Brian Castano (16-0, 12 KOs), considered by many as the best prospect of Argentina in the last few years, became the new WBA Interim Super Welterweight champion after stopping the brave Puerto Rican Emmanuel De Jesus in the sixth round last Saturday in Gonzalez Catan, Buenos Aires.

Castaño, coming off a great amateur career in which for instance he beat Errol Spence back in 2011 in the Pan Am Games held in Barquisimeto, Venezuela representing Argentina’s national team, had made a fast pro career so far, including a brilliant points win over Russian Sergiy Derevyanchenko back in March 2013.

After only 11 pro fights he joined Team Maidana and advisor Al Haymon and made his debut in America last year, achieving a streak of 4 wins over Todd Manuel, Jonathan Batista, Aaron García, and Marcus Upshaw, which made him climb in both the WBA and WBC rankings.

Finally, Brian had his lifetime opportunity: a shot for the WBA Interim Super Welterweight title at his own backyard, the highly populated county of La Matanza, in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, where almost 2 million people lives.

The fight was set as part of the traditional WBA “KO to Drugs” Festival, created by the late Dr. Gilberto Mendoza in 1991.

The only rival that stepped in to take the chance was Puerto Rico’s Emmanuel De Jesus (17-2, 12 KO’s), managed by longtime manager Tony Gonzalez, who showed no fear to take on the hot Argentinean prospect who trains out of Los Angeles.

Before a packed Presidente Perón arena, “El Boxi” Castaño was on the verge of achieving a fast knockout victory when he dropped De Jesus with a vicious combination to the body in the first round.

However, the brave De Jesus proved to be a worthy world title opponent when he landed a short right hand to the chin that put Castaño badly in the canvas in the following round, freezing the more than 6,000 people that could not believe his idol had been dropped for the first time ever in both his amateur and pro career.

Castaño got off his feet and the fight became brutal at times thereafter. However, Castaño was willing to get away with his long dreamed the world title and went on for a non-stop attack even though risking to get hit with some of the vicious counters landed by the hard-hitting De Jesus.

However, Castaño was finally able to get loose and little by little his ring intelligence and strength ended up proving too much for the Puerto Rican, that could not take the pressure from the Argentinean. Castaño’s pressure got his reward in the sixth stanza when a perfect right hand to the solar plexus dropped De Jesus again for the count while ref Russel Mora had no choice but to halt the fight.

Castaño has now entered a circle of great champion in a division packed with great fighters like Erislandy Lara, Jermell and Jarmall Charlo, Demetrius Andrade, Julian Williams, not to mention Canelo Alvarez and Miguel Cotto, among others.

MAIDANA KEEPS FOLLOWING HIS BROTHER’S STEPS

In the co-main event, Fabian “TNT” Maidana (11-0, 8 KOs), the younger brother of Marcos “Chino” Maidana got a spectacular knockout win over fellow countryman Cristian “Chuña” Romero (16-9-1, 8 KOs), a rugged and experienced fighter who for instance beat David Peralta, who just beat Robert Guerrero last August.

Maidana put up such a brilliant combination of two left hooks and a right hand to put Romero down for the count in the second round to win his first title, the WBA Fedebol.

The card was broadcasted live by Fox Sports in all Latin America.