Now that Castillo is done, where does he rank?

[sweet_scientist]

This is pretty much the end for Jose Luis Castillo. He'll probably continue fighting for the money but I don't see him ever beating anyone of note again.

Assuming there's not another chapter to write in his book, where will he be placed?

I know he probably doesn't have an all time p4p standing, but let's talk lightweights. How good of a lightweight was he? Does he crack top 20, 30, 40, 50, not even, amongst the lightweights?

[grumpy]

good question, it's kind of like ranking dwight muhammad quai.

[Sizzle]

Personally, I rank him ahead of Corrales.

I think he was a great lightweight, and had I been in charge of the "Chico" matchup I'd have stopped it earlier - But full credit to Corrales for showing the heart of a warrior and winning the bout.

Realistically, the only fighter he failed to beat in his prime (at lightweight) was Mayweather - I don't buy the business that he won the first fight, but he did trouble him. He has wins over Corrales (tainted admittedly), Diaz, Casamayor, Lazcano, Johnston among other credible competitors, and aside from Mayweather is the greatest lightweight of his time, in my opinion anyway.

His fight with Hatton at 140lbs aside, he's never been blown away in a matchup, I think he deserves to be remembered as a top20 lightweight.

[jyuza]

Pretty hard to rank him.

I think he deserved the first Mayweather fight but definitely lost the second one. He beat Corrales, Casamayor, Diaz... ain't that bad when we look at it.

Lightweight division is probably the most skilled division so far (IMO), welterweight comes after. So right now I would say he is top 30/35. I need to look after it.

[achillesthegreat]

Top 30 for sure at the moment. Let's let things simmer for a while.

Corrales, Casamayor and Mayweather are quality fighters. Johnston, Bazan, Lazcano, Diaz are also good to excellent fighters.

I have him as technically undefeated at 135. I've got him 1-1 with Floyd and Corrales.

I think he is a quality fighter and part of a tremendous era. Mayweather, Corrales, Freitas, Casamayor and Castillo were a classy little fivesome. They all lost and beat each other. Freitas has broken away in that sense but it appears Diaz could do some big things for that to eventually not matter.

Many of the guys he beat are still making noise. Casa is the best 135 pound fighter in the world, Diaz beat a quality Chavez and Mayweather continues to add to his greatness.

[achillesthegreat]

Pretty hard to rank him.

I think he deserved the first Mayweather fight but definitely lost the second one. He beat Corrales, Casamayor, Diaz... ain't that bad when we look at it.

Lightweight division is probably the most skilled division so far (IMO), welterweight comes after. So right now I would say he is top 30/35. I need to look after it.
Yeah, it's no shame if when all is said and done he ranks top 30. At 135 that is a very impressive feat.

[dmt]

Top 30 for sure at the moment. Let's let things simmer for a while.

Corrales, Casamayor and Mayweather are quality fighters. Johnston, Bazan, Lazcano, Diaz are also good to excellent fighters.

I have him as technically undefeated at 135. I've got him 1-1 with Floyd and Corrales.

I think he is a quality fighter and part of a tremendous era. Mayweather, Corrales, Freitas, Casamayor and Castillo were a classy little fivesome. They all lost and beat each other. Freitas has broken away in that sense but it appears Diaz could do some big things for that to eventually not matter.

Many of the guys he beat are still making noise. Casa is the best 135 pound fighter in the world, Diaz beat a quality Chavez and Mayweather continues to add to his greatness.good post, Personally i'd have him somewhere in the top 20 lightweights atg

[Mantequilla]

Very solid workmanlike fighter that has been one of the best fighters in the division for years without ever really looking a great imo.

He arguably didn't deserve the decision against Johnston in either fight and that hurts him as Stevie is the best fighter he fought other than Mayweather.

Wouldn't be out of place between 25 to 30 i suppose if you happen to think highly of him.Also wouldn't be a disgrace to leave him out entirely of a top 35.

Lightweight really is deep.Castillo was a very good fighter...there have been a great many of those in the division.

[achillesthegreat]

I have to disagree. He sure looked great v Mayweather and Corrales.

Johnston is not better, at least on paper, than Corrales or Casamayor.

[achillesthegreat]

good post, Personally i'd have him somewhere in the top 20 lightweights atg
He could end up that high. It's nice to see he is getting credit.

I hate it when old school/ quality fighters in the modern era don't get credit.

I accept the classics sections opinions on things. The GF disgusts me.

[Dempsey1238]

I rank him about the top 40 perhaps. No less than 51. As said before the lightweights is pretty deep. I belive 20 is a bit high.

[Mantequilla]

I have to disagree. He sure looked great v Mayweather and Corrales.

Johnston is not better, at least on paper, than Corrales or Casamayor.

I think he was certainly better than Corrales(not a big fan of Chico) and Casamayor was past his prime and very small compared to Castillo, who didn't look too good in taht fight.

[Bad_Intentions]

not even in my top 50.

[la-califa]

I think history will be kind to Castillo. He won some big fights in his time. But I think he will not be as much concerned about his place in Boxing Championship History, as much as in Mexican Champion history. But for now he will be remembered as the only man to defeat F. Mayweather. (And he Did).

[Jbuz]

Gotta wait a few years to see what his opponents do.

[Lostmykeys]

not even in my top 50.

Then name 50 lightweights better than him.

[achillesthegreat]

I think he was certainly better than Corrales(not a big fan of Chico) and Casamayor was past his prime and very small compared to Castillo, who didn't look too good in taht fight.
You got to go by what a guy did. Chico has wins over Garcia when he was streaking, Casa when he was on top form and other good wins like Gainer. That's at 130. Not to mention excellent wins in Freitas and Castillo.

Casa was not past his prime when Castillo fought him.

Casa, Castillo, Freitas, Corrales and Floyd all had close fights against each other. They were all excellent fighters.

Castillos close fights with Johnston are indictive of the what Johnston could do. Unfortunately Johnston didn't do what he could do on paper. I consider Johnston an excellent fighter.

Some consider him undefeated until he fought Lazcano. They don't think he lost to Bazan or Castillo.

[sweet_scientist]

Castillo imo has been a bordrline great. He has put in very consistent, (albeit not outstanding) perfromances, never being outclassed despite facing a high level of opposition.



I have him ranked 46th all time as a lightweight.



The lightweights go deeper than any division in the sport, and the ranking I have for him is not an insult imo. At the same time he COULD be ranked as high as 30 without it being in any way absurd, as there is not much the separates guys in the 30-50 bracket.


One of the deciding factors in ranking him is deciding how his close fights against Mayweather, Johnston, Casamayor and Lazcano went. Other than both Johnston fights, which I had Stevie edging, I think he beat the others. Although admittedly, all those close bouts could have gone either way.

Here's my list:

1. Roberto Duran
2. Benny Leonard
3. Henry Armstrong
4. Joe Gans
5. Pernell Whitaker
6. Ike Williams
7. Julio Cesar Chavez
8. Barney Ross
9. Tony Canzoneri
10. Carlos Ortiz
11. Alexis Arguello
12. Jack Blackburn
13. Lew Tendler
14. Lou Ambers
15. Dave Holly
16. Esteban DeJesus
17. Beau Jack
18. Bob Montgomery
19. Ken Buchanan
20. Jack McAuliffe
21. Sammy Mandell
22. Jimmy Carter
23. Freddie Welsh
24. Willie Ritchie
25. Oscar De la Hoya
26. Ismael Laguna
27. Joe Brown
28. Shane Mosley
29. Floyd Mayweather
30. Battling Nelson
31. Wes Ramey
32. Willie Joyce
33. Lew Jenkins
34. Ad Wolgast
35. George Lavinge
36. Billy Petrolle
37. Sammy Angott
38. Hector Camacho
39. Jimmy Britt
40. Rocky Kansas
41. Mando Ramos
42. Ray Mancini
43. Jose Luis Ramirez
44. Edwin Rosario
45. Ritchie Mitchell

46. Jose Luis Castillo
47. Jim Watt
48. Stevie Johnston

(That's excluding Napoles, Pryor, Locche, Loi, McFarland and Griffo who I rate at different weights.)

[sweet_scientist]

Some consider him undefeated until he fought Lazcano. They don't think he lost to Bazan or Castillo.

I'm one of the some :good