much, much serious conditions for its full respect.
The WBC acknowledges that there has been inconsistency in this
rule, as while there are several promoters in United States who
fully comply with it, there are other who might believe that
this is not an important rule.
We are very proud with those in the US and all other in the
world, who do follow this important safety rule that was
implemented to have title competing boxers train safely and
scientifically to arrive at the date of the fight in good and
safe conditions.
The WBC will, constructively, review this situation during our
44th Annual WBC World Convention to be held in
Dubrovnik, Croatia, from October 29 to November 4, 2006. for the
future, to have a more clear and better agreement between the
parties in boxing, specially on the items of safety rules and
actions, and promoters in the pre weigh-in, are they have
And in an earth-shattering addition to this early rough draft
release, Sulaiman’s secretary emailed us the following:
I am very sorry; I made a mistake in he last line of the last
paragraph
of the Press Release, Please correct to say:
and that promoters will have a very thorough participation in
this important safety rule.
