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It seems that amateur boxing standouts from Mexico seldom develop into boxers (stylistically speaking) once they turn pro.
Even those who represented the boxing-proud nation in the Olympic Games – from 1984 participant Genaro Leon to 2000’s Daniel Ponce-DeLeon as well as the 122-pound title holder’s middleweight ’00 teammates Jose Luis Zertuche and Alfred Angulo – turn out to be tough but limited brawlers in the pro ranks.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Bomb-throwing badasses like Zertuche and Angulo, who headlines a ShoBox telecast from Minnesota tomorrow night, are fun to watch. But the fact remains that the most talented boxers to emerge from Mexico in recent years – men like Humberto Gonzalez, Ricardo Lopez, Macro Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez – did not have lengthy amateur careers (let alone box on Olympic squads).
Martin Castillo, an amateur star who fought in close to 200 bouts and represented Mexico at the ’96 Olympics, is an exception to this trend.
Castillo, a former 115-pound title holder and a master technician in the ring, is as tough and gritty a professional fighter as DeLeon and Company but unlike those face-first sluggers the Mexico City native now residing in Southern California has the ability to box beautifully.
Castillo, a 31-year-old veteran closing in on his 10th year in the pro ranks, executes jabs, combinations, footwork, feints, head and upper-body movement with textbook precision and expertise – just like he did during his amateur days.
On the way to partaking in the Atlanta Games and compiling an excellent 160-20 record, Castillo out-pointed touted countryman Jorge Arce, ’96 U.S. Olympic flyweight representative Eric Morel and one Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a 112-pound bout on a USA-Mexico dual meet that took place in the Pretty Boy’s adopted home of Las Vegas back in ‘94.
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Israel Vazquez, who has the same manager (Frank Espinosa) as Castillo, was finishing up his abdominal work when I entered the El Monte Boxing Club yesterday.
The junior featherweight champ, who is preparing for this March 1st rubber match with Rafael Marquez, already looks like he’s in condition to fight 15 hard rounds.
Rudy Perez, best known for guiding Barrera through his hall-of-fame career, is obviously a boxing mastermind but the little munchkin is also a darn good conditioner judging by Izzy’s ripped-up physique.
MaxBoxing readers have been asking me who’s going to win the Showtime-televised showdown that will take place at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California for months and I still have no idea. I just know that it will be another fight of the year candidate.
Vazquez sparred six rounds with Charles Huerta, a Maywood-based featherweight prospect with a 3-0 (2) record, just before I arrived to the gym. On Saturdays the champ goes rounds with junior lightweight prospect Miguel Garcia, the younger brother of former IBF 130-pound titlist Robert Garcia and the holder of a 10-0 (8) record.
I’m clearing my Saturday morning schedule (which is just a matter of getting my lazy ass out of bed) so I can check out Vazquez and Garcia, so you can expect a ring apron report in a future SCN.-maxboxing.com
Even those who represented the boxing-proud nation in the Olympic Games – from 1984 participant Genaro Leon to 2000’s Daniel Ponce-DeLeon as well as the 122-pound title holder’s middleweight ’00 teammates Jose Luis Zertuche and Alfred Angulo – turn out to be tough but limited brawlers in the pro ranks.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Bomb-throwing badasses like Zertuche and Angulo, who headlines a ShoBox telecast from Minnesota tomorrow night, are fun to watch. But the fact remains that the most talented boxers to emerge from Mexico in recent years – men like Humberto Gonzalez, Ricardo Lopez, Macro Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez – did not have lengthy amateur careers (let alone box on Olympic squads).
Martin Castillo, an amateur star who fought in close to 200 bouts and represented Mexico at the ’96 Olympics, is an exception to this trend.
Castillo, a former 115-pound title holder and a master technician in the ring, is as tough and gritty a professional fighter as DeLeon and Company but unlike those face-first sluggers the Mexico City native now residing in Southern California has the ability to box beautifully.
Castillo, a 31-year-old veteran closing in on his 10th year in the pro ranks, executes jabs, combinations, footwork, feints, head and upper-body movement with textbook precision and expertise – just like he did during his amateur days.
On the way to partaking in the Atlanta Games and compiling an excellent 160-20 record, Castillo out-pointed touted countryman Jorge Arce, ’96 U.S. Olympic flyweight representative Eric Morel and one Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a 112-pound bout on a USA-Mexico dual meet that took place in the Pretty Boy’s adopted home of Las Vegas back in ‘94.
.................................................. ...............................................
Israel Vazquez, who has the same manager (Frank Espinosa) as Castillo, was finishing up his abdominal work when I entered the El Monte Boxing Club yesterday.
The junior featherweight champ, who is preparing for this March 1st rubber match with Rafael Marquez, already looks like he’s in condition to fight 15 hard rounds.
Rudy Perez, best known for guiding Barrera through his hall-of-fame career, is obviously a boxing mastermind but the little munchkin is also a darn good conditioner judging by Izzy’s ripped-up physique.
MaxBoxing readers have been asking me who’s going to win the Showtime-televised showdown that will take place at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California for months and I still have no idea. I just know that it will be another fight of the year candidate.
Vazquez sparred six rounds with Charles Huerta, a Maywood-based featherweight prospect with a 3-0 (2) record, just before I arrived to the gym. On Saturdays the champ goes rounds with junior lightweight prospect Miguel Garcia, the younger brother of former IBF 130-pound titlist Robert Garcia and the holder of a 10-0 (8) record.
I’m clearing my Saturday morning schedule (which is just a matter of getting my lazy ass out of bed) so I can check out Vazquez and Garcia, so you can expect a ring apron report in a future SCN.-maxboxing.com
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