For all of the superlatives indelibly written to describe their first meeting -- "the wildest," "the greatest," "the most epic" fight in boxing history -- Jose Luis Castillo has this to say about the May 7 slugfest at Mandalay Bay in which his lightweight world championship was suddenly and stunningly taken by twice-down-but-not-out challenger Diego Corrales:

It ranks "no higher than three other" fights he's had in his busy 15-year professional career.

Whoa!

That may be hard to believe for those who recall the bell-to-bell ferocity with which Castillo and Corrales brought it that night just five months ago. Or, more specifically, in that decisive 10th round, when the champion dropped Corrales twice in a 26-second span before the challenger rose, regained his senses and then, with sweeping punches raining in from left field and right field, pummeled Castillo against the ropes before referee Tony Weeks stepped in and stopped it.

The blush had not faded from the new champion's swollen cheeks, the dazed look had yet to clear from the eyes of the former title holder before ringside journalists were using words and phrases not penned since the ring wars of Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Marvelous Marvin Hagler in the 1980s.

Still, for as memorable as that first fight was -- and for as thrilling as Saturday night's WBC-WBO title rematch at the Thomas & Mack Center promises to be -- the deposed champion says he's been involved in others just as wild and warlike.

"That fight was real good. I know how tough the fight was," the Mexican-born Castillo, speaking Wednesday through interpreter Ricardo Jimenez of promoter Top Rank Inc., said of his first meeting with Corrales. "But I don't know if you could put it in the all-time greats."

He talks from personal experience, not from the pages of The Ring Record Book.

Castillo, 52-7-1 with 46 knockouts, points first to two fights he had early in his career against Javier Jauregui, both of which were for the Mexican featherweight championship. Castillo lost both, in November 1994 and May 1996, in 10th-round stoppages because of cuts.

"They were just as action-packed, from beginning to end, both times. He wouldn't give and I wouldn't give," Castillo said.

But perhaps at the top of his list of most contentious matchups came in an October 1998 battle with Julio Alvarez in Mexico City for the vacant Mexican junior lightweight title.

It was a punishing confrontation between two strong-willed, aggressive fighters, with Alvarez, trailing on the judges' scorecards at the time, beating Castillo in the 10th round by technical knockout when Castillo continued to bleed from a cut near his left eye.

"It was the same class, maybe better," Castillo said of the level of action. "If you saw that one, you would be comparing it to (the Corrales fight), for sure. It was just nonstop action from the first round on."

The difference, as Castillo explains, is that U.S. sportswriters never saw those -- or, for that matter, any of many other "warrior"-like bouts that characterize the spirited Mexican fight game.

"It is our style to fight that way -- every round, every fight," explained Castillo, 31.

Which is why it's a guarantee the former champion will not change his approach in his anticipated rematch with the U.S.-born Corrales.

"Jose Luis Castillo fights every fight like his life depends upon it," said Bob Arum of Top Rank, Castillo's promoter.

However, Castillo says he can rein it in and box, when necessary. Told there were some in the assembled press who thought Corrales, 40-2 with 33 KOs, might have an edge on him Saturday because he can effectively use his jab, Castillo chuckled annoyingly.

"If they think he's a better boxer than me, it's up to them," he dismissed. "I don't think he is. I don't think he's a great boxer. I don't think he knows how to do anything but fight the way he (fought in their first meeting).

"I can box him if I want to. I know more. I learned more about boxing than he ever has."

Through, you might say, Mexico's time-honored boxing school of hard knocks.

Joe Hawk's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. He can be reached at 387-2912 or jhawk@reviewjournal.com.