Ruben Castillo
Encyclopedia
Ruben Castillo was a Mexican-American boxer
who fought in the Featherweight division. Castillo went on to fight four World Championship fights against Hall of Famers Salvador Sánchez
, Juan Laporte
, Alexis Argüello
, and Julio César Chávez
.
. He always identified himself as a Chicano
and not as a Tejano like some Mexican-Americans from Texas
do. He has lived most of his life in California
and was also a resident of Tucson, Arizona
.
, Castillo won three consecutive fights by first round knockout, including his first fight outside Arizona
, when he beat Regis Rodriguez on March 31 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, and his Las Vegas
debut, on April 16 against Juan Aguilar. On September 22, he had his first fight abroad, defeating Yuma Duran on points after six rounds in Tecate, Mexico. Castillo fought 13 times in 1975, winning each time and scoring eight knockout
s.
From the beginning of his career, Castillo started to become popular among Chicanos. Part of his popularity was due to his having fought many of his early bouts in places with large Chicano and Mexican populations. On September 17, 1976, Castillo won the Arizona state Featherweight title by outpointing Ahumada after twelve rounds in their third bout, held in Phoenix. Castillo then took part in the controversial U.S. championship tournament. He won his first bout at the tournament by outpointing Kenny Weldon over eight rounds in Marion, Ohio
. That fight actually took place inside a jail
; professional boxing was sometimes allowed in American jails at the time, Dwight Muhammad Qawi
was another well known boxer that had a professional, sanctioned bout inside a jail.
Castillo advanced to the US tournament's finals after outpointing Walter Seeley
in ten rounds, April 2 of 1977 in San Antonio, Texas
. But just before his championship bout took place, a scandal broke regarding Don King and his involvement in the U.S. championship tournament, and Castillo's title bout in that tournament never took place.
Castillo was undefeated in 36 bouts, with 18 knockout wins, when he challenged James Martinez for the USBA
featherweight title on June 15, 1979, in Las Vegas. Castillo conquered the United States Boxing Association's title with a twelve round decision win over Martinez. He won his next five bouts, four of them by knockout, including a three round victory over Eusebio Pedroza
world title challenger Hector Carrasquilla and a points victory over Fel Clemente, who had challenged Danny Lopez
for the WBC
world title.
in Tucson. The fight proved to be a close one, with Arguello leading on two judges' cards by only one point and Castillo leading the other card by a single point also, before Arguello knocked Castillo out in round eleven to retain his title.
in Tucson. Castillo lasted fifteen rounds against Sanchez, but he lost by unanimous decision.
Castillo won nine of his next twelve bouts, losing one and drawing (tying) two. This allowed him to keep his raking as number one challenger by the WBC, and so, on February 20, 1983, he received his third world title try, when he challenged Juan Laporte
, who had relieved Sanchez as WBC world champion after Sanchez died in a car accident. Castillo was dropped in round two of this bout, held at Roberto Clemente Coliseum
in San Juan, Puerto Rico
. He got off the canvas and won some of the middle rounds on the judges' scorecards, but Laporte sealed his twelve round unanimous decision victory when he dropped Castillo again in round eleven.
Castillo came back to boxing eight months later, knocking Miguel Hernandez out in three rounds at Los Angeles. He won five fights in 1984, including a tenth round knockout victory over Andres Felix and a ten round decision win against Oscar Bejines.
for Chávez's WBC world Jr. Lightweight title, as part of a boxing program that also featured Juan Meza
's WBC world Super-Bantamweight title defense against Mike Ayala. Castillo once again lost, when Chávez beat him by a sixth round knockout.
His next fight took place in Brazil
: trying to keep a privileged ranking among Jr. Lightweights, and to obtain a rematch with Chávez, Castillo lost a ten round decision to Tomas Da Cruz on August 18 in São Paulo
. Da Cruz, in turn, lost to Chávez by a third round knockout the following year. Castillo, by his part, fought once more, beating Martin Morado by a ten round decision on March 4, 1986, then announced his first retirement. This retirement lasted three years. In 1989, he made an unsuccessful comeback bid, losing two fights, and requiring hospitalization after being knocked out in the fifth round on August 30 by Edgar Castro. This led to his second retirement from boxing.
successfully defended his WBC world Jr. Bantamweight title by defeating Puerto Rican Juan Carazo
by a twelve round decision.
After retiring for the second time, Castillo was active as broadcaster for ASPN, analyzing fights in many places across the United States' southwest. He became a popular sportscaster, both among Hispanic and Anglo boxing fans. In 1995, however, ASPN was sold to another network, and Castillo found himself unemployed.
, and a small gathering (for a boxing fight) of about 2,000 fans gave him a standing ovation after the fight was over. Telemundo broadcasters said that the ovation proved Castillo's popularity among Bakersfield residents.
He won five fights and lost one (to Fabian Tejada, a well known Argentine
boxer of the era), before challenging for the regional, NABO
Lightweight title. He won that championship by outpointing Manny Castillo over twelve rounds on September 24, 1996 in Tempe, Arizona
. After losing his next bout, a third round knockout defeat against Rudy Zavala, however, Castillo retired for good. He lost to Zabala on March 20, 1997 in Reseda, California. Castillo had a record of 70 wins, 10 losses and 2 draws, with 38 knockout wins as a professional boxer.
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...
who fought in the Featherweight division. Castillo went on to fight four World Championship fights against Hall of Famers Salvador Sánchez
Salvador Sánchez
Salvador Sánchez Narváez was a Mexican boxer born in the town of Santiago Tianguistenco, Estado de México. Many of his contemporaries as well as boxing writers believe that, had it not been for his premature death, Sanchez could have gone on to become the greatest Featherweight boxer of all time...
, Juan Laporte
Juan Laporte
Juan Laporte is a former boxer who was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico.-Amateur career:Juan Laporte won the 1976 112 lb New York Golden Gloves Sub-Novice Championship. He defeated Long Island's Ricky Brown in the finals. Laporte was defeated by Joseph Nieto of the Police Athletic Leagues Lynch...
, Alexis Argüello
Alexis Argüello
Alexis Argüello , also known by the stage name El Flaco Explosivo , was a Nicaraguan professional boxer and politician...
, and Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
.
Early life
Castillo was born in Billings, MontanaBillings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
. He always identified himself as a Chicano
Chicano
The terms "Chicano" and "Chicana" are used in reference to U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. However, those terms have a wide range of meanings in various parts of the world. The term began to be widely used during the Chicano Movement, mainly among Mexican Americans, especially in the movement's...
and not as a Tejano like some Mexican-Americans from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
do. He has lived most of his life in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and was also a resident of Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
.
Professional career
Castillo began boxing professionally on January 24, 1975, with a fourth round knockout of Frank Ahumada in Tucson. After outpointing Ahumada over six rounds in a rematch held in PhoenixPhoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Castillo won three consecutive fights by first round knockout, including his first fight outside Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, when he beat Regis Rodriguez on March 31 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, and his Las Vegas
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...
debut, on April 16 against Juan Aguilar. On September 22, he had his first fight abroad, defeating Yuma Duran on points after six rounds in Tecate, Mexico. Castillo fought 13 times in 1975, winning each time and scoring eight knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
s.
From the beginning of his career, Castillo started to become popular among Chicanos. Part of his popularity was due to his having fought many of his early bouts in places with large Chicano and Mexican populations. On September 17, 1976, Castillo won the Arizona state Featherweight title by outpointing Ahumada after twelve rounds in their third bout, held in Phoenix. Castillo then took part in the controversial U.S. championship tournament. He won his first bout at the tournament by outpointing Kenny Weldon over eight rounds in Marion, Ohio
Marion, Ohio
Marion is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Marion County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio, approximately north of Columbus....
. That fight actually took place inside a jail
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
; professional boxing was sometimes allowed in American jails at the time, Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Dwight Muhammad Qawi is a former world boxing champion in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions...
was another well known boxer that had a professional, sanctioned bout inside a jail.
Castillo advanced to the US tournament's finals after outpointing Walter Seeley
Walter Seeley
Walter Paul Seeley - Born: June 11, 1941 on Lower East Side of New York. His boxing career started when he was a child attending the Boys Club."Irish" Walter Seeley was a professional American Super Featherweight boxer from Sayville, Long Island, New York...
in ten rounds, April 2 of 1977 in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. But just before his championship bout took place, a scandal broke regarding Don King and his involvement in the U.S. championship tournament, and Castillo's title bout in that tournament never took place.
Castillo was undefeated in 36 bouts, with 18 knockout wins, when he challenged James Martinez for the USBA
USBA
USBA may refer to:* United States Basketball Academy* United States Boxing Association, the predecessor of the International Boxing Federation* United States Boomerang Association* United States Bicycle Motocross Association...
featherweight title on June 15, 1979, in Las Vegas. Castillo conquered the United States Boxing Association's title with a twelve round decision win over Martinez. He won his next five bouts, four of them by knockout, including a three round victory over Eusebio Pedroza
Eusebio Pedroza
Eusebio Pedroza is a native of Panama who holds two records in boxing: His 19 defenses as world featherweight champion are a record for that division, and his seven years as world champion non-stop are a division record too...
world title challenger Hector Carrasquilla and a points victory over Fel Clemente, who had challenged Danny Lopez
Danny Lopez
Danny Lopez is a former American boxer from Fort Duchesne, Utah. He was world Featherweight champion, and a very popular fighter both in television and Southern California, during the 1970s. His nickname is Little Red.-Background:...
for the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
world title.
WBC Super Featherweight Championship
With a record of 42 wins and no previous losses, and 22 knockouts, Castillo received his first world title try: On January 20, 1980, Castillo went up in weight to challenge WBC world Jr. Lightweight champion Alexis ArgüelloAlexis Argüello
Alexis Argüello , also known by the stage name El Flaco Explosivo , was a Nicaraguan professional boxer and politician...
in Tucson. The fight proved to be a close one, with Arguello leading on two judges' cards by only one point and Castillo leading the other card by a single point also, before Arguello knocked Castillo out in round eleven to retain his title.
WBC Featherweight Championship
After the loss to Arguello, Castillo returned to the Featherweight division, winning another fight before receiving his second title try; On April 12 of the same year, Castillo challenged WBC world Featherweight champion Salvador SánchezSalvador Sánchez
Salvador Sánchez Narváez was a Mexican boxer born in the town of Santiago Tianguistenco, Estado de México. Many of his contemporaries as well as boxing writers believe that, had it not been for his premature death, Sanchez could have gone on to become the greatest Featherweight boxer of all time...
in Tucson. Castillo lasted fifteen rounds against Sanchez, but he lost by unanimous decision.
Castillo won nine of his next twelve bouts, losing one and drawing (tying) two. This allowed him to keep his raking as number one challenger by the WBC, and so, on February 20, 1983, he received his third world title try, when he challenged Juan Laporte
Juan Laporte
Juan Laporte is a former boxer who was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico.-Amateur career:Juan Laporte won the 1976 112 lb New York Golden Gloves Sub-Novice Championship. He defeated Long Island's Ricky Brown in the finals. Laporte was defeated by Joseph Nieto of the Police Athletic Leagues Lynch...
, who had relieved Sanchez as WBC world champion after Sanchez died in a car accident. Castillo was dropped in round two of this bout, held at Roberto Clemente Coliseum
Roberto Clemente Coliseum
The Roberto Clemente Coliseum is a sporting events and concert arena in San Juan, Puerto Rico.It was, for many years, Puerto Rico's largest indoor event facility, and it continues being one of the largest....
in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. He got off the canvas and won some of the middle rounds on the judges' scorecards, but Laporte sealed his twelve round unanimous decision victory when he dropped Castillo again in round eleven.
Castillo came back to boxing eight months later, knocking Miguel Hernandez out in three rounds at Los Angeles. He won five fights in 1984, including a tenth round knockout victory over Andres Felix and a ten round decision win against Oscar Bejines.
WBC Super Featherweight Championship
On April 19, 1985, Castillo received his fourth world title try, when he challenged Julio César ChávezJulio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
for Chávez's WBC world Jr. Lightweight title, as part of a boxing program that also featured Juan Meza
Juan Meza
Juan Meza , also known for his nickname Kid Meza, is a former boxer who was world Super Bantamweight champion. Meza was born in Mexicali, Mexico.-Short biography:Mesa was born Jesus Fernández...
's WBC world Super-Bantamweight title defense against Mike Ayala. Castillo once again lost, when Chávez beat him by a sixth round knockout.
His next fight took place in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
: trying to keep a privileged ranking among Jr. Lightweights, and to obtain a rematch with Chávez, Castillo lost a ten round decision to Tomas Da Cruz on August 18 in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
. Da Cruz, in turn, lost to Chávez by a third round knockout the following year. Castillo, by his part, fought once more, beating Martin Morado by a ten round decision on March 4, 1986, then announced his first retirement. This retirement lasted three years. In 1989, he made an unsuccessful comeback bid, losing two fights, and requiring hospitalization after being knocked out in the fifth round on August 30 by Edgar Castro. This led to his second retirement from boxing.
Career as broadcaster
Before his second retirement, he had been hired as blow-by-blow analyst by the Western United States television sports channel, ASPN. Castillo called world title fights for this channel, such as the time when Gilberto RomanGilberto Roman
Gilberto Román was a Mexican boxer in the Super Flyweight division and a member of the 1980 Mexican Olympic team. Román was a two-time WBC Super Flyweight Champion and is considered by many fans to be one of the great champions in this division...
successfully defended his WBC world Jr. Bantamweight title by defeating Puerto Rican Juan Carazo
Juan Carazo
Juan Carazo is a former boxer from Caguas, Puerto Rico.Carazo was considered to be a boxing reincarnation of Wilfred Benítez or Wilfredo Gómez by many of his fans, and he won his first five professional bouts by knockout in 1984...
by a twelve round decision.
After retiring for the second time, Castillo was active as broadcaster for ASPN, analyzing fights in many places across the United States' southwest. He became a popular sportscaster, both among Hispanic and Anglo boxing fans. In 1995, however, ASPN was sold to another network, and Castillo found himself unemployed.
Third comeback
Ruben Castillo made his third comeback as a professional boxer in 1995. On May 24 of that year, he knocked Javier Valardez out in the second round at Bakersfield. The fight was televised nationally on TelemundoTelemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
, and a small gathering (for a boxing fight) of about 2,000 fans gave him a standing ovation after the fight was over. Telemundo broadcasters said that the ovation proved Castillo's popularity among Bakersfield residents.
He won five fights and lost one (to Fabian Tejada, a well known Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
boxer of the era), before challenging for the regional, NABO
North American Boxing Organization
The North American Boxing Organization is one of several regulators of boxing that works in North America. The NABO is one of the regional bodies that is part of the World Boxing Organization.Legendary Roy Jones Jr is former Light heavyweight champion....
Lightweight title. He won that championship by outpointing Manny Castillo over twelve rounds on September 24, 1996 in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
. After losing his next bout, a third round knockout defeat against Rudy Zavala, however, Castillo retired for good. He lost to Zabala on March 20, 1997 in Reseda, California. Castillo had a record of 70 wins, 10 losses and 2 draws, with 38 knockout wins as a professional boxer.