Joel Casamayor


Joel Casamayor Johnson is a Cuban American former professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2011. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the WBA super featherweight title from 2000 to 2002; and the WBC, Ring magazine and lineal lightweight titles between 2006 and 2008. As an amateur, Casamayor won a gold medal in the bantamweight division at the 1992 Olympics, after which he defected to the United States on the eve of the 1996 Olympics.

Amateur career

Casamayor's amateur record stands at 363 wins and 30 losses.
He won the NABF Super Featheweight title in 1999 by beating Jose Luis Noyola. Later that year, he won the WBA Super Featherweight title by stopping Jong-Kwon Baek in 5 rounds. In 2002, he lost that title in a controversial unification bout with WBO champion Acelino Freitas. At one point in the fight, Casamayor slipped and the referee ruled it a knockdown. Casamayor also had a point deducted for a late hit. Many believe Casamayor should have won the fight. In 2004, Diego Corrales, whom Casamayor stopped in 2003 for the Vacant IBA super featherweight title, defeated him for the vacant WBO Super Featherweight title via a very close and controversial decision. Casamayor failed to take the WBC Lightweight title from José Luis Castillo later that year because the judges scored what seemed to be a clear win for Casamayor over Castillo. After the disputed loss to Castillo, Casamayor's career appeared to be in a downward spiral and he was set up with undefeated rising prospect Almazbek Raiymkulov in June 2005. In a close, spirited battle the bout ended in a draw, with many believing that Casamayor's best days were behind him.
After two victories against little known opposition, in October 2006, Casamayor yet again took on the popular Diego Corrales, and defeated him by split decision, winning the WBC Lightweight title and recognition as the world lightweight champion by Ring Magazine. He was stripped of the WBC title for signing to fight then WBO lightweight champion Freitas rather than defend against his mandatory challenger, WBC interim champion David Díaz. Although the fight with Freitas never took place, David Díaz was still named WBC champion and Freitas went on to fight WBA champion Juan Díaz, losing via a 9th-round TKO.
After Casamayor threatened the WBC with legal action, he was named as their interim champ. He defended the interim championship as well as The Ring's title against Jose Armando Santa Cruz on November 11, 2007 and won a controversial split decision.
The WBC removed Casamayor's interim title when, instead of fighting a rematch with Santa Cruz, he signed to fight undefeated Michael Katsidis, the WBO interim lightweight titlist. On March 22, 2008, in a great battle, Casamayor became the first man to defeat the Australian Katsidis when he won the fight with a TKO in the 10th round. With the win, Casamayor retained his Ring Magazine world title and added the WBO interim championship to his collection.

Casamayor vs. Marquez

Casamayor was defeated by Juan Manuel Márquez on September 13, 2008. Marquez by Knockout in the 11th round at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise. In the first four rounds of the bout, Marquez continually walked into counter lefts from Casamayor. It took Marquez until the fifth round to be able to find the range with his right hand. By the fifth round, a cut over Casamayor's right eye was opened from a clash of heads. Rounds five, six, seven and eight were rounds where Marquez landed straight punches from the outside, but he was also nailed by Casamayor whenever he lunged forward. Two minutes into the eleventh round, Casamayor was knocked down by a right hand as he pulled away from an intense exchange. Casamayor got up and immediately tried to smother Marquez, but Marquez let his hands go in furious combination. Casamayor swung back, but he went down again with about 7 seconds left in the round. Referee Tony Weeks stepped in and stopped the fight before Casamayor had a chance to stand up again. This caused some anger from fans, however, Casamayor was gracious in defeat and said, "Marquez was the best this night." The official judges had the fight scored 95-95, 95-95, and 97-93 for Marquez.
Casamayor is a unionized boxer, a member of the Joint Association of Boxers.

Comeback

On November 6, 2009, Casamayor beat Jason Davis by unanimous decision.
Casamayor fought Mexican American Robert Guerrero at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, on July 31, 2010. The 10 round bout was an undercard of the Juan Manuel Márquez vs. Juan Díaz II event. The 39-year-old pugilist lost the match by unanimous decision: 98–89, 98–89, 97–90. Guerrero rocked Casamayor throughout the fight, sending him down in the second round. The Cuban got up and looked exhausted after two rounds. He recovered in the next rounds but Guerrero continued to put pressure, landing several combinations and outboxing him. In the last minute of the final round, the Cuban engaged on the offensive, with Guerrero being knocked down for the first time in his professional career.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
45Loss38–6–1 Timothy BradleyTKO8, 2:59Nov 12, 2011 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For WBO junior welterweight title
44Win38–5–1 Manuel LeyvaSD10Mar 11, 2011 Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
43Loss37–5–1 Robert GuerreroUD10Jul 31, 2010 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
42Win37–4–1 Jason DavisUD8Nov 6, 2009 Pearl Concert Theater, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
41Loss36–4–1 Juan Manuel MárquezTKO11, 2:55Sep 13, 2008 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Lost The Ring and lineal lightweight titles
40Win36–3–1 Michael KatsidisTKO10, 0:30Mar 22, 2008 Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California, U.S.Retained The Ring and lineal lightweight titles;
Won WBO interim lightweight title
39Win35–3–1 José Santa CruzSD12Nov 10, 2007 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained The Ring and lineal lightweight titles;
Retained WBC interim lightweight title
38Win34–3–1 Diego CorralesSD12Oct 7, 2006 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant WBC lightweight title
Won The Ring, and lineal lightweight titles
37Win33–3–1 Lamont PearsonTKO9, 0:44Jul 7, 2006 Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
36Win32–3–1 Antonio RamirezKO5, 0:26Feb 24, 2006 Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
35Draw31–3–1 Almazbek Raiymkulov12Jun 11, 2005 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
34Loss31–3 José Luis CastilloSD12Dec 4, 2004 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For WBC, The Ring, and lineal lightweight titles
33Win31–2 Daniel SedaUD10Jul 3, 2004 American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S.
32Loss30–2 Diego Corrales12Mar 6, 2004 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.Lost IBA super featherweight title;
For vacant WBO super featherweight title
31Win30–1 Diego CorralesTKO6, 3:00Oct 4, 2003 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant IBA super featherweight title
30Win29–1 Nate CampbellUD10Jan 25, 2003 Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, U.S.
29Win28–1 Yoni VargasTKO5, 2:28Dec 20, 2002 American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S.
28Win27–1 Juan Jose AriasTKO8, 1:44Jun 8, 2002 The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
27Loss26–1 Acelino FreitasUD12Jan 12, 2002 Cox Pavilion, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBA super featherweight title;
For WBO super featherweight title
26Win26–0 Joe MoralesTKO8, 2:04Sep 29, 2001 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.Retained WBA super featherweight title
25Win25–0 Edwin SantanaUD12May 5, 2001 Silver Star Hotel and Casino, Philadelphia, Mississippi, U.S.Retained WBA super featherweight title
24Win24–0 Robert GarciaTKO9, 1:14Jan 6, 2001 Texas Station, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBA super featherweight title
23Win23–0 Radford BeasleyTKO5, 0:52Sep 16, 2000 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBA super featherweight title
22Win22–0 Bernard HarrisUD10Jul 22, 2000 American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S.
21Win21–0 Baek Jong-kwonTKO5, 2:18May 21, 2000 Harrah's, North Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.Won WBA super featherweight title
20Win20–0 David SantosUD12Nov 20, 1999 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.Retained WBA interim super featherweight title
19Win19–0 Luis Enrique ValenzuelaTKO2, 2:26Aug 21, 1999 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.
18Win18–0 Antonio HernándezUD12Jun 19, 1999 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.Won WBA interim super featherweight title
17Win17–0 Jay CantùKO6, 1:02Apr 18, 1999 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.
16Win16–0 Russell Stoner JonesUD10Mar 14, 1999 Pueblo, Colorado, U.S.
15Win15–0 Jose Luis NoyolaUD12Jan 30, 1999 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.Won vacant NABF super featherweight title
14Win14–0 Raymond FloresTKO2, 2:59Nov 13, 1998 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.
13Win13–0 Eugene JohnsonUD6Sep 26, 1998 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
12Win12–0 Miguel FigueroaTKO2 Aug 22, 1998 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
11Win11–0 Gary TrianoTKO4, 0:59Jul 21, 1998 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10Win10–0 Javier DiazUD8Jan 23, 1998 Order Sons of Italy, Lake Worth, Florida, U.S.
9Win9–0 Julio GervacioTKO2, 1:27Oct 4, 1997 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
8Win8–0 Pat ChavezUD6Aug 19, 1997 Convention Center, Austin, Texas, U.S.
7Win7–0 Salvador MontesTKO2, 2:15Jul 12, 1997 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.
6Win6–0 Raul MunozTKO1, 1:49May 4, 1997 Circus Maximus Showroom, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
5Win5–0 Francisco ValdezTKO3, 1:49Apr 18, 1997 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
4Win4–0 Vidal Padilla1 Jan 18, 1997 San Juan, Puerto Rico
3Win3–0 Roberto SierraKO1, 1:48Dec 14, 1996 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
2Win2–0 Oscar Junior Gonzalez4Nov 1, 1996 Miami, Florida, U.S.
1Win1–0 David Chamendis1, 1:34Sep 20, 1996 James L. Knight Convention Center, Miami, Florida, U.S.