In stark contrast to their first meeting in May, the October 8 rematch between Diego "Chico" Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo for the world lightweight championship is shaping up as a box office bonanza.
Co-promoter Bob Arum, chief of Top Rank Inc., said ticket sales have already reached $3.8 million for Corrales-Castillo II and that a sellout of up to 17,500 seats is expected for the fight card at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The first fight between the two generated some buzz among boxing insiders and hard-core fans of the sport in the days leading to the opening bell. It failed to capture the imagination of the general public, however, and drew an announced crowd of just 5,168 to the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 7.
When the two 135-pounders put on an unforgettable show in the ring that night, they all but ensured that a rematch would likely be the most highly hyped and anticipated bout of the year.
The first nine rounds alone, taut and rugged, would have made Corrales-Castillo I a leading contender for fight of the year. The events of the 10th round elevated the fight to near-mythic status, though, as Corrales got up from the canvas after two knockdowns to rally and knock Castillo out cold against the ropes, scoring a stunning TKO victory.
Co-promoter Gary Shaw called it "the fight of the year, next year, and the next decade." And the desire of boxing fans to witness a reprise is driving ticket sales for the rematch at an "extraordinary" pace, according to Top Rank's Lee Samuels. More>>>
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posted by ADMIN @ Thursday, August 25, 2005
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