CEBU ? Living up to his nickname, World Boxing Foundation (WBF) superlightweight champion Dindo (Diesel) Casta?ares overcame a sluggish start to halt Australian challenger Steven Marks in the first defense of his crown before 3,000 fans at the Mandaue Sports Complex here Saturday night.
Marks claimed his right shoulder popped out of its socket in the second round and quit on his stool before the fifth round started. Although the tough Melbourne slugger wanted to continue, his trainer Dave Hedgecock refused to allow it and signaled to New Zealand referee Bruce McTavish to stop the scheduled 12-rounder.
Casta?ares was rocked by a series of right straights midway the first round and looked hurt as Marks teed off to get the jump on the hometown favorite who won the WBF title in New Zealand last December.
But as Marks went in for the kill, Casta?ares suddenly unleashed a barrage that stopped the Australian?enjoying a two-inch height advantage?in his tracks. The fighters traded bombs to the crowd?s delight in a fiery finish to the opening canto.
Casta?ares appeared to take control in the second round, landing hard shots to the head and body. Marks, however, stood his ground and battled back like a gladiator fighting for his life. The Australian was outpunched but didn?t give an inch. There was no sign that Marks? shoulder popped, as he claimed, during the round.
Casta?ares shifted his attack to the body in the third stanza. Marks began to wilt. Near the end of the round, Casta?ares dug a left hook to the ribs and Marks went down for a mandatory eight-count. He later insisted it was a slip.
Casta?ares continued to pound Marks? body in the next round. The Australian started to backpedal as Casta?ares stepped up his attack. To his credit, Marks took the punishment without flinching. Casta?ares probably wondered how much more Marks could take before folding up.
Then came the surrender.
“I was never hurt,” said Marks in his dressing room after the bout. “I?d like to have another go at him?anywhere, wherever he wants. My shoulder popped in the second round and it stopped me from going all-out. It?s just one of those things. It happens. I should?ve finished him off in the first round when I hurt him.”
Marks protested the knockdown called by McTavish.
“I didn?t go down from a punch,” he said. “I slipped on a slick portion of the canvas. I got up immediately. I was backing up when I lost my footing.” The replay on TV showed a punch to the body sent Marks reeling back and falling as his knees buckled.
Marks was surprised when told the three judges saw Casta?ares ahead after four rounds. “I thought I was winning the fight,” he said.
At the time of the stoppage, Australian judge Ignatius Missalidis saw it 38-36 while sportswriters Salven Lagumbay and Nick Giongo both scored it 39-36 ? all for Casta?ares.
Hedgecock said it was useless for Marks to go on with the shoulder injury. “I didn?t want to risk permanent damage,” he explained. “Steven wanted to fight on but I called it off.”
Promoter Sammy Gello-ani said WBF president Mick Croucher, who flew in from Melbourne to supervise the contest at ringside, approved a mandatory rematch clause before the fight. Casta?ares will make the second defense of his title against Marks in Australia, possibly in August.
Casta?ares, 24, was paid P150,000 for the fight while Marks earned $2,000.
Casta?ares? manager Tony Aldeguer said he expected more from the champion.
“I felt Dindo could?ve done better,” said Aldeguer. “He got hit a little too much. He?ll have to work on his defense a lot more in the gym. Still, it was a sensational win. Dindo is a crowd pleaser. That?s why the fans always come out to watch him fight. I don?t think they were disappointed.”
Casta?ares admitted he knew nothing about Marks before the fight. He never had a chance to study his style on film. Marks had faced four Filipinos previously, beating Teofilo Tu?acao, Miko Adalim and Dindo Canoy and losing to Rey Pelonia, but none of the fights was available on tape.
At least, Casta?ares will know what to expect in their rematch.
Casta?ares said after his second defense, he plans to marry his girlfriend Tessie, five months pregnant with their first child, before the year ends.
Asked if he?d like to take on International Boxing Federation superlightweight champion Kotsya Tszyu, Casta?ares said he?s not afraid of anyone. Tszyu, a Russian who now lives in Australia as a naturalized citizen, is widely recognized as the world?s best 140-pounder.
Casta?ares said if he trains properly and disciplines himself, he can beat the toughest superlightweights around, including Tsyzu.
Casta?ares said he?s used to hard work in the gym. His trainer Edito Villamor said Casta?ares sparred over 100 rounds with Randy Suico, Bart Abapo, Dondon Sultan and Ramil Castillo to prepare for Marks.
Casta?ares? father Berto, 52, and brother Llobert, 27, are regulars in working his corner with Villamor to make it a family affair.
The win over Marks raised Casta?ares? record to 16-3-1 with 12 KOs. Marks? card dipped to 12-10-2, with six KOs.
