MONTREAL – The minor NABF welterweight title will be in play when Antonin Decarie of Laval, Que., faces ring veteran Jose-Luis Castillo on Oct. 20.
Promoter Yvon Michel said Tuesday the title was added because both fighters want the top-10 ranking in the World Boxing Association that goes with winning the NABF belt.
Decarie (25-1) will be up against the most high profile opponent of his career when he faces the 37-year-old Castillo (62-11-1) at the Bell Centre.
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“This is the year he wants to blossom at that next level,” Michel said of 28-year-old Decarie. “He said he’s ready to fight anyone, anywhere.”
Castillo has fought many of the world’s best over the last 15 years. He lost the WBC lightweight title in 2002 to Floyd Mayweather Jr. He held the belt a second time until he lost in 2005 to Diego Corrales.
He has been on the downslope in recent years, with his last major fight a knockout loss to Ricky Hatton in 2007.
The fight will kick off a new season of the Fast and Furious series of boxing cards promoted by GYM.
The co-feature has light welterweight Dierry Jean (19-0) of Montreal against another veteran, 39-year-old Francisco Lorenzo (37-10-0). Jean is looking to move up the rankings after battling a shoulder injury and a broken jaw in recent years.
Lorenzo has lost six of his last 11 bouts, but that included going the 12 round distance last year with Erik Morales, who once beat ring great Manny Pacquiao before losing two twice to the Filipino.
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