His opponent provided the perfect measuring stick. Castellani was No. 1 ranked middleweight after losing a title fight to Bobo Olson last year. Oddsmakers have him as a two-to-one favourite, believing the pressure and power of the younger rival will be too much for the 34-year-old Robinson.
Neither man had a champion on the line, but the fight was of great importance. Robinson needed a win to get another shot at Olson and the middleweight title. Castellani knew that defeating boxing’s biggest star would put him back in championship contention.
Both fighters weighed in at 160 pounds for the scheduled 10-round bout. The nationally televised tournament attracted 8,230 fans. The live gate totaled $39,819. Referee Jack Downey officiated the bout, with Jack Silver and Frankie Carter as judges.
The act lived up to expectations from the opening bell. Castellani quickly pressed the fight, forcing Robinson to concede while looking at the boxing ring. Early in the contest, he landed several heavy punches, including one that rocked Robinson. His legs are tied briefly. Robinson responded with cool combinations, a sharp jab, and strong body shots every time Castellani packed in.
The amazing moment came in the sixth round. Castellani connected with a powerful left hook before following up with a right hand that sent Robinson to his knees. Robinson took a nine count before climbing to his feet. He survived the rest of the round. It was the only blow of the fight and one of the few times Robinson appeared seriously injured when he returned.
Instead of fading, Robinson produced his best boxing in the last four rounds. He invested heavily on the ground, slowing down Castellani’s onslaught with repeated body shots before opening up space for clean punches to the head. His footwork also got stronger as the fight went on. That way allowed him to control the range. Accurate combinations gradually increased his lead on the scorecards.
When the final bell rang, the scores showed how competitive the competition was. Referee Jack Downey scored 56 out of 54 for Robinson. Judge Frankie Carter again found Robinson in favor of 56 to 54, while Judge Jack Silver saw Castellani leading 56 to 54. A split decision gave Robinson the win, although some observers believed Castellani had done enough after scoring just one goal. The Associated Press scored the fight 57 to 53 for Robinson, noting that he controlled almost all rounds except the sixth.
The victory gave Robinson the opportunity he had been chasing. Five months later, he challenged Bobo Olson for a world middleweight championship and stopped him in two rounds to begin his third reign as champion. Castellani remains one of the toughest competitors in the division, but he did not take the world title despite giving Robinson the toughest test of his comeback.
