madjack
12-04-2003, 01:34 AM
Castro: I'll KO Briggs inside 5
By Dale Paget
April 11, 2003
COLOURFUL Argentinian Jorge Castro predicts he'll end Paul Briggs' fast track to a world light heavyweight boxing title in the first five rounds of Sunday's eliminator fight on the Gold Coast.
The bold forecast capped a week of fiery verbal jabs between the tough-as-nails Castro, 35, and the talented Gold Coast based Briggs, 25.
"If I don't knock him out inside the fifth round then I am going to have to hurt him and I don't want hurt him," Castro said today.
"I feel very strong and I have the experience."
Castro, who enjoys legendary status in his home town of Buenos Aires, is ranked No.5 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and is one of the most accomplished boxers ever produced by South America.
With Castro's impressive record of 123 wins, 85 knock outs and eight defeats, Briggs admits choosing Castro because it was the fastest path to a world title.
"I've picked the biggest hurdle but if I beat Jorge Castro there is no one else in the division that is going to get near me," said Briggs.
"You are going to see a war."
The winner on Sunday will fight for the WBC light heavyweight crown vacated by WBA heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jnr. The most likely opponent would be world No.3 Clinton Woods from England.
Briggs with 19 wins, 16 knock outs and one loss also believes the fight will end with just one man standing.
"There is no way in hell Jorge Castro is going to sit down. There is no way he is going to dog it. You could chop both his legs off and he will crawl across the ring and try to fight you," said Briggs.
"I'm the same so believe me someone is going to get knocked out and it isn't going to be me."
Castro's camp has made a special application to the WBC to allow a 56-year-old Spanish speaking housewife from Brisbane to join his corner on Sunday as an interpreter.
Castro claims his only career loss inside the distance - to WBC cruiserweight champion Juana Carlos Gomez in Germany - was caused when a referee didn't understand Spanish and mistakenly ended the fight.
The quality undercard at Carrara Stadium on Sunday features Simon Patterson v Glen Kelly (IBF Pan Pacific and Ocean Pacific Boxing Federation cruiserweight titles), Jason de Lisle v Paul Smallman (Australian light heavyweight title), Wayne Parr v Mike Cope (middleweight), Steven Ng v Paul Lee (junior middleweight) and Ty Allen v Paul Tapley (welterweight).
By Dale Paget
April 11, 2003
COLOURFUL Argentinian Jorge Castro predicts he'll end Paul Briggs' fast track to a world light heavyweight boxing title in the first five rounds of Sunday's eliminator fight on the Gold Coast.
The bold forecast capped a week of fiery verbal jabs between the tough-as-nails Castro, 35, and the talented Gold Coast based Briggs, 25.
"If I don't knock him out inside the fifth round then I am going to have to hurt him and I don't want hurt him," Castro said today.
"I feel very strong and I have the experience."
Castro, who enjoys legendary status in his home town of Buenos Aires, is ranked No.5 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and is one of the most accomplished boxers ever produced by South America.
With Castro's impressive record of 123 wins, 85 knock outs and eight defeats, Briggs admits choosing Castro because it was the fastest path to a world title.
"I've picked the biggest hurdle but if I beat Jorge Castro there is no one else in the division that is going to get near me," said Briggs.
"You are going to see a war."
The winner on Sunday will fight for the WBC light heavyweight crown vacated by WBA heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jnr. The most likely opponent would be world No.3 Clinton Woods from England.
Briggs with 19 wins, 16 knock outs and one loss also believes the fight will end with just one man standing.
"There is no way in hell Jorge Castro is going to sit down. There is no way he is going to dog it. You could chop both his legs off and he will crawl across the ring and try to fight you," said Briggs.
"I'm the same so believe me someone is going to get knocked out and it isn't going to be me."
Castro's camp has made a special application to the WBC to allow a 56-year-old Spanish speaking housewife from Brisbane to join his corner on Sunday as an interpreter.
Castro claims his only career loss inside the distance - to WBC cruiserweight champion Juana Carlos Gomez in Germany - was caused when a referee didn't understand Spanish and mistakenly ended the fight.
The quality undercard at Carrara Stadium on Sunday features Simon Patterson v Glen Kelly (IBF Pan Pacific and Ocean Pacific Boxing Federation cruiserweight titles), Jason de Lisle v Paul Smallman (Australian light heavyweight title), Wayne Parr v Mike Cope (middleweight), Steven Ng v Paul Lee (junior middleweight) and Ty Allen v Paul Tapley (welterweight).