Long left out of the conversation when it comes to the best fighters of this era, linear lightweight champion Joel Casamayor was all but written off after what should have been a loss to Jose Armando Santa Cruz in November of 2007.
Casamayor was listless, inaccurate, and just a step behind all night at New York?s Madison Square Garden, and even fans of the Cuba native were willing to admit that it was about to be the first clear-cut loss of a pro career that began in 2006. But ironically, the fight he should have lost became a split decision win. And though the fans booed and members of the media were outraged, Casamayor would live to fight another day?and that?s all he needed.
?I’m an all-time fighter; I stand up in big fights,? said Casamayor on a recent media teleconference. ?Sometimes I’m not an undercard fighter. I hadn’t fought in a year and I was a little rusty (against Santa Cruz). I heard all the whispers coming from the outside, but as a fighter you know what you got inside and your heart doesn’t lie.?
Four months later, he was back, set up as the fall guy for the new Arturo Gatti ? Australia?s Michael Katsidis. No way could his 30-something legs hold off the rampaging Katsidis for 12 rounds. Nearly ten rounds, three knockdowns and a rise from the mat himself later, Casamayor was victorious and back on track for what may be the biggest fight of his career ? this Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena against Juan Manuel Marquez.
?I’m very, very happy,? he said. ?I’m like a little kid in a candy shop, I’m very, very happy and I’m honored to be fighting with the great Mexican fighter. I thought it was going to be (Marco Antonio) Barrera, but I got Juan Manuel Marquez, who could be the next Barrera for Mexico. Everyone knows what kind of a fighter he is. And basically everyone knows who I am. So, September 13 is going to be a great day for me, because I’ve been waiting for this shot my whole life. And I’m going to prove it to the world come September 13.?
The Ring magazine belt and recognition as the linear 135-pound champion are nominally on the line this weekend, but what?s truly at stake for Casamayor is something more important – legacy and a possible Hall of Fame berth. In this scribe?s eyes, that call is a no-brainer, even without bringing in the fact that if fighters like Jim Braddock, Barry McGuigan, and Ken Norton are in Canastota, then ?El Cepillo? is a shoo-in. But to others, Casamayor?s name is usually in the top three when the topic of ?fighters on the fence for the Hall of Fame? is brought up.
And if you look at his record, Casamayor?s detractors have a case.
One of Cuba?s greatest amateurs, the 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist turned pro in 1996 after defecting to the United States, and quickly roared through the first five years of his career, eventually winning the WBA super featherweight crown, which he defended six times.
Then it gets interesting. Casamayor?s first major bout is a unification contest against then-unbeaten Acelino Freitas. The Cuban loses two points, one for a questionable knockdown, the other for a foul, and winds up losing by two points on each judge?s scorecard. Many still believe he won the fight.
2003 is arguably his greatest year as a pro, as he beats then-unbeaten future champion Nate Campbell and stops Diego Corrales. But in 2004 he hits the brakes again with disputed losses to Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo. After another controversial outcome, a draw with Kid Diamond to kick off 2005, Casamayor?s record reads 31-3-1, but many observers believe that it should have read 35-0.
These controversial verdicts have painted Casamayor as a fighter who can?t win the big one (outside of his two wins over Corrales). If the breaks had gone his way, there would be no disputing where he would be remembered when his career is over. But with those three losses and one draw, along with some questionable in the ring tactics and a sometimes surly demeanor when it comes to his opponents, Casamayor may end up being boxing?s equivalent of Jim Rice, a helluva ballplayer who deserves induction but didn?t kiss the right behinds to get in. Yet the cool Cuban is apparently unbothered by what happens outside the ring.
?There’s nothing to worry about,? said Casamayor. ?The only thing you got to do is just do your business in the ring. I mean, at this stage of my career, at 37 years old, the only thing you got to do is just get into the ring and mind your own business. I mean you have to fight, that’s it.?
But 37 is old in lightweight years, which means that there will only be a precious few big fights left for Casamayor, and that?s assuming he wins on Saturday night. He believes he?ll be around for a while.
?I still feel young and only God knows that time,? said Casamayor when asked how long he has left in the fight game. ?I would like to stay around a couple more years, two years, three years, get five big fights in and just retire like all great champions do, winning. I’m a winner.?
He?ll have to prove it against Marquez. And not only that he can do enough to win, but that he can do enough to leave no doubt in the mind of anyone, especially the three judges at ringside. It will not be easy against Marquez, but then again, people have been writing Joel Casamayor off for years.
?I’m a great fighter and great fighters stand up in great fights,? he said. ?And that’s why I needed a great fight to stand up. I showed everybody what I had against Katsidis and now I’m going to show everybody that I’m still the best at 37 years old, on September 13.?
