The War To Settle The Score - An Epic Disappointment

If someone offered you nearly one million dollars, and all you had to do was weigh a certain amount on a specific date (which you were able to do a year ago), do you think you would make that weight?

Jose Luis Castillo was presented with an offer just like this when he signed on for the rubber match against WBC-WBO Lightweight Champ Diego Corrales. But because Castillo failed to make the 135lb weight limit, the June 3rd fight in Las Vegas was canceled.

For weeks, Jose Luis Castillo had been training for this fight, and because he was unable to make weight the second time these two great boxers met, it was a widely held belief that there would be no way he could fail at the scale again for this third and final go-round. But that's exactly what happened the day before the fight! I, like so many others in the room, was shocked. I could not believe that 4½ lbs meant the cancellation of a fight I'd been looking forward to for months. This was supposed to be the "War to Settle the Score;" instead it was an epic disappointment. Click here to watch my footage of this unprecedented weigh-in!

I felt terrible for Diego Corrales, who busted his butt to make 135 lbs (he's 5'10 ½" tall, BTW. Castillo is 5'8".) and got absolutely nothing for his efforts. The expression on his face was unforgettable as it articulated so many feelings at once: anger, hurt, frustration and disappointment to name just a few. Even with all that emotion, the champ acted like a true professional throughout the ordeal. If you'd like to see the interview I did with Diego in April, as training was just getting underway, you can see it by clicking here.

Jose Luis Castillo is an exciting and powerful fighter who has not been shy about vocalizing his desires to move up to a heavier weight class. The Diego Corrales bout was supposed to be his last as a lightweight, but it appears as though his body has already settled in as a junior welterweight. It remains to be seen if Castillo will suffer any suspensions or additional fines or lawsuits. Let's hope he and his camp get back on track after this debacle in Las Vegas.

2006-04: Diego Corrales, his wife Michelle
and daughter Daylia.

IBF Flyweight Championship Fight: Darchinyan vs. Maldonado

That's not to say that the weekend was a total bust, because IBF Flyweight Champ Vic Darchinyan rose to the main event occasion with his 8th round TKO of Luis Maldonado. Both fighters were undefeated when they entered the ring, but the Australian "Lord of the Flys" retained his belt after wearing down the challenger with a series of brutal blows. How Luis Maldonado lasted as long as he did I'll never know. That guy can take a punch! Obviously there's a lot of heart in him. That Saturday night there just wasn't enough strength to keep the aggressive Darchinyan at bay.

TV

Sitting ringside at the Darchinyan fight was part of the cast of Showtime's new drama, Brotherhood. Jason Clarke, Kevin Chapman and Ethan Embry joined me before the fight to talk about their new show which premiers July 8th.

It's essentially the story of two brothers- one "good" and one "bad," and the choices they make as they grapple with the complexities of Rhode Island politics, the Irish mob and their family. I've already seen half of the season and I'm definitely a fan of the show. And that's not just because I work for Showtime! Mind you, I have had to look away from the screen a few times as Brotherhood is not for the squeamish. (And this is coming from a woman who loves boxing!) So if you are missing The Sopranos, be sure to give this new show a try this summer.

MUSIC

As promised in last month's newsletter I'm all over the new Chili Peppers album. But right there getting equal airplay in my house is Powder Burns, the latest from The Twilight Singers- the band that Afghan Whigs frontman Greg Dulli started a few years ago.

The lead track, "Get Ready" is absolutely rock and roll from the first note in. And catchy as all hell! They are currently on tour-I've got my tickets- and you would be hard pressed to find a more charismatic singer these days. I've seen Dulli with both of his bands and I think he's just awesome. If you watch my favorite summertime show Rescue Me, you would have heard one of the songs off the album last week. If you don't watch Rescue Me, you are missing one of the only shows that makes me laugh out loud. Denis Leary and the guys in the firehouse have so much chemistry on-screen that this show never lets me down. It's dramatic and very funny at times, and they have great music to boot. What's not to love?

Also as promised, another photo from the vault. I had a request for a Trent Reznor picture- so here it is. Pretty Hate Machine came out in 1989, and this picture was taken when Trent and Richard Patrick came to my radio station. I had picked them up at their hotel and we drove around swapping embarrassing stories on the way to the interview. I don't remember everything that was said, but I do remember liking both of them and having a few laughs!

1989 WBRU: Trent Reznor and Richard Patrick

I'M PREGNANT!

Well, I've saved the big news for last this month. I'll be taking some time off from Showtime due to the goings-on in my midsection. If you haven't noticed, my husband and I are expecting our first child next month. So it will be less boxing and more wrestling as I try to master the art of diapering! Wish us luck!