Martín Castillo
Encyclopedia
José Martín Castillo is a boxer
from Mexico
, who is more commonly known as Martín Castillo. He represented his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics
, and is a former World Boxing Association
(WBA) Superflyweight (115 lbs) champion.
of Germany 13-7 on points.
d "Gallo" (Rooster), first fought for a world title on March 30, 2002, against Felix Machado
. Castillo suffered a cut due to a headbutt, and the fight was stopped in the 6th round. By rule when a headbutt is ruled to be unintentional, the fight went to the scorecards. All three judges ruled against Castillo, although many thought he was winning the fight.
, on December 3, 2004 in Laredo, Texas
. At the time, Muñoz was a widely respected and feared power puncher, with an undefeated record in 25 fights, with 24 wins by way of knock-out. Castillo frustrated Muñoz with slick boxing skills and expert use of angles. Castillo dropped Muñoz twice on the way to a fairly easy unanimous decision victory.
Castillo defended his title in a unanimous decision victory over former WBA flyweight champion Eric Morel
on March 19, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Castillo received some exposure in this fight, as it was the first televised bout on the Pay-Per-View (PPV) fight card featuring the first match between boxing superstars Érik Morales
and Manny Pacquiao
. However, Castillo's victory was a workman-like effort, largely because Morel employed a very defensive style. Castillo followed this victory with another unanimous decision defense of his belt over Hideyasu Ishihara on June 26, 2005 in a fight held in Nagoya, Japan.
The rematch between Erik Morales
and Manny Pacquiao
on January 21, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada
provided another opportunity to feature Castillo on the PPV undercard, this time as the chief supporting bout to the main event. Castillo was rematched with Muñoz, who had won three fights since losing his belt. This time Muñoz came much better prepared, applying pressure from the opening bell and dropping Castillo in the first round. Castillo also suffered bad cuts over both eyes as the fight progressed. The aggressiveness of Muñoz and his heavy punches won him the early rounds. However, Castillo rallied in the later rounds, using better technique and counter-punches, but also exhibiting aggressiveness. The last three rounds featured furious exchanges between the fighters, with Muñoz growing increasingly tired, but still launching dangerous power punches.
Castillo won a split decision victory, but perhaps more importantly, he demonstrated a crowd-pleasing style to a wide audience. Although hard-core boxing fans appreciate his use of boxing skills, "blood and guts" battles lead to larger purses.
in Japan. The fight was stopped in the 10th round as Castillo was bleeding heavily from cuts. As the cuts were caused by punches, Nashiro won the fight by technical knock-out. Nashiro, a young boxer with only 7 professional fights, surprised Castillo with an effective aggressive style in the early rounds. Castillo was winning later rounds - had the fight gone to the scorecards after the 9th round, it would have been a draw, as one judge had Nashiro winning, one had Castillo winning, and one had it even.
After the Nashiro fight, Castillo underwent surgery to fix the scar tissue over his eyes. As Castillo had always been susceptible to cuts, the surgeons also shaved down Castillo's prominent brow ridges, a procedure sometimes performed on boxers who cut a lot. Therefore, he was out of action for almost a year.
Castillo had two unremarkable wins after losing his title, and as of September 2007, is continuing his comeback.
Castillo is trained by Manuel Robles, managed by Frank Espinoza, and promoted by Bob Arum
's Top Rank.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, who is more commonly known as Martín Castillo. He represented his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, and is a former World Boxing Association
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
(WBA) Superflyweight (115 lbs) champion.
Amateur career
Castillo had an Amateur Record of 160-20 (90 KOs). He represented Mexico as a Flyweight at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. He lost in the opening round to Zoltan LunkaZoltan Lunka
Zoltan Lunka was a professional boxer, who won a Flyweight bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics for Germany...
of Germany 13-7 on points.
Pro career
Castillo, nicknameNickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d "Gallo" (Rooster), first fought for a world title on March 30, 2002, against Felix Machado
Felix Machado
Felix Machado is a Venezuelan featherweight boxer. He currently resides in Bolívar, Venezuela.He is a former IBF super flyweight champion, defeating Julio Gamboa on July 22, 2000 for the vacant title. Machado successfully defended the title three times before losing to Luis Alberto Pérez by a...
. Castillo suffered a cut due to a headbutt, and the fight was stopped in the 6th round. By rule when a headbutt is ruled to be unintentional, the fight went to the scorecards. All three judges ruled against Castillo, although many thought he was winning the fight.
Championship Reign
After winning the WBA interim title, Castillo fought the full WBA champion, Alexander MuñozAlexander Muñoz
Alexander Muñoz is a professional boxer in the super flyweight division, nicknamed "El Explosivo."- Boxing career :...
, on December 3, 2004 in Laredo, Texas
Laredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
. At the time, Muñoz was a widely respected and feared power puncher, with an undefeated record in 25 fights, with 24 wins by way of knock-out. Castillo frustrated Muñoz with slick boxing skills and expert use of angles. Castillo dropped Muñoz twice on the way to a fairly easy unanimous decision victory.
Castillo defended his title in a unanimous decision victory over former WBA flyweight champion Eric Morel
Eric Morel
Eric Arturo Morel is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. He is a former World Boxing Association flyweight champion.- Amateur career :...
on March 19, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Castillo received some exposure in this fight, as it was the first televised bout on the Pay-Per-View (PPV) fight card featuring the first match between boxing superstars Érik Morales
Erik Morales
Érik Isaac Morales Elvira is a Mexican professional boxer. He is the first Mexican born boxer in history to win a world title in four weight classes and is the current WBC Light Welterweight Champion...
and Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao
Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao, PLH is a Filipino professional boxer and politician. He is the first eight-division world champion; having won six world titles, as well as the first to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes. He was named "Fighter of the Decade" for the...
. However, Castillo's victory was a workman-like effort, largely because Morel employed a very defensive style. Castillo followed this victory with another unanimous decision defense of his belt over Hideyasu Ishihara on June 26, 2005 in a fight held in Nagoya, Japan.
The rematch between Erik Morales
Erik Morales
Érik Isaac Morales Elvira is a Mexican professional boxer. He is the first Mexican born boxer in history to win a world title in four weight classes and is the current WBC Light Welterweight Champion...
and Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao
Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao, PLH is a Filipino professional boxer and politician. He is the first eight-division world champion; having won six world titles, as well as the first to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes. He was named "Fighter of the Decade" for the...
on January 21, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
provided another opportunity to feature Castillo on the PPV undercard, this time as the chief supporting bout to the main event. Castillo was rematched with Muñoz, who had won three fights since losing his belt. This time Muñoz came much better prepared, applying pressure from the opening bell and dropping Castillo in the first round. Castillo also suffered bad cuts over both eyes as the fight progressed. The aggressiveness of Muñoz and his heavy punches won him the early rounds. However, Castillo rallied in the later rounds, using better technique and counter-punches, but also exhibiting aggressiveness. The last three rounds featured furious exchanges between the fighters, with Muñoz growing increasingly tired, but still launching dangerous power punches.
Castillo won a split decision victory, but perhaps more importantly, he demonstrated a crowd-pleasing style to a wide audience. Although hard-core boxing fans appreciate his use of boxing skills, "blood and guts" battles lead to larger purses.
Title Loss to Nashiro
On July 22, 2006, Castillo lost his title to Nobuo NashiroNobuo Nashiro
Nobuo Nashiro is a professional boxer in the Super flyweight division as well as the WBA super flyweight champion.- Childhood :...
in Japan. The fight was stopped in the 10th round as Castillo was bleeding heavily from cuts. As the cuts were caused by punches, Nashiro won the fight by technical knock-out. Nashiro, a young boxer with only 7 professional fights, surprised Castillo with an effective aggressive style in the early rounds. Castillo was winning later rounds - had the fight gone to the scorecards after the 9th round, it would have been a draw, as one judge had Nashiro winning, one had Castillo winning, and one had it even.
After the Nashiro fight, Castillo underwent surgery to fix the scar tissue over his eyes. As Castillo had always been susceptible to cuts, the surgeons also shaved down Castillo's prominent brow ridges, a procedure sometimes performed on boxers who cut a lot. Therefore, he was out of action for almost a year.
Castillo had two unremarkable wins after losing his title, and as of September 2007, is continuing his comeback.
Castillo is trained by Manuel Robles, managed by Frank Espinoza, and promoted by Bob Arum
Bob Arum
Robert "Bob" Arum is the founder and CEO of Top Rank, a professional boxing promotion company based in Las Vegas. He also worked for the US Attorney's Office for the southern district of New York in the tax division....
's Top Rank.