May 15, 2004
May 15, 2004
NAGOYA, JAPAN-WBA top ranked 115-pounder Martin Castillo (25-1, 15 KOs), Mexico, will face Japanese southpaw Hideyasu Ishihara (right photo)(15-2-1, 11 KOs) for the WBA interim superfly belt in Gifu tomorrow (Sunday) evening. At the official weigh-in today Castillo, 27, tipped the beam at 114.75, while Ishihara, 29, the 115-pound class limit. Castillo replaced WBA champ Alexander Munoz who was supposed to defend his belt against Ishihara but was forced to cancel his participation in his fourth defense due to his knee injury. The Mexican accepted it on a rather short notice just a month before, but is still regarded as a prohibitive favorite. Castillo experienced only a setback when he failed to capture the IBF belt by a controversial sixth round technical draw in Reading, PA in March 2002, though some people saw him ahead on points. Since then he scored four victories straight, including a lopsided decision over Filipino lefty Roger Galicia in a WBA eliminator to decide the mandatory challenger in Kansas City last January.
Ishihara, a graduate of Komazawa Univ., turned professional with an amateur mark of 49-11, 33 stoppages in 1998, when he decisioned then Japanese national champ Nolito Cabato in his sensational pro debut over six rounds. Despite his impressive start of his pro career Ishihara had to go out of his way due to his bitter KO defeats by Celes Kobayashi, future WBA superfly champ, and ex-WBA kingpin Jesus Kiki Rojas. Thanks to well-reputed Korean trainer Waryon Yuh’s tutelage Ishihara technically improved to acquire the OPBF belt via technical nod over Filipino champ Joel Avila in 2002, keeping it twice to his credit. The taller Japanese, with a winning streak in his last nine bouts, will attempt to explode his southpaw left hand, but Castillo is a technically more excellent boxer in terms of the offense and defense. Ishihara, with a suspect chin, will have only a puncher’s chance against the perennial top contender Castillo.
(5-15-04)