By Rick Reeno

While most casual fight fans are sitting back in anticipation of next week's Trinidad-Wright superfight, many of the hardcore boxing fans have been counting down the days for tonight's fight since last year. After several failed negotiations, injuries and postponements, the fight is finally here. One man will become the king of the lightweight division and bump his name up a few notches in the pound for pound rankings. Both men are predicting a knockout and based upon by their fighting styles, the bout has fight of year written all over it. Jose Luis Castillo and Diego Corrales look to unify the WBC and WBO lightweight titles in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The fight is so close that several scenarios can be made for either fighter to win. Both men have been stopped in lower weight divisions, both men possess power in both hands and neither man will back down. They share two common opponents, Joel Casamayor and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Castillo had a much easier time with both opponents, but styles make fights and most experts see the style of Castillo as being tailor made for Corrales. I have seen some make a case for Castillo based on his performance against Floyd Mayweather Jr., but the same case can be made for Corrales. Castillo was stopped twice by Javier Jauregui, Jauregui was stopped in one round by Acelino Freitas and Freitas was stopped by Diego Corrales. As stated earlier, styles make fights and judging the outcome of a fight based upon past performances against common opponents is not always going to provide a positive indication of who is going to win a fight.

One man will walk away with two titles, a top pound for pound spot on the rankings and a possible meeting with Erik Morales who is planning a move up to 135 pounds.

Round by Round Coverage Has Officially Started.

The first bout coming up pits WBA & IBF featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez against challenger Victor Polo. Footage shown of Jose Luis Castillo and Diego Corrales entering the Mandalay Bay Casino.

Several fighters and writers are giving their opinions on Jose Luis Castillo. Castillo is talking about how the Mexican fans will regard him in the same category as Barrera, Morales and Julio Cesar Chavez.

Showtime is going over the Marquez-Polo matchup. Al Bernstein feels that Polo may give Marquez trouble because of his height and power.

Victor Polo is making his way down to the ring, he lost 4 previous bids for world titles. Three of the defeats came by way of split decision and the 4th was a disputed draw to Scott Harrison.

Juan Manuel Marquez is making his way to the ring, big reaction from the Mexican fans in the audience. The referee for the bout is Richard Steele, still getting boos from the crowd when his name is announced.

Round 1 - Both men are bouncing on their feet, both fighters are cautious so far. Marquez reaches with two rights. Polo is jabbing, Marquez jabbing and lands the right hand. Bodyshot by Marquez, combo by Marquez. Polo goes to the vody, Polo going back to the jab. Marquez with a big combo to the head and body. Marquez with another good combo, finishes with a big right. First round goes to Marquez.

Round 2 - Both guys go back to jabbing, Marquez missed a big left. Good left hook by Marquez. Long right hand lands by Polo, Marquez misses his counter. Big right by Marquez. Jabbing and another long right by Polo, anothe right by Polo. Marquez misses a right and lands a big combo with the left and right hand. Marquez to the body, Polo lands upstairs. Marquez blocking the jab. The two men start to go toe to toe near the end, Marquez getting the better of the exchanges but Polo is landing some good shots. Another round for Marquez.

Round 3 - Right by Maruez, left missed by Polo. Polo jabbing, Marquez goes to the body and Polo lands a good right. Polo is now going to the body with jabs. Marquez slips the left of Polo. Right hand by Polo. Big exchange and Polo getting in a big right. Three punch combo by Marquez. Big bodyshot by Marquez. Polo with the jab, missed the left. Round for Marquez. Crowd is booing, action is pretty slow in this fight.

Round 4 - Both guys come out jabbing at a fast pace. Right by Marquez, big left by Marquez. Marquez comes in and misses the uppercut. Right hand by Marquez. Polo misses a combo and Marquez lands a combo. Short right by Marquez. Polo misses a left. Marquez jabs and lands a good bodyshot. Good right by Polo, lefthook to the body by Marquez. Another round for Marquez.

Round 5 - Both men jabbing, wicked right gets the attention of Polo. Polo clowns at Marquez. Polo with a left, now lands a right. Left by Polo, Marquez with a right. Bodyshot by Polo. Good uppercut by Polo. Polo now jabbing, lands a right to the body. Jab and a right by Polo, right by Marquez. Close round I will give to Polo.

Jim Grey talking to Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Chavez Sr. said that Castillo is in a very tough fight tonight and must take care of business.

Round 6 - Both men start to get into good exchanges. Marquez now throwing a stiff jab. Right by Polo, bodyshot by Polo and a right by Marquez. Left by Polo and another. Marquez missing his counters and lands a right hand down the pipe. Long left lands down the pipe by Polo. Marquez combos to the body. Left by Polo and another big left, Marquez charges and goes to the body. Another close round for Polo.

Round 7 - Good exchange, big right sends Polo flying into the corner and down on his behind. Polo beats the count and Marquez is now picking his spots. Marquez winning an exchange as Polo rushes in. Polo jabbing, lefthook to the body by Marquez. Marquez misses a right. Big combo by Marquez in the final ten seconds. Good two point round for Marquez.

Round 8 - Both guys are jabbing, picking their spots. Polo with uppercuts to the body, Marquez misses the right. Good left by Marquez, two right hands through the guard by Marquez. Combo by Marquez. Polo jabbing, Marquez pins him against the ropes and the two men start throwing punches toe to toe and Marquez getting the better of the exchanges. Another round for Marquez.

Round 9 - Marquez is jabbing and setting up some good exchanges. Both guys are landing some stiff jabs. Left hand by Marquez. Marquez going to the body. Combo ends with Marquez landing a good left. Straight right hand by Marquez. Two big rights hands by Marquez at the bell wobble Polo. Good round for Marquez.

Round 10 - Right hands are getting through the guard by Marquez. Polo is still coming forward, landing some lefts but they are doing no damage. Good uppercut by Marquez. Pace is slowing down again, Polo to the body. Big left and right by Marquez, right by Marquez and finishes with some big bodyshots. Another round for Marquez.

Round 11 - Polo lands a godo straight left, Marquez comes back with a combo. Straight right by Marquez. Combo coming in by Marquez. Big right by Marquez and he moves away before Polo can return fire. Uppercut by Marquez, pushing Polo back with big rights. Marquez with a combo at the end. Another round for Marquez. Polo needs a KO to win, I don't see that happening. Polo's corner telling him that he needs a KO to win or he lost this fight.

Round 12 - They start with a good exchange at the start, Marquez with a good right. Big right by Marquez lands again. Jab to the body by Polo, another exchange and Marquez is still getting the better. Right by Marquez, they trade bodyshots. Polo jabbing, they trade some punches. Welt around the right eye of Marquez. Big exchange and Marquez seems to be trying to get a KO. Big lefthook by Marquez rocks Marquez, now he is landing some big punches against the ropes on Polo. Another round for Marquez and an easy title defense win for the champion. Official scores are coming up.

Official scores are 118-109, 119-109 and 120-107 for the winner and still champion, Juan Manuel Marquez. The main event is coming up next.

Marquez said that he wants to move up to 130 pounds and chase the big fights with Morales, Pacquiao and Barrera, but would also be interested in staying at 126 pounds and fighting the other champions to unify all the titles.

Showtime showing a promo now for Kostya Tszyu vs. Ricky Hatton. Both fighters giving their take on the fight.

Showtime now interviewing Joe Goossen about how it feels about working with all of these top lightweight fighters like Joel Casamayor and Diego Corrales.

Jose Luis Castillo is making his way down to the ring first, Julio Cesar Chavez is coming to the ring with Castillo. Mexican fans in the crowd are going wild.

Diego Corrales is now coming to the ring to a mix of cheers and boos.

James Toney and Winky Wright shown sitting next to eachother and pumped for the fight.

Both men weighed in as welterweights in the back, Castillo is 146 pounds tonight and Corrales is 147 pounds.

The referee is Tony Weeks. The crowd seems very pumped up for this fight as Jimmy Lennon Jr. is doing the intros for both men. Castillo announced in to a huge mix of cheers and boos. Castillo being announced in to big a amount of cheers.

Round 1 - Here we go. Corrales starts with a stuff jab. They tie up, Castillo looking to go to the body. The two men are trading hooks, jabbing to the head and body. They are both hitting and holding on the inside. Weeks warning Castillo for hitting and holding. Castillo with a triple left hook, uppercuts by Castillo, Corrales goes upstairs and lands to the body. They are trading toe to toe on the inside to the body. Corrales with a huge triple left hook and now they go toe to toe with big shots up and down. Crowd is on their feet. Castillo getting a very close first round.

Round 2 - They tie up at the start, ref breaks them. Both men are fighting on the inside and are targeting the body. Castillo ripping hooks to the body and head, huge uppercut by Castillo, lefthook by Corrales. Corrales and Castillo still throwing huge shots from close range to the body and head. Corrales with a big hook and Castillo counters with a big right. Lefthooks by Corrales, huge combo wobbles Castillo. Castillo with a big bodyshot and Corrales combos. Huge exchange at the bell and Corrales wobbles Castillo. What a fight so far. Corrales winning the second round.

Round 3 - Corrales jumping on Castillo and goes back to the inside. Corrales landing to the head and Castillo is going back to the body. Both guys fighting a tough inside fight, hook by Corrales. Huge chant by the crowd for Castillo. Corrales going up and downstairs, Csatillo digs to the body. Lefthook by Corrales, Cstillo with a big uppercut and another. Right ahnd by Castillo, Combo by Corrales, Castillo with another right, uppercut by Castillo and now he is digging to the body. They trade hooks, big left hook by Corrales and another. Castillo win a huge combo at the end and having his way. Big round for Castillo. Small cut above the right eye of Corrales.

Round 4 - Corrales misses a big hook at the start. Corrales going back to the head and body. Now Corrales is jabbing with Castillo. Now they are back on the inside. Huge lefthook by Corrales and Castillo comes back with a combo. They are trading punches on the inside and Corrales is getting the better of the exchanges. Four punch combo by Corrales, Castillo with a right. Left stuns Corrales, Castillo with another left and an uppercut. Big right by Corrales, Castillo and Corrales trading bodyshots. Blood around the left eye of Castillo, both fighters are now cut. They are still going toe to toe on the inside, Castillo with a left. Very close round goes to Castillo.

Round 5 - Weeks calling time for the Castillo corner to wipe the grease off the face of Castillo. They are now jabbing. Castillo stumbles and Corrales lands a right. Corrales now shooting the jab. They trade big bodyshots on the inside and now go to exchanging shots to the head. Corrales walks into a right hand. Castillo chant begins again. They go back to trading on the inside. Castillo digging to the body. Combo by Castillo. Castillo's eye is bleeding. Corrales now has Castillo pinned against the ropes and is doing damage, Castillo with an uppercut and another. Close round for Corrales.

Round 6 - They right back to the inside and start trading. The cut on Castillo was ruled as a result of a clash of heads, if the fight is stopped because of the cut it goes to the scorecards. Corrales landing a good right on the inside, Castillo going to the body and lands the uppercut. Corrales to the head, Castillo to the body. Both men trading hooks on the inside, left hook by Corrales and Castillo keeps coming. They are now trading some big shots, Corrales wobbles and tells Castillo to "come on". Castillo comes with a combo and wobbles Corrales again. Castillo with a big round, Goossen telling Corrales to box.

Round 7 - They start trading hooks, bodyshot by Castillo. Combo by Corrales. Corrales with a welts under both eyes. Castillo now landing some hooks and Corrales lands a big bomb and follows with a combo. They are trading on the inside, Castillo with a big hook, Corrales with a monster right hand and Castillo keeps coming. Five punch combo by Corrales. Left eye of Corrales is really swollen. Castillo was just rocked bad by a left hand of Corrales, the knees shook and Castillo almost got dropped for the first time in his career. Round for Corrales.

Round 8 - Corrales jumps on Castiloo with big punches, Castillo countering back and they trade on the inside. Combo wobbles Castillo. Castillo to the body, huge combo wobbles Castillo again. Corrales eats a left and keeps on coming with another combo. They are now trading punches on the inside, lefthook by Corrales stumbles Castillo. Castillo with a big right. Castillo rocks Corrales and jumps on him, Corrales loses his mouthpiece and wobbles Castillo with a left hand. Time called to get the mouthpiece back in. Castillo with a left. Round for Castillo. This fight has already surpased Morales-Pacquiao as fight of the year.

Round 9 - They trade on the inside. The left eye of Corrales seems like it is closing shut. Corrales landing to the head, Castillo warned for a lowblow. Castillo with a big combo. Left cross by Castillo and another low blow by Castillo gets another warning. Series of rights stumble Castillo back, the trade right hands and Castillo going back to the body. Big right stumbles Castillo again. Castillo with a left. Huge right at the bell by Corrales. Close round for Corrales.

Round 10 - These last three rounds are crucial for both men. Very close fight and rounds are very close, most could go either way. Corrales jabbing, they trade bodyshots. Lefthook by Castillo drops Corrales bad, his mouthpiece falls out. Time to get the mouthpiece back in. Castillo jumps on Corrales and drops him again. Corrales takes out the mouthpice and Weeks takes a point away for taking the mouthpiece out. Straight right hand just rocked Castillo and Castillo is badly hurt. Corrales beating the hell out of Castillo against the ropes. Castillo out on his feet, Weeks stops the fight. Corrales with a huge TKO victory. One of the greatest fights and greatest rounds I have ever seen as a fight fan 

Castillo said that he was hurt, but should of been given a chance to continue. He said that he thought that he would of stopped Corrales in the 10th round when he knocked him down twice.