Champion once again! De La Hoya defeat Castillejo for the WBC welterweight title

Related Stories

Champion once again! De La Hoya pounds Castillejo for the WBC welterweight title.

June 23, 2001 -- "The Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya (34-2, 27 KOs) cruised to a unanimous decision last night when he pounded former champion Javier Castillejo for 12 rounds to win the WBC Super Welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

It was target practice for the Mexican-American, De La Hoya as Castillejo was just to slow and not strong enough to stop the surging, more aggressive De La Hoya.

This win puts De La Hoya back in the mix for a big money fight with Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley or Fernando Vargas.

"It doesn't matter which one. Whoever's available," said De La Hoya after the fight.

This was De La Hoya's first fight at 154 pounds and his fifth title in as many weight classes. A feat that has only been accomplished by boxing legends Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas
Hearns.

De La Hoya earned $3 million for the fight, to $800,000 for Castillejo, who was fighting in the United States for the first time.

Round by Round coverage:

Round One:

De La Hoya lands several jabs and wobbles Castillejo within 2:30 of the first round. De La Hoya lands some crisp jabs, Castillejo counters by landing several good body shots. De La Hoya lands a left jab combination, then follows with a right hand which stuns Castillejo. Castillejo wobbles but is still on his feet. De La Hoya ends the round with a good combination. Castillejo right eye is already swollen.

Round Two:

De La Hoya lands several straight left jabs. Castillejo throws a combination, followed by a right hand which lands on the head of De La Hoya. De La Hoya lands a left hook to the body of Castillejo. De La Hoya throws several combinations to back up Castillejo. Castillejo answers by landing a solid right to the jaw of De La Hoya.

Round Three:

Castillejo starts the round by throwing a lot of jabs. Castillejo seems more aggressive and hits De La Hoya with a good uppercut. De La Hoya lands a combination to the body. Castillejo returns with good body shots of his own and ducks from several left jabs from De La Hoya. This was Castillejo's best round.

Round Four:

The crowd is chanting Oscar. Oscar, Oscar. Castillejo seems more aggresive and is throwing more punches. De La Hoya lands a hard right to the Castillejo's head follow by two body shots which slows down Castillejo. De La Hoya's speed is too much for Castillejo as his combinations are continuing to land. De La Hoya finishes the round strong by landing a right hand to Castillejo. Castillejo's right eye continues to swell. De La Hoya is in total control.

Round Five:

Combination lands for De La Hoya. Castillejo lands a left hook which shakes De La Hoya, but De La Hoya shakes it off. More combinations lands by De La Hoya and he finishes the round by landing a solid right hand.

Round Six:

De La Hoya lands a combination to the body and lands a straight jab to the head of Castillejo. Castillejo lands a good combination to the head of De La Hoya, but De La Hoya is still the aggressor. Castillejo lands a solid right hand to the head of De La Hoya. De La Hoya retaliates by landing a flurry of punches towards the end of the round.

Round Seven:

De La Hoya lands a solid combination which backs up Castillejo to the ropes. Castillejo fights back by landing a left hook of his own but is not enough to stop De La Hoya. A straight right hand backs up Castillejo once again. De La Hoya continues to be the aggressor. Castillejo ducks and moves away from several hard shots from De La Hoya but De La Hoya manages to land a right hand flush to the head of his opponent.

Round Eight:

Right hand continues to land for De La Hoya. Not many punches are being thrown by Castillejo. Castillejo's nose begins to bleed from a flurry of punches thrown by De La Hoya. Good body shots lands for De La Hoya and Castillejo continues to back up. De La Hoya is in total control of the fight.

Round Nine:

Straight right hand lands again for De La Hoya -- it seems like he could land that punch at will. Body shots land for De La Hoya. Castillejo is hurt by a hard combination thrown by De La Hoya. Castillejo returns with several good jabs and a uppercut but it seems that Castillejo cannot hurt De La Hoya. Castillejo's face looks battered -- it's target practice for De La Hoya.

Round Ten:

Castillejo comes out more aggressive. A solid Combination lands for Castillejo which makes De La Hoya back up. Two jabs land for De La Hoya but it doesn't wobble Castillejo. Right/Left lands for De La Hoya backing up Castillejo. Castilliejo lands a right and then a left jab. Castillejo ducks several blows by De La Hoya and De La Hoya looks angered.

Round Eleven:

Left jab lands for De La Hoya. Castillejo is hit by a head butt. De La Hoya continues to land left jab and combination but Castillejo keeps coming. Castillejo lands a left jab. De La Hoya throws a left-right-left combination which wobbles Castillejo on the ropes. Castillejo shakes his head and continues to fight. Slight welt under the left eye of De La Hoya.

Round Twelve:

De La Hoya is on his toes. Combination lands for Castillejo but De La Hoya returns with a right hand. De La Hoya lands a combination to the head but Castillejo returns with a left. Both men are slugging it out in the middle of the round. De La Hoya lands a devestaining left-right-left combination which puts Castillejo goes down for the first time in the fight in the closing seconds of the round. Castillejo gets back up and the bell rings to end the fight.

All three judges scored it 119-108 for the new WBC Super Welterweight champion, Oscar De La Hoya.