Soto decisions Diaz; Castillo says he's done

ARLINGTON, Texas – Mexico’s Humberto Soto claimed the WBC lightweight title with a dominant unanimous decision victory over American David Diaz on Saturday.

Fighting on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey bout, Soto prevalied in just his second fight at lightweight. He had previously held the WBC’s super featherweight and interim featherweight titles.

He knocked Diaz down in the first round and dominated the fight. He also dropped Diaz late in the final round, but the American got up just as the bell sounded to end the fight.

Diaz was a former lightweight champion who lost his title when he was stopped by Pacquiao in June 2008.

Also on the undercard, former WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo announced his retirement after quitting on his stool in his bout against Mexican compatriot Alfonso Gomez.

Castillo, who has battled weight issues for years, landed just 47 punches before telling the referee after the fifth round that he’d had enough.

“I just found out tonight I don’t have it anymore,” Castillo said. “I want to apologize to the public and I am definitely announcing my retirement.”

Castillo looked nothing like the fighter who engaged in a memorable brawl with Diego Corrales five years ago that lives in boxing lore.

He landed just about half of the punches that Gomez landed, and was on his way to a lopsided loss when he decided to quit, ending his career at the age of 36.

Castillo, a former lightweight and junior welterweight champion from Mexico, hadn’t fought on a top level since a knockout loss to Ricky Hatton three years ago. He finished with a 60-10-1 career mark.(AP)